1998 Lotus Elise S1 |

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1998 Lotus Elise S1

Sold Price

£11,149

Mileage~69,688
TransmissionManual
Engine1.8L
LocationAberdeen

SOLD

1998 Lotus Elise S1

I WANT ONE

Introduction

Colin Bashford

Professional Consigner

Tipping the scales at just ~725 kg, the Elise doesn’t require a great deal of power to get going.

Built on an aluminium chassis with a fibreglass body, the Elise was designed to keep both weight and production costs low. Production began in 1996, with early cars featuring a Rover K-series 1.8-litre engine producing around 118 bhp. That may not sound like much, but with a kerb weight of just ~725 kg, it’s enough to propel the Elise from 0–60 mph in approximately 5.8 seconds — and it’s exceptionally nimble too.

This particular car is a 1998 S1 and has been with our vendor for approximately ~12.5 years, and fewer than ~2,000 miles have been covered in that time. It is accompanied by a collection of invoices and MOT certificates, and it has a current MOT valid until 29.04.2026. The current owner has brought the car up to a lovely standard, and maintained as needed with ~£6,400 spent on parts and then additional spend on servicing etc. Presented in a smart silver over black colourway, this is a no nonsense sports car that is begging to have its legs stretched.

This listing was written from information supplied by Colin after meeting Neil the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

The key to the Elise is its simplicity — it has absolutely no technology!

Having started the search for a Sunday driver’s car around twelve and a half years ago, Neil and his wife considered various types of vehicles. When they saw the Elise, they knew it was the one for them. They carried out a lot of work on the car, particularly during their first year of ownership. This included replacing the headlights, fog lights, all the mesh grilles, and the radiator, as well as fitting a completely new interior with updated seats and a steering wheel. Neil told us, “The interior was red when we bought the car, and I changed it to black.”

Neil has always loved how raw the Elise feels, telling us: “Mainly because of how basic it is — you really have to drive it. There are no driver aids at all.” Due to a lack of use, Neil has now decided to part with the Elise. He’ll be available to answer any questions in the comments section below.

Neil

Vehicle Owner

Neil saved £1,980* when they
sold their Lotus with us.

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EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

A lightweight fibreglass body, diminutive stance, and aerodynamic design; instantly recognisable.

Wheels and Tyres

The original five-spoke Lotus wheels appear to be in good condition, with just some age-related marks and a few kerb scuffs on both nearside wheels, but overall they present well. Neil had the paint on the wheels changed from silver to "Graphite Grey" early in his ownership.

A full matching set of Toyo Proxes tyres is fitted to the Elise; all appear to be in good condition with plenty of tread remaining.

Bodywork

The bodywork appeared to be in great shape, with the doors and front clam both aligning well. The engine cover felt a little wobbly when lifted, but it did fit securely. We did, however, notice a small crack in the front panel above the grille. In the current ownership, a sportier rear diffuser has been installed as pictured.

We've highlighted in more detail our observations through our hi-resolution images and videos, so please take time to look through all the media files for a detailed view at what’s on offer, and for you to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

The silver paint appeared to be in very good condition, with an even hue and a pleasing lustre that really popped in the bright sunshine on the day of our visit. We did notice some stone chips on the front end, primarily on the front clamshell and a few on either side of the front bumper. There were also some chips on the rear bar where the roof attaches. The edge of the driver's door had a slight scrape where the paint had chipped off, and there were a few scratches around the driver's door lock as well.

The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there for yourselves. So please take the time to fully assess these hi-resolution images and videos of the car, for you to make up your own minds about the condition of the paint.

Glass and Trim

The glass appeared to be in excellent condition, with no chips or cracks observed. The windscreen features a blue-tinted sunstrip. All exterior trim looked to be present and correct, and the lights and their lenses also appeared to be in great condition.

Neil mentioned that the original roof was looking tired, so a new one was purchased a few weeks ago as pictured.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

A simple, driver-focused interior gives you a clear idea of what the Elise was designed for.

Seats and Carpets

Fitted with a set of Corbeau seats finished in black fabric, these were upgrades that Neil has had fitted and they look in good condition with no excessive bolster wear noted. We noticed you can see through to a little bit of foam at the join of the panels at the bottom of the driver's seat, Neil told us that's how it's been since day one when he got the seats.

The Elise doesn't feature any carpets, in keeping with its lightweight ethos. The footwells are lined with textured rubber on top of the metal, all of which appeared clean.

Dashboard

The dashboard is a simple affair, featuring two large dials, a radio, heater controls, and a few other buttons for lights, etc.

