1970 Lotus Elan Coupe

This 1970 Lotus Elan 2+2 Fixed Head Coupe was offered for sale at the 2007 Sports and Classic Car Auction presented by The Worldwide Group, in Hilton Head Island, SC where it was estimated to sell for $25,000 - $35,000. It is powered by a four-cylinder twin-cam engine that displaced 1558cc and capable of producing nearly 110 horsepower. There is a four-speed manual gearbox and four-wheel disc brakes.

In 1952 engineer Colin Chapman formed Lotus Engineering Ltd. Team Lotus actively campaigned in Formula One Race from 1958 through 1994.

Just a few years after the company was formed, it was on the verge of bankruptcy. The Elan was a model that helped bring it back from the brink. It was an attractive vehicle constructed of lightweight fiberglass and fitted to a steel backbone chassis. The result was excellent handling and great performance. The design of the Elan was courtesy of Mr. Ron Hickman and a former employee of the Ford Corporation.

The Elan was introduced in 1962 and served as a successor to the Elite model. Under the bonnet was a four-cylinder twin-cam engine which helped propel the car into a legend.

The original Elan was configured as a roadster, although an optional hardtop was offered in 1963 and a coupe version in 1965. This was the first Lotus road car utilizing the steel backbone chassis with a fiberglass body. Performance was maximized with four-wheel disc brakes and four-wheel independent suspension.

In 1967 an Elan 2+2 built on a longer wheelbase and two addtional seats was introduced. In total, there were around 17,000 examples of the Elan and Elan +2 created.

The Elan was ranked number six on the list of Top Sports Cars of the 1960's by the Sports Car International. It is also credited with being the design inspiration for the highly successful Mazda MX-5 (Miata).

This 1970 Elan is a +2 with Fixed Head Coupe configuration. It has been treated to a complete restoration off the frame and still shows well. The exterior is finished in a bright red with a black fixed top. The interior is in its original black with matching black carpeting and power windows.

As the gavel fell on auction day this car had found new ownership, though the bidding had fallen short of the estimated value. The car was sold for $20,900.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2007