Elan SE - Late 1992, just 26900 miles

[Guy Munday]

I am delighted to be associated with this vehicle again, as I sold it to its first three owners and have just bought it from its fourth!

A very late Elan SE, registered in December 1992, this vehicle formed part of a museum collection until finally being registered in 2003, with just 362 recorded miles.

Once in private ownership this car was treated with museum levels of care and has a full service history documented by a portfolio of invoices as well as a fully stamped service book, as follows…

October 2003 362 miles Paul Matty Sportscars
April 2004 2340 miles Stratton Motor Company
October 2004 4120 miles Stratton Motor Company
October 2005 7901 miles Stratton Motor Company
October 2006 10837 miles Stratton Motor Company
October 2007 14053 miles Stratton Motor Company
September 2008 17172 miles Stratton Motor Company
September 2009 19444 miles Stratton Motor Company
October 2010 20594 miles Stratton Motor Company
September 2011 21269 miles Stratton Motor Company
September 2012 23699 miles Stratton Motor Company
October 2013 25711 miles Stratton Motor Company
September 2014 25890 miles Stratton Motor Company
October 2015 26256 miles Stratton Motor Company
October 2016 26769 miles Barry Ely Lotus Specialist

I do not think you will find a better service history than that! The current MOT expires in October 2017 and the current recorded mileage is just 26940.

Every MOT certificate is present along with a ring binder full of papers accrued by its four owners. All of the owners’ books are also present, along with two sets of keys. A Toad alarm/immobiliser has recently been fitted in accordance with modern insurance requirements.

Due to the fact that the car was a museum exhibit for the first eleven years, the whole car has aged commensurately less than other examples. There is little wear to the seat bolsters, the hood and the hood seals are in near perfect condition and the wheels have recently been refurbished. The Calypso Red paint has retained its lustre with no sign of degradation. Being a later Elan SE, the vehicle features perforated, monotone leather seats and door trims, a feature that was to carry over into the later S2 models. A later Blaupunkt digital radio replaces the original unit.

This car is currently undergoing a cherished number retention and will revert back to its original “K” registration, again marking it out as a very late-built example.

In conclusion, therefore, I consider this