One to Buy: rare mono paint Lagoon Blue Metallic 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.
