The Lotus Elite is one of those unloved sports cars that remains at the bottom of the totem pole as it relates to values and desirability. Blame the shape or the tepid performance, but the window of opportunity for the Elite to become a collectible has passed, so outside of a pristine, best-in-the-world example, you can find them for reasonable money. This Elite listed here on craigslist is offered up by its second owner who bought the Lotus in 1979. The Elite has 51,000 miles with an asking price of $5,500.
Now, I like the hatchback design, but a lot of enthusiasts find it unappealing. The thought here is that the only performance car worth owning is one that has two doors and a notchback-style hardtop, so cars that look like this – with a rear glass canopy that opens independent of the hatch – simply cannot be considered “sporting.” But as the seller points out, there’s a saving grace to this design, which is that it allows to take some rear passengers along for the ride. A real backseat, in a Lotus!
Now, one of my biggest critiques of Lotus project cars is that the interiors look absolutely horrific after a few years of casual neglect and sun exposure. That’s not the case here, and you have to give the seller some credit for keeping this car at least somewhat protected despite not being in regular, active use. The steering wheel is also a terrific relic of the 70s, and really, the cockpit is the highlight here. Knowing you can breathe life into this car without having to restore the cabin is a major leg up.
The Elite resides in Washington State, which is about the best place to find a forgotten sports car outside of southern California. The Pacific Northwest is a goldmine for cars like these, and I’d feel comfortable making the journey to buy this Lotus sight unseen if I was in the market for one. The seller notes his Elite has power steering and air conditioning, so it has a few other “bonuses” working in its favor if you’re looking to put one of these in your stable.
The love child of a Brubaker Box and an AMC Gremlin. The mouse hair interior is something to behold. I know someone who bought one of these. At 6’2″ I was able to sit in it comfortably. The enveloping experience of the mouse hair upholstery was quite mind spinning.
Lotus friend of mine years ago said: Not the easiest car to get in and out, like a good running shoe, once you’re in, you’re part of the car. I sat in his elite and Europa a couple of times. I’m 6’2″ and then very athletic, but I was surprised it was plenty of leg room in both cars. But man it was claustrophobic with 2 guys over 6 foot inside. We weren’t that close of friends, just car guys hanging out. They should have been making a single seater and make it a roll cage commuter sports car. Rear engine would make center steering wheel simple. You’re not going for high volume cars, why this pretense you’re going to add weight and passenger? Lotus 7 already had made that leap. So low to the ground, less weight one door, it could be a slider or gullwing to make sitting on the ground easier. That said, any Lotus is a special car and this is definitely worth restoring. Ugly can have historical importance. Why was Lotus being told to be something it wasn’t? Now or then, I wouldn’t be buying an ultralight sports car with a engine under 2 liters to give rides to anyone but myself. Someone within Lotus getting terrible advice. So that is interesting. Like a Pacer in Los Angeles in summer, all those windows? What were they thinking?!
A few months ago there was one for sale in New York for $1500. It has 3k original miles on it. It was literally a brand new car except for extreme deterioration caused by sitting outside for ten years with two windows open. Such a shame of a now super-rare car…
How far removed from the original, beautiful, Lotus Elite of 1962!
I wish I could post a picture.
The Elite is proof that rarity doesn’t equate to value.
That’s the beauty of the hobby. I bought one for $800 less than two years ago and I’m having a genuinely good time bringing it back to life. Almost bought another last fall with 20K miles on it for around $2000. Here’s a car that was a pet project of Colin Chapman and cost damn near $20K in the mid-70s. The market can keep overlooking these as far as I’m concerned.
Was Lotus going for the gangster vibe, with that fur interior? Wow. I’d forgotten about this relic.
Lotus projecting the Gremlin and Pacer, or was it the other way around? “Ugly is in, baby!” Maybe to subliminally suggest to less attractive women, that the guy driving it ain’t picky, just desperate?
I had a red 77, say what you want but i liked mine. Not all had the fuzzy interior. No engine photos, and not many photos.
My last picture of my 76 was as it was towed away after the fire. The previous owner had changed the original carbs to Dell’s and they puked gas and fumes into the fiberglass breather box and down onto the starter.
Insurance covered it. The car had 40K miles and the interior was in great shape except the headliner which wanted to fall.
This car will require a new timing belt and much love. Good luck with this.
Lotus has quite a history of engine bay fires from gas on fiberglass. You’d think they would have caught on and made that a metal shell with more safeguards on the fuel lines and tank. Weight is the premium objective, less weight. But fiberglass isn’t as light as advertised if it’s structural. They could have figured out an engine bay metal shell as part of weight reduction to add structural rigidity to use less glass and resin on that part of the car.
This looks like something a French automaker would have come up with – This is one ugly car ;I’m surprised Lotus took this one farther than the blueprints
Brits have made plenty of hideous cars. You’re just looking to hate on the French. Duly noted. There’s counseling for that now. French have made many beautiful cars. And some oddities. But probably more beautiful cars than most countries. Detroit made ugly cars every year by majority. No comments about Matador and gremlins? Ford LTD? 70’s caddy sedans? Citation? Omni? Half the post WW2 sedans weighing in at 5,000 pounds? Revised boats and ‘muscle cars’ for the needy crowd when giant SUV’s uglied-up and doubled down? Why single out France? Ever seen a Trabant?
I also think this is an ugly car, and looking from the rear end, it reminds me of a Pinto… another strike.
My God, I was just about to say the same…PINTO. 🤢
These are weird, but look better in person. You can appreciate the low height and the wide, squat stance, like nothing else. Also, some of the coolest wheels ever. I’d have one of these, but $5500 seems steep for this.
I’ll second the ugly Pinto assessment. No thanks.
Ergonomics, ergonomics. There needs to be a label on the door jamb, as with amusement ride rules….. “You need to be this tall to ride”. Cramped cabin and if overweight and tall….. in may be a one way trip inside, never to escape. Look for skeletons with the barn finds….
admittedly the headlights being up do not contribute to the aesthetics of the car. When down, the overall is a much sleeker look. I’d love to jump on something like this, but as someone else stated, the price is a bit high (ok a lot higher than I’d go). That and fit – I’m 6’3″ so I know I’d be cramped. I was in my S2 Europa. Although I did drive a newer Elise once. With helmet on I was still quite comfortable