Lot 414: 1971 Lotus Elan S4 Drophead Coupe

An Elite-type glassfibre monocoque having proved insufficiently rigid when applied to an open car, Lotus boss Colin Chapman came up with a simple but effective steel backbone frame for the company�s new Elan sports car. So successful was this chassis design that it still forms the basis of today�s Lotus cars. Suspension was all independent with unequal-length wishbones at the front, while a wide-based lower wishbone and modified Chapman Strut, as used in Lotus�s Grand Prix cars, was employed at the rear. Rack-and-pinion steering was sourced from the Triumph Vitesse, and there were Girling disc brakes all round. The Elan�s engine was a highly-modified 1,498cc (later 1,558cc) Ford Cortina unit topped with Lotus�s own twin-camshaft cylinder head, and both gearbox and differential came also from Ford. As development progressed the Elan became more civilised, the final Series 4 - introduced in March 1968 - benefiting from dashboard fresh-air vents and improved interior trim and fittings. The bodyshell was slightly thinner - and lighter - than the S3�s and featured flared wheelarches accommodating wider wheels, side repeaters and larger Plus 2-style rear lights. Adequately powerful, light in weight and endowed with exceptional roadholding and handling, the Elan proved an immense commercial success for Lotus, slightly fewer than 9,000 being produced by the time production ceased in 1973. Even today there are few more rewarding driver�s cars around.
Previously resident in Holland, this right-hand drive Elan S4 was brought back to the UK in 2002, undergoing partial restoration, and was purchased by the current owner that same year. Kept in a de-humidified garage while in the lady vendor�s care, the car has seen relatively little use over the course of the past six years and is presented in generally very good condition. A total of 62,000 miles is displayed on the odometer. Finished in red with black interior, �AKE 149J� is offered with sundry restoration invoices, current road fund licence, MoT to May 2009 and Swansea V5.