The Lotus Elite was brewing in Colin Chapman’s mind long before it finally hit the tarmac. By 1967, the Lotus line-up had marched upscale, that berth being occupied by the newly launched Elan +2. An almost-four-seat coupe, featuring a polished wood instrument panel saturated with gauges and a gracefully carved body, the Elan +2 was aimed directly at well-heeled buyers looking for a step up from Chapman’s tossable but tiny sports models. But as soon as the first Elan +2 drove out the door, Chapman was contemplating its replacement – something even more luxe. Initial styling exercises were discouraging and the project was scrapped. Then in 1969, Mike Kimberley from Jaguar and Tony Rudd from BRM Engineering joined Lotus, giving the project new impetus. In 1971, Kimberley, Rudd, Chapman, and Oliver Winterbottom – a Lotus veteran – sketched a front-engined, wedge-nosed shooting brake, reportedly in a matter of hours. Despite swift progress toward a mock-up, the interior styling was stalled. Chapman outsourced the cabin to Giorgetto Giugiaro’s Ital Design, and it took a year to fit the result into the confines of the Elite. Finally, in 1973, the new car landed in showrooms, just in time to meet a fuel crisis on top of a recession. Worse, it was the most expensive car Lotus had produced to date. Though prices may have been high then, the Elite’s value has not kept up with any measure of the collector car universe over the years: they remain downright cheap. This 1974 Elite is offered in Williston, Vermont, and our opportunity to write about it comes courtesy of Tony Primo – thanks!
Though the Elite took a tortuous route through the styling department, its construction was mostly derived from its older siblings – a similar backbone chassis, fiberglass body panels, four-wheel independent suspension. The engine, though, was the same Type 907 developed for the Jensen-Healey – an all-alloy, DOHC, 1973 cc four-cylinder breathing through twin Dellorto carburetors. With the car weighing only 2700 lbs, zero to sixty arrives in 8.6 seconds. This is a seriously quick station wagon! The Elite offered air conditioning, power steering, and – if you were that kind of driver – an automatic transmission. This one has a five-speed manual. The seller notes that he purchased this Elite from the original owner who upgraded the car with Euro “trim” – largely amounting to the bumpers. The velocity stacks are a sporty touch.
The Elite confused Lotus fans. It wasn’t just its looks, presence, and size. It was the interior, which is cushy and full-featured. The trunk under that back hatch has real cubic space. Then there are those rear seats – hard to enter, hard to exit, but … there. I’m sure more than one Lotus fan wondered if Colin Chapman had been supernaturally possessed when the family-oriented Elite showed up.
This example was purchased in Mississippi and driven in one stint to Vermont two years ago. It has been on blocks in a warehouse for at least a year. The seller advises it is “not on the road now” – which could mean almost anything, but I suspect it means it doesn’t run. The car is advertised on craigslist for $4000 or best offer. These unloved models have never sold for much; it’s nearly impossible to find a quality offering as the cost of upkeep far exceeds their value. This example is the nicest I have seen in some time (yes, I admit, I like these and the dastardly Jensen GT, who knows why), and even it has flaws requiring liberal applications of cash. I hope this Elite can find a buyer, but I think the price is going to be more in the “best offer” realm than $4000. What do you think?
Lotus looked at a Pantera and Pinto and hmmm “I bet people would eat this up if we combined the two……”
I actually worked on these and on Jensen GT’s when they were new. The interiors of the Lotus were disappointing, the climate control system was underdeveloped but the rest of the car was not bad. It was the first generation of Lotus that didn’t have the speedboat level of laid fiberglass which made the bodies seem more substantial.
Years ago i owned a red 77 Elite, yes one problem after another. Looks like the tail lights are different too with the Euro bumpers. Luv those rear seats!! The price seems fair.
I was a full on Lotus fan at the time. I’d be about 21 and convinced that Chapman was a genius. And then this…
I wasn’t the target demographic. The problem was the demographic for an ugly, expensive and unreliable new Lotus didn’t really exist. In terms of road cars, the marque never recovered.
Look at the relative positions of Lotus and Porsche between 1974 and 2024. Not a good time for Lotus.
Still, $4000 seems very cheap!
Lotus designed a high priced model that looked like a warmed over kit car.
Not touching that stick ah huh… very european
In the early/mid ’80’s I thought this would be a really cool
family car.Found one in the LA Auto Trader in Sun Valley (CA).
Flew to LA where my friend picked me up in his nice Capri II V6.
I test drove it,which brought out most of it’s faults.The glove box
wouldn’t stay closed,the headliner was slightly sagging,& the sun-
visor wouldn’t stay up.
When I pulled back into the seller’s shop,it puked coolant on
the floor.I told the seller that “I think I’ll pass”,to which he replied
“Why?”