1998 Lotus Elise S1

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Sold Price

£13,500

Mileage~61,281 on clock
TransmissionManual
Engine1.8-litre
LocationClitheroe, Lancashire

SOLD

1998 Lotus Elise S1

I WANT ONE

Introduction

Paul Wright

Professional Consigner

A masterclass in minimalist engineering, stripping away modern weight to deliver pure, unadulterated sports car agility.

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 ~eight and a half years, and fewer than ~900 miles have been covered in that time – yes, ~900! It's finished in bright 'Calypso Red' and presents exceptionally well, inside and out.

This listing was written from information supplied by Paul after meeting John 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

We got the Elise as a weekend toy, but house renovations took over.

Eight and a half years ago, John bought this lovely 1998 Lotus Elise to enjoy on weekends and days out. The purchase also coincided with an extensive house renovation, which went on for several years and is the exact reason the car has only covered ~1,000 miles in the past 10 years, some of which the car wasn’t used from one year to the next.

Now, with a planned house move and unsure of storage at the new property, John has decided that, as the car isn’t being used, it’s probably best to sell it rather than leave it sitting.

John will be happy to answer any questions in the comments section below.

John

Vehicle Owner

John saved £2,340* when they
sold their Lotus with us.

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EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

A lightweight, curvy fibreglass body manages to look delightfully hyperactive even when sitting completely still.

Wheels and Tyres

The original Lotus five-spoke alloy wheels are in excellent condition, with no damage or corrosion noted on the faces. They are wrapped in a pair of Toyo tyres at the front and Vredestein tyres at the rear, all of which have plenty of tread remaining.

Please take the time to review the photos and videos for a detailed view of the exterior, wheels and tyres, so you can make your own assessment of their condition. Tyres are a key safety item, and you should consider replacing any that are cracked, perished, unevenly worn or over 10 years old.

Bodywork

The bodywork is in excellent condition, with no damage noted, and the panels align with equal gaps on both sides.

The removable fabric roof is also in excellent condition, with minimal signs of age.

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

Paint

Finished in bright 'Calypso Red', the paintwork presents exceptionally well, with a deep, lustrous shine. There are a few minor age-related stone chips, but these are minimal.

The images are taken from a range of angles to show the car as you would see it in person, so please take the time to fully assess the high-resolution photos and videos before forming your own opinion of the paintwork.

Glass and Trim

The windows are in good condition, with no noticeable scratches; there is, however, a small crack in the lower edge of the windscreen in the middle. A small amount of corrosion under the window scraper trim has made the rubber finish slightly raised.

The front and rear lights are all in good order, with no damage to the lenses.

Please view the photos and video below to review the condition of the glass and trim for yourself.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

Bare aluminium and a simple layout suggest it's a driver-focused sports car.

Seats and Carpets

The seats are in excellent condition; usually, you see signs of wear on the driver’s side from entering and exiting the low seating position. It appears that each owner has taken great care when getting in and out of the Elise, as wear and tear is minimal.

The embroidered fitted floor mats protect the aluminium floor and have no signs of excessive use.

Dashboard

Clean and simple; the dashboard has no damage to mention.

Fitted with a twin-gauge Stack instrument cluster, this is working correctly, and the odometer shows ~61,281 miles at the time of our visit.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The original leather Lotus steering wheel has light signs of colour wear to the rim, in keeping with the age and mileage.

It's fitted with the original aluminium ball gear knob and is in good condition.

Please see the interior gallery for more detailed images.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

~118 bhp may not sound like a lot in today's world, but in something which weighs in at 725 kg – it's a whole lot of fun!

Engine and Gearbox

The 1.8-litre engine fires up without hesitation and sounds fantastic, thanks to the short journey to the twin tailpipes. The car runs with no issues reported and performs very well.

Fitted with a five-speed gearbox, the change is short and precise, with a reassuring feel as you select each gear.

Suspension and Brakes

The paperwork suggests the Elise has a Lotus Sport S2 suspension kit fitted in 2009, which would have been around ~11,000 miles ago. Since then, ball joints and anti-roll bar joints have also been replaced. On the road, the car handles very well, with no knocks or bangs from either corner.

The Elise comes to a stop in a straight line, and all four brake discs appear to be in good order, with minimal signs of wear.

The Drive

Driving the Lotus Elise is pretty much as mechanical an experience as you will find, defined by its ultra-light ~725 kg extruded aluminium chassis. No power steering, no ABS and no brake servo; every input from the unassisted steering wheel and pedal box feeds unfiltered feedback directly from the road surface to your hands and feet.

