Restored Lotus Elite S2 with racing history heads to auction

A restored Lotus Elite S2 could make up to £90,000 when it goes under the hammer. The car will be offered for sale at the H&H Classics auction at Duxford Imperial War Museum on Wednesday, 26 July.

Delivered new in 1961 to Formula One team Gilby Engineering, it was driven by Keith Greene in sports car events and was prepared for racing by Lotus. Its competition life was a brief one, however, with various teething problems.

After being returned to the factory to fix the suspension problems that blighted early models, the car was sold on and registered as a road car before being put into long-term storage in 1966 where the car parted company with its original engine and ZF gearbox.

Lotus Elite-specialist Mk14 Components recently restored the car, fitting the car with an FWE Climax engine that has steel crankshaft, lightened flywheel, and forged pistons. It has also had hardened valve seats fitted to allow it to run on unleaded fuel. It runs on twin 40 DCOE Weber carbs, giving a recorded power output of 105bhp. A Ford Type 9 gearbox has also been fitted.

Other modifications include rose joints on the rear suspension, a 50 amp Dynator alternator, and an alloy radiator fitted with an 11-inch electric fan.

Unveiled at the 1957 London Motor Show, the Elite (Type 14) was not only Colin Chapman's first production road car but also the world's first glassfibre monocoque, which helped keep the kerbweight down to 684kg and contributed to on-track success.

For more information, visit the H&H Classics website.