How Does It Drive?

Like a ‘60s racing car with a body and two seats, basically. Like the best of Lotus road cars the Elite brims with uncompromising innovation, and a dedication to weight saving unmatched by its contemporaries. Which is how even with a 1.2-litre engine the Elite still feels quick, given a kerb weight less than half that of an Aston Martin DB5 and significantly less than most direct rivals.

Rack and pinion steering, all-independent suspension and disc brakes all round make sense of this performance as well, the Elite absolutely pin-sharp to drive and fantastically responsive to every input. The delicacy of the driving experience is an expression of the minimalism of the build, and it’s true you need to keep that in mind at all times.

Later S2 and SE models get more power for even feistier performance but in any trim the Elite perfectly expresses the famous Chapman mantra that less weight makes you faster everywhere.

What’s Good?

The Elite is obviously fantastic to drive. But for students of ‘60s motorsport and sportscars the Elite is much more than that, and a physical representation of everything that Lotus under Colin Chapman stood for.

That fibreglass monocoque is key to the driving experience but for the mechanically curious is also a fascinating example of Chapman’s relentless approach seeking out innovative engineering solutions, surrounding himself with the people able to make them a reality and the willingness to take big risks to see it through.

True, it wasn’t without its weaknesses, and the Elan that followed has much of the same appeal in a more resolved package. But the purity of the thinking that created the Elite is what makes it so special, and a fascinating ownership proposition to this day. Truly ground breaking cars are few and far between. But the Elite is one of them.

What’s Bad?

It’s fair to say Lotus was pushing the boundaries of material science when it built the Elite and, however admirable the intentions, the application was sometimes found wanting. Just like the firm’s racing cars the dedication to weight saving didn’t leave much margin for error either. On S1 cars in particular this led to significant failures and the steel mountings for suspension, differential and other components parting company with the fibreglass structure they were supposedly bonded into.

The later S2s built by Bristol Aeroplane Company were better, but the Elite was always a fragile little thing, and somewhat temperamental. While the structure has many benefits – weight saving, stiffness and the fact it doesn’t rust among them – it brings with it challenges of its own, meaning specialist care is required by people who really know what they’re doing. That can make sorting a bad one difficult and expensive, and if you want an easy life there are plenty of less stressful ways to get your ’60s sportscar hit.

Which Model To Chose?

With little over 1,000 examples built and only two main variants in the S1 and S2 to consider your choices are pretty straightforward. Thanks to their sturdier construction most survivors will be S2s anyway, the more powerful SE a desirable option if you can find one while those with the more exotic ZF gearbox will command a healthy premium.

Many original owners took up the implicit invitation to race their Elites as well, and a documented history of competition success may add value assuming it doesn’t also bring with it evidence of crash damage. With any Elite by this stage you’d hope any lingering after effects will have been dealt with in the restoration process, but make sure any work has been performed by people who know what they’re doing and there’s documented evidence of what’s been done.

Given the relatively small number of cars out there the specialists will know the good ones, so lean on that expertise, do your due diligence and – as ever – buy the best one you can afford.

Specifications – Lotus Elite S2

1.2-litre four-cylinder, petrol

84PS (62kW) @ 6,250rpm

102Nm (75lb ft) @ 3,750rpm

Four-speed manual, rear-wheel drive

c. 660kg

c. 11 seconds

c. 118mph

1957-1963