Not every Lotus Elan was meant to live a quiet life on the street. Some were built, modified, and maintained for one purpose only: going fast on a road course. This 1969 Lotus Elan, currently listed on eBay, clearly falls into that second category. Described by the seller as a well-maintained vintage racer, this is a purpose-built car that has lived its life in the paddock rather than the parking lot.

The car has been maintained by Fawcett Family Racing, a name familiar to longtime Lotus and vintage racing circles. It comes with VARA and CVAR logbooks, reinforcing its history as an active competition car rather than a static display piece. Under the skin, the drivetrain reflects years of thoughtful development aimed at reliability and performance within vintage racing rules.

At the heart of the Elan is an Ivey-built short block by Jay Ivey, known for his Formula Ford engine work. The engine uses a forged crank, H-beam rods, forged pistons, ARP hardware, and a windage tray. While the original Lotus displacement was 1558cc, this engine is built around a 1600cc stroker crank while retaining a stock-height Lotus block, bringing displacement to 1683cc. Cosworth L2 cams are fitted, along with a Weber-equipped cylinder head, headers, and a lightened flywheel. Ignition duties are handled by a Pertronix distributor, keeping things simple and dependable.

The chassis and suspension setup reflects a car that was built to be driven hard. Adjustable coilovers are fitted along with a ¾-inch front anti-roll bar, and CV-joint half shafts replace the original components. Braking is handled by EBC Red Stuff pads, and cooling upgrades include a Griffin aluminum radiator and a quick-change water pump. A full roll cage with anti-intrusion front bars and integrated jack points underscores the car’s serious racing intent.

Recent preparation work was done specifically for this sale. The master cylinder was sleeved and rebuilt by White Post Restorations, and the carburetors were rebuilt, including the return springs. New items added include a fuel filter, fire extinguisher, seatbelts, and battery, suggesting the seller wants the next owner to focus on track time rather than deferred maintenance.

Cosmetically, the yellow paint is described as being in great shape overall, though not perfect, with visible star cracks under the paint on the boot lid—honest wear consistent with a car that’s actually been used as intended.

One important note: despite eBay’s required selection, this car does not have a title. It is being sold as a race car only.

For someone looking to get into vintage racing with a properly sorted Lotus Elan, this appears to be a well-developed, well-documented example that’s ready to return to the track.