The mid-engined balance makes turn-in lightning fast and body roll nearly non-existent, making its modest ~118 bhp 1.8-litre engine feel very punchy through the close-ratio five-speed manual gearbox.

Electrics and Other

Switchgear is minimal in the Elise, but the essentials are there and working correctly, with no visible signs of wear to the lettering.

A Sony CD head unit is fitted, with a removable face.

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History and Paperwork

Just over ~1,000 miles covered in 10 years – the Elise is ready to be driven.

The Elise comes with a nice history file documenting services, previous MOT certificates and work carried out over the years. The current MOT is valid until 14.05.2027.

Two keys are also included, along with both alarm remote key fobs and the immobiliser fobs.

This Elise is in exceptional condition for its age, as you've probably seen many Elises suffer from worn interiors and heavy stone chips to the front. This one, however, is different; the interior is excellent, and although the front has some very light chips, it appears original, making it an exceptionally nice example to own and cherish for years to come.

We’ve carried out our usual seller checks, including photo ID and V5 verification, as well as a history check on the vehicle. This is a professional HPI check that will highlight if the car has previously been stolen, recorded as being involved in an accident or has any outstanding finance. Please note, this does not include a mileage history check.

We’ve summarised our own view of the car based on information provided by the seller; however, as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video each car in high-resolution detail, so you can make your own assessment from the comfort of your home. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time reviewing everything in this listing.

Viewings are also welcomed on all our listings. Please get in touch to arrange a suitable time; we just need to speak to you first and receive valid photo ID before confirming.

If there’s anything you’re unsure about, no matter how small, please ask the owner in the comments section before placing your bids, as bids cannot be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car, just like at a traditional auction house.

Service History

Date	Type	Mileage
15.05.2026	MOT	61,257
03.08.2022	MOT	61,245
10.07.2021	MOT	60,784
03.08.2019	MOT	60,702
08.06.2018	MOT	60,527
17.08.2017	Service
07.06.2017	MOT	60,456
16.05.2016	MOT/Service	60,082
16.06.2015	Owners Service	59,794
07.05.2015	MOT	59,694
30.06.2014	Owner Service	59,505
15.05.2014	MOT	59,459
24.05.2013	Service	57,130
14.05.2013	MOT	57,119
31.05.2012	Timing Belt, Water Pump and Alternator Belt	56,913
17.05.2012	MOT	56,879
09.05.2011	MOT/Service	56,676
20.05.2010	MOT/Service	53,756
30.04.2009	MOT/Service	50,669
16.05.2008	MOT	46,878
21.05.2007	Service	44,646
16.05.2007	MOT	44,449
04.02.2006	MOT	40,473
18.02.2005	MOT/Service	27,969
19.02.2004	Service	26,531
18.02.2004	MOT	26,528
15.02.2003	MOT	22,469
19.02.2002	MOT	20,373
23.08.2001	MOT	19,556

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Key Details

Year1998
ModelElise
TransmissionManual
Reg. Date01.08.1998
CC1796
Mileage~61,281 on clock
ColourCalypso Red
Interior ColourGrey
Interior TrimFabric
Chassis #SCCGA1113WHC34069
Engine #18K4FJ31117513
MOTYes Exp:14.05.2027
HPi ClearYes - all clear
Former Keepers6
Tyre BrandToyo, Vredestein
# of Keys2
LHD or RHDRHD
VisitedYes
Sale TypePrivate
Owned~8 years , 8 months
Key FeatureWell Presented
Vehicle RegistrationS336 ATN
Driver’s SideRight
Fuel TypePetrol
Body TypeConvertible
Auction ID3977

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Vehicle Sold

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I WANT ONE

Ask Questions

Seller : Adam Purrier - Trade Classics Sale Date 24.09.2026

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

3 Comments

ColinB

Admin

10 days ago

*** RESERVE LOWERED ***

John has decided to lower the reserve so the highest bidder is more likely to win the Elise on Thursday evening, good luck!

Thanks,
Colin.

Openone

11 days ago

Hi John, can you please advise on how long is the crack in the windscreen?
Also has the head gasket been replaced if so how long ago?
Regards Openone

JohnElise

Openone

10 days ago

Hi, the crack is about 11cm long and runs horizontally. It is not in the field of view from the driving position as it is very low down on the windscreen. It has not got any worse in the time that I have had the lotus. If you want me to send you a more detailed picture with a ruler against the crack, I could email or message it directly to you?
Regarding the head gasket, it has not been changed while I have owned the Lotus. The timing belt was changed under 1000 miles ago and at the time, it was not thought to be necessary to change the head gasket. There is no sign of oil in the water or water in the oil and no “blowing” from the head.
Regards, John

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Vehicle Location

Clitheroe, Lancashire

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