West Coast Classics are proud to present an absolutely exceptional 1969 Lotus Elan SE S4 Convertible with its original matching #'s 1,558 CC DOHC Inline 4 cylinder engine with dual Zenith Stromberg twin choke carburetors with 115 BHP @ 6,000 RPM matched to it's original 4 speed manual gearbox with 4 wheel hydraulic disc brakes, 4 wheel independent suspension, & recently acquired from 48 years of fastidious single owner care and painstakingly restored over several years with complete documentation which was completed in 2014 with the restoration supervised by none other than premier Elan expert Brian Buckland & consequently voted 'Best Elan' at the 2104 Annual Lotus Gathering. Will be sold accompanied by comprehensive documentation binders of records. This is the 444th out of 473 Elan S4's and built in December 1969 with a G prefix engines.
Chassis # 45/9764
Engine # G/21402
Body # 8307
Two-Owner Example from new car and now offered from over 48 Years of Fastidious Care
No expense spared restoration completed in 2015 by a team of Elan experts some flown in from the UK specifically, including Dave Bean Engineering and overseen by Brian Buckland
Accompanied by comprehensive document binder from 1972 to present
Award winning as the Best Elan at the 2014 West Coast Lotus Meet
Among the finest of Its type anywhere; a Lotus for those who want the very best
Fiberglass car that weighs only 1,515 lbs (yes, much lighter than any other sports car of its kind!), top speed of over 120mph, corners and tracks like no other sports car!
This outstanding Elan SE was purchased by the consignor in 1972, when he became just its second owner from new. Its current outstanding condition is the product of a painstaking, well-documented restoration by marque experts including Dave Bean Engineering. The work was finished in 2014 under the watchful eye and skilled hands of premier Elan expert Brian Buckland, who traveled from the UK on three occasions to see this car. The engine was rebuilt by Duffee Motorsports, with the cylinder head and carburetors done by James Unsworth.
The previous owner had enjoyed, maintained, and restored the Elan for almost 50 years as a true labor of love. Accordingly, he has amassed an exceptional file of documentation that includes service invoices from 1972, restoration records, history, and restoration photos, as well as the original owners manual and maintenance book, and provenance documentation from Lotus Company archivist Andy Graham. Resplendent in its factory-original livery, the cars impressive presentation resulted in the Best Elan Award at the 2014 West Coast Lotus Gathering. Offered from loving, long-term ownership and restored to an extraordinary standard, this splendid Elan SE stands as a most fitting exemplar of the rich Lotus heritage.
Founded by visionary Colin Chapman, Lotus epitomizes innovation and race bred performance, having earned no less than 7 F1 World Championships. Road cars from the marque began with the Seven in 1957, and soon followed by the Elite. The Elan appeared in 1962. Built upon a backbone chassis and considered by many the first 'modern' sports car and regarded as one of the best handling cars ever made, which is quite some tribute, the Elan was indeed one of, if not the best handling, and most influential cars of its kind. The definitive SE arrived in 1966 with an uprated 1.5L engine, power brakes, close ratio gearbox and taller final drive. It's power was exceptional and along with it's light glass fiber 1515 lbs body it was virtually unbeatable in it's class with a top speed of over 120mph and on cornering it neither under or over-steered but could track on a line around the steepest of bends and gave huge levels of grip even on 6.4 inch tires! Available in both open and closed body styles with a fiber glass body and pop up headlamps it progressed through five different series designated S1 to S4 from 1962 through 1971. Imported to the US but in very limited numbers.
This outstanding example is the product of a painstaking well documented restoration with select upgrades from Dave Bean engineering for enhanced safety and reliability. The work was performed under the watchful eye of skilled hands of premier Elan expert Brian Buckland. The engine was rebuilt by James Unsworth. The second owner, who acquired the car in 1972 had enjoyed, maintained and eventually fully restored as a true labor of love. Accordingly he amassed an exceptional file of documentation that includes service invoices from 1972 as well as restoration records and photos and an actual book dedicated to the car no less! Reportedly the car has been driven less than some 600 miles since the restoration. Handsome and boasting it's original factory livery, the car's exceptional condition and quality of presentation won it the 'Best Elan Award' at the 2014 Annual Lotus Owners Gathering. With an undamaged from new body, a very important consideration in these very vulnerable to crash damage fiber glass cars, and with body parts now very hard to come by, this car is a very rare opportunity being offered from this long term ownership and restored to an extraordinary standard, this special Elan SE stands out as most fitting example of the rich Lotus heritage and is ready for the most fastidious collector's collection!
This is a rare opportunity to own a very rare and internationally desirable 1969 Lotus SE with no examples available anywhere close to this particular car's condition and a great addition for any American or indeed British classic sports car collector or enthusiast to add to their collection or obviously any 'Lotus' enthusiast!
