The original Lotus Elite, the Type 14, are highly collectible and desirable cars today. The revived Elite, such as this 1974 Lotus Elite 501 Type 75 is maybe more unique than it is lusted after, at least by the general public. This example is listed on eBay in Stateline, Nevada with bids of over $3,000 and there are 8 full days left on the auction! The reserve isn’t met and it’ll be interesting to see what this car sells for.
The seller says that this is “a rare true garage find from a California estate. The vehicle has been garaged for many years now and comes with its original 1973 License Plates, Shop Manuals, and Service Records.” I know that these are awkwardly-shaped cars but that makes me like them even more. It’s looking at you, saying, “Buy me, I’ll be an easy project, really I will be!”
This is a “501” model, which is a base model. Lotus offered the 501, the 502 which added AC, the 503 which added AC and power steering, and the 504 which added a Borg-Warner three-speed automatic transmission. The 503 would be my sweet spot. The Type 83 came next as the Elite Mark II in 1980. Hagerty is at $4,200 for a #4 fair condition car. The seller says that they’ve had this car running by pouring gas in the carbs so it’s not quite ready for the road yet.
The interior is quite luxurious and you’re really sitting below the waterline, almost like being in a canoe. That high center console and shifter seem almost too high for comfortable ergonomics but I have never driven one so I can’t say for sure. I know that a lot of Barn Finds readers have owned and/or driven the 75/83 Elite, hopefully those of you who have can comment on the driving position and driving experience, in general. The back seat is most likely not a place that anyone 6′-5″ tall would want to spend any time but it sure looks nice back there. For the record, yes, the glove box door closes.
This is the Lotus 2.0L inline-four with 155 hp . From the seller’s description: “Mechanically, the car is a bit of a time capsule, save the new battery and cables. The vehicle runs with prime gas, pouring gasoline directly into the carburetors. We believe it needs to have the fuel system gone over from the gas tank to the carburetors.” There seems to be a decent amount of interest in this car, do any of you have any experience with the Type 75 Lotus Elite?
Scotty, just read your reply to my ‘jaw dropping’ comment. You received 12 replies so I’m expecting tiki torches outside tonight. The problem with text humor is obvious; The inflection is missed by both sender/receiver.
All of my stuff is ugly. Jaw droppingly so. How many of you were proud of owning a 78 F-10 when they were new. I just find it funny when engineers come up with a jaw dropping design, only to find out the populace doesn’t think so. Pretty thin skinned if you ask me. The Pulsar was one I wanted, and the Lotus tribe of any model would be welcome.
The use of the term jaw dropping to me is; when you pull a twin out of mx, and no oil is leaking. Or hydraulics. Or none of the associated circuit breakers pop on engine start. WARBIRDS and airliners are much worse. “What, no fire on three this time? Jaw dropping!”
The P-51 Mustang I got to fly once was so clean you could eat off any surface. The B-25 Mitchell I was in last year dripped so much oil from both engines it looked about 100 ancient Harley Panheads had managed to somehow park under each engine. Being both a pilot and an A&P I did a walk around and climbed aboard. The pictures I took from the Bombardier’s seat in that lovely Plexiglas nose show the ripples of oil streaming back over the cowlings and wings. It was a true cloud greaser :)
I’ve always loved Lotus, and they have built some brilliant cars. However, looking at the engine bay raises more questions than it answers. There are a lot of corroded parts there, but there doesn’t appear to be any consistency with the corrosion, or the parts that are corroded. I’d really like to see some shots of the underside of this one.
Gremlin.
yup, plus Javelin.
I thought we reached the peek of ugly with cars like the cube or Aztec, but I was wrong this is uglier. Do designers not step back from there work to look at what they have created ? This thing looks like it was drawn by a preschooler who hasn’t gotten full command of hand eye coordination yet. What’s really shocking is that this was ok’d for production. If it were mine I’d trade it for a sick dog then shoot the dog.
I would respectfully disagree. While unique and an “acquired taste” (like eating a beet and limberger cheese sandwiche on gluten free bread) it is period correct for the 70’s when you consider peer cars like: x19; tr7; Citroen SM…
The naysayers would be surprised at how wicked these can get when resto modded with a built 215 V8. Google Richard Normans 1974 Elite, feel free to come back and let us know what you think.
These have much more potential than people give credit for.
I remember considering leasing a Lotus back in the mid-1970s. Then I recalled how unreliable they were and got the previously-mentioned-elsewhere, rejected special order Skylark Hatch.
While it might not have had the pedigree of the British marque and it was shipped minus the LM-1’s front main seal (really!), I did get over 140K trouble-free miles out of it over three years. I don’t think the Lotus would have lasted 1000 miles, especially the way I drove.
I drove the very first one in North America – an even more astounding claim would be that nothing broke or fell off on that one trip around the block! Truly, the only car that makes a Jensen Healey look good, both in terms of style and reliability!
It loos in good condition versus most I have seen. The interiors dont tend to age well, but this one looks ok.
Not really my cup of tea with its odd looks. Easy to work on though and different.
I have owned an S2 Esprit so I am a Lotus fan but it is a so much better looking car.
Lotus: does the rear hatch make my butt lol big?
Viewers : yes this is a very ugly car stuffed with creature comfort seats.
Please put this back in the garage under wraps as it might look good in another four decades .
Never did anything for me. Plus parts costs. Kinda looks like a European version of A Pacer. LOL
You can have it.
Is this really that much uglier than a first generation Panamera?
Gee, if you have to ask . . . have you seen an ophthalmologist lately? I think the Pontiac Aztec descended from this – didn’t GM own Lotus for a while?? There COULD BE a connection – conspiracy theorist need to look into this!!
Good call, seems roughly as ugly as a Panamara.
I have a hood for a 74
Came off my friends car it burned up in garage and ended with hood great shape was out side
I’ve owned a ’75 Elite 501 since May ’15 that looks mint inside and out incl. the engine bay and undercarriage. Notwithstanding living in the UK where parts are more readily available, I’ve driven it no more than 150 miles in total since purchase and maybe max. 20 miles between breakdowns … . Mine’s purple with white interior and so ugly it looks really cool. The recurring cheers by passers by during those rare occasions it drives and works are the only reason I don’t have it scraped for parts and keep throwing money at it. I wish the current and possible new owner the best of luck!
Greetings All,
I’m a fan of Lotus, this one not so much.
Great driving car.
Love the inside and the way it goes and handles, the only problem is eventually I have to get out and see what it looks like. Pretty it’s not, 30 years on, still not growing on me.
Guessing after the Europa though, at least you had rear view vision.
To me the Lotus Elan was the best looking car Lotus made. As ugly as a Pacer is I would take that upside down oil pan of a car over this thing any day, and yes I did call an AMC ugly. Lol
Those are, hands down, the ugliest flip up headlights I have ever seen.
What other poor things are wasting in the background?
Me thinks it’s been sitting outside for awhile with that corrosion, at least for a bit recently with the other sad tarp covered items.
I had a 69 Elan Plus 2 for a while which I always considered to be the best looking Lotus. I don’t think I could live with this model.