One to Buy: rare mono paint 1973 Lotus Elan Sprint FHC
Lotus decided on a more back-to-basics approach for their successor to the Elite which had been based around a state-of-the-art fibreglass monocoque.
The resultant Elan debuted at the London Motor Show in October 1962 and featured a simple steel backbone chassis to which a fibreglass bodyshell was mounted. In the engine bay was the firm’s Ford-based dual overhead camshaft inline four.
Over the next few years a Fixed Head variant joined the original Elan Roadster and in 1970 the car’s engine was uprated to Sprint specification with larger inlet valves, hotter camshafts and improved carburettors. Famously, the Sprint was also offered with a triple-tone paint finish inspired by the Lotus racing team’s title sponsor, Gold Leaf tobacco, which saw a coloured upper body, gold pinstripe and white lower section.
Although exceedingly popular, the Gold Leaf livery was often somewhat gaudy which makes the rare Elan Sprints painted monotune exceddingly desirable today.
One such car is currently on offer with The Hairpin Company in Wiltshire.
Configured in gorgeous Lagoon Blue Metallic with Black upholstery, this particular example was ordered by a first owner who retained it until 1999. Since then the car has gone through the hands of four more owners and been subjected to a two-year restoration by Lotus specialists.
Reprinted below is The Hairpin Company’s description for this superbly configured 62,000 mile Elan Sprint FHC:
A really good Elan Sprint Coupe is seldom seen but here we have just such a car, finished in arguably the best colour for an Elan, full Lagoon Blue without the contrasting white lower panels. A solid colour was a £30 option when ordered new as was the case with this Elan. The car has covered 62,000 miles from new and comes with a great history. It is faithful to its original specification in all respects including the Dellorto carburettors fitted only to the late production cars.
A letter on file from Lotus Cars with a copy of the production trace sheet together with the original stamped service book confirms that the Elan was completed at the factory on the 16th November 1972 and then despatched to the supplying Lotus dealer J A Else & Co in Codner, Derbyshire. It was obviously a customer factory order as on the 17th November 1972 it was assigned to the first owner, a Mr Ward, who lived near Nottingham. Mr Ward obviously didn’t want to use the car during the impending winter as it remained unregistered at the dealer until February 1973.
Mr Ward obviously loved his little Lotus as he retained it until 1999 and looked after it carefully during this time as detailed in the numerous invoicing on file primarily with Lotus specialists Kelvedon Motors. Indeed, Kelvedon obviously recognised the quality of the Elan as they purchased it from Mr Ward as soon as he suggested a sale may be imminent.
Kelvedon sold the Elan that same year to the second owner, a Mr Astle based in Derbyshire, close to the original supplying dealer. The sales invoice on file shows that he paid £9,000, a good price for an Elan Coupe back then. Mr Astle used the car minimally, MOT certificates on file indicate that the mileage increased from 58,980 miles at purchase to 59,999 miles in 2015.
The third owner, a Mr Castle, registered the car to his address in Bournemouth in October 2013, he obviously had great plans for the Elan and so began a two year restoration which is fully detailed in extensive invoicing on file. Work began with a new galvanised and painted Lotus chassis after which all componentry was refurbished or replaced prior to assembly. This work was clearly completed to a very high standard as six years on the car presents to a very high standard and drives as only a well sorted example can.
The fourth owner purchased the Elan from Lotus guru Paul Matty to join his small collection of exceptional cars. He covered a minimal mileage, only using the Elan on fine dry days. We purchased the Elan from this fourth owner in 2017 and sold it to a very regular Hairpin customer who has a fine eye for quality.
The car has just returned to us and remains as lovely as ever. A truly great Elan Sprint Coupe is a rare find, especially one like this in a great colour combination with a fantastic history file.
