The Lotus Elan S3 was produced in England from 1966 to 1968. It replaced the S2 and was itself replaced by the S4. Exports to the U.S. were likely scarce but perhaps aided by the British TV series The Avengers, which ran in the States during that time. Lovely agent Emma Peel (played by Diana Rigg, whom I had a crush on) drove one in the show, so perhaps that helped sell a few. This example from 1966 has had the same owner for more than 50 years, so it has been updated and upgraded over time. Located in a garage on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, this rarity is available here on craigslist for $23,000 (CDN or USD?).
This seller provides only a single photo, so we had to improvise on the other two. This little sports car has more than 140,000 miles or kilometers on it, yet he or she has only used it sparingly over the years. The title is said to be “rebuilt” so would-be buyers need to find out what that’s all about. We’re told that bits and pieces from later Elans in the 1970s have gone into this car and it has been repainted more than once. The list of newer goodies includes the gas tank, tires, brakes, exhaust, and an engine rebuild. So, this little machine is far from original.
About three years ago, one of the Elans that was driven in The Avengers and later given to Diana Rigg was auctioned off. An interesting write-up from our Jamie Palmer here on Barn Finds shares more about the sports car and the show. And here’s credit for the interior photo and the engine photo as these are not of the seller’s car. Perhaps the off-the-beaten-path location of the car for sale makes getting more photos difficult. Thanks for the tip, “Curvette”.
Rates right up there with the best driving cars ever built. Nice one.
Russ, you weren’t the only one who had a crush on Diana Rigg!
Who didn’t have a crush on Emma Peel?
Price is Canadian money. Its really easy to figure out, if the car is for sale in another country such as canada the owner would like payment in the money from his country…UNLESS specified in US dollars. Hope i cleared this up as im about the 50th person to bring this up.
When I first saw the picture I thought “Oh, nice NA MX5″…then the age penetrated my synapses. Those Mazda engineers and the California style studio weren’t shy, were they?
Well, as my uni lit prof used to say “Steal from the best.”
Left rear fender lip/flare is not correct for an S3.
Post deleted, so at that price it looks like the seller found a buyer?
I had a crush on Diana too and loved watching the show as a little kid. I have the whole series. I even cried when she left the show. Not sure if that is the reason, but an Elan III has been at the top of my list to own. The ones for sale (rarely) in my area are either in terrible condition or priced at an insane number. Never imported a car from Canada but will think about this.
This one has some issues, but most of them probably do
if you want to cruise in a Lotus, this gets you there. It seems to be way better than “Rough / Project Car” condition.
Condition / Level – Estimated Value Range
Rough / Project Car $8,000 – $18,000
Average / Good Retail $28,000 – $38,000
High Retail / Fine $50,000 – $58,000
Concours / #1 State $66,000 – $69,000+
Was a little too young in ’66 to notice Emma in the Avengers when they first aired in the US… but when the re-runs started airing on the UHF channels in the early/mid ’70s my budding pubescent teen brain sure did. Had a crush on Ms Peel… and the Lotus. To this day I have a pic pinned to my barn wall with Emma in some kind of blue jumpsuit getting out of her opalescent powder blue Elan S3… chassis 45/6114. Some things never die…
Back in the day (70’s for me) you sure didn’t want to autocross against one of these! FWIW – Mrs. Peel’s Elan changed color when the show went from black and white to color show. The original white S2 was replaced by an S3 that was painted Jaguar Opalescent Blue
Grew up wanting that car. Driving it was like driving a go-kart. Friend had a Lotus Cortina, same engine I think. Didnt have the money for the Lotus bought a Datsun 2000. Those were the fun days. Gas was $.35 a gallon. Still looking at this one.
The ad has been deleted now.
The ad on Craigslist has been removed
It has been deleted
Buy a Miata and save your money that would be spent on keeping this Elan alive.