First Production Lotus Elite Hits The Auction Block

The very first Lotus Elite produced goes under the hammer, after a detailed restoration that was also filmed for a TV series.

Built in 1958, chassis number 1009 was purchased by Chris Barber -a personal friend of Colin Chapman’s- who then took it racing around Europe, including events at Goodwood and Nurburgring.

“This car represents a unique proposition for buyers wanting to race in top level historic motor sport or add to a stable of historically interesting cars”, said Nick Whale, Silverstone Auctions managing director. “Its history and provenance make this Elite one of the most famous in the world and mean it would be welcome at any prestigious historic race meeting or show worldwide.”

After being in storage for many years, this Lotus Elite was restored back to its former glory by Ant Anstead’s team at Evanta Motors with assistance from Lotus marque experts. The restoration was filmed as part of a new series called ‘For The Love of Cars’.

This British classic will be auctioned on July 30th, with an estimate between £75,000 and £100,000 ($100k-$134k in current exchange rates). “Every detail has been restored to better than new standard using only top quality components”, said Ant Anstead. “The result is car that is a joy to behold and a thrill to drive, in pristine condition and ready to race.”