Everything appeared tidy, with no damage noted. The odometer read approximately 69,688 miles at the time of our visit.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

A Momo 88 steering wheel with an Alcantara-covered rim was fitted, again a replacement item from the current ownership, and it appeared to be in good condition.

The gearstick looks good too, with some signs of use, but nothing majorly concerning.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

With just ~118BHP from factory — the Elise zips along thanks to the Colin Chapman lightweight philosophy.

Engine and Gearbox

The 1.8-litre engine sparked into life on the first attempt, with no issues noted during start-up, idle, or while driving.

On the road with Neil, the 5-speed manual gearbox performed well, selecting and engaging gears smoothly. Watch the video to both hear and see the car in action.

Suspension and Brakes

Neil told us that adjustable shock absorbers had been fitted as replacement items in his ownership, currently on a fairly stiff setting. The car handled the road well, even clearing speed bumps that seemed taller than the car, without any adverse noises from the suspension.

The brakes performed well, stopping the car effectively with no pulling or other issues. There were no unwanted noises either, and Greenstuff pads have been fitted.

The Drive

Out on the road with Neil, the Elise felt sharp, with plenty of power available and gears engaging smoothly, just as you’d expect from a sports car.

The ride was impressive, with the Elise taking corners in its stride and handling speed bumps with ease. It’s a fantastic car for anyone seeking a back-to-basics, raw driving experience.

Electrics and Other

There’s not much in the way of electrics in the Elise — you don’t even get electric windows. The clocks were all functioning properly.

Neil mentioned that he wasn’t sure if the radio worked, as he had never tried it during his ownership. Who needs a radio when you have an engine just behind you!

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History and Paperwork

Coming to market from ~12.5 year ownership, it has had ~£6,400 spent on parts in that time that include some upgrades to the interior, and important mechanical upgrades and work too on top of servicing as required.

The Elise comes with various receipts for parts Neil has purchased to bring the car up to the standard he desired. These include adjustable shock absorbers, an expansion tank, exhaust manifold, and a more aggressive rear diffuser. He also changed the wheel colour from silver to graphite grey, replaced the side window rubbers, and, just two weeks ago, bought a new black soft top for the car. Many other components have been replaced, as detailed in the receipts, totalling around £6,400. Receipts from the previous owner are also included.

The car comes from nearly twelve and a half years of ownership with Neil, during which time he has covered fewer than ~2,000 miles. It has a current MOT valid until 29.04.2026. The car comes with one key, Neil told us he only got one key with the car when he bought it.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a history check on the vehicle - this is a professional check operated by HPI that will highlight if the car has been previously stolen, recorded as being in an accident, or have any outstanding finance - note, this does not include a mileage history check.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, and as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment on the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bid/s, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History

Date	Type	Mileage
30.04.2025	MOT	69,673
20.07.2023	MOT	69,604
21.07.2021	Service & MOT	69,584
13.05.2017	MOT	69,555
07.09.2015	Service & MOT	69,359
10.06.2014	MOT	68,881
10.06.2014	Service	68,872
19.06.2013	MOT	68,015
19.06.2013	Service	67,998
15.05.2012	MOT	64,715
30.04.2011	MOT	61,064
10.02.2010	MOT	57,316
21.02.2008	Service	51,772
01.06.2006	Service	46,773

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Key Details

ModelElise S1
Transmission5-Speed Manual
Reg. Date29.09.1998
CC1,796
Mileage~69,688
ColourSilver
Interior ColourBlack
Interior TrimFabric
Chassis #SCCGA1114WHC34081
Engine #18K4FJ31120567
MOT29.04.2026
HPi ClearYes all clear
Former Keepers5
Tyre BrandToyo
# of Keys1
LHD or RHDRHD
VisitedYes
Sale TypePrivate
Owned~12 years, 6 months
Key FeatureCondition, upgrades, keen reserve
Auction ID2776

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Ask Questions

Seller : SNeil Sale Date 29.05.2025

Post a comment or ask the owner a question about the car.

3 Comments

jcf84

1 month ago

Hi, saw the lotus on eBay followed the links through to trade classics website which says car is in Aberdeen?
I live in Westhill would it be possible to come for a look?

Cheers Campbell

SNeil

Seller

jcf84

1 month ago

Hi Campbell, coming to see the car is fine by me but you have to go through trade classics first. Regards Neil

ColinB

Admin

jcf84

1 month ago

Hi Campbell,

We can help arrange a viewing for you if you could send an email to hello@tradeclassics.com first, we just need to do some checks.

Thanks,
Colin.

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Vehicle Location

Aberdeen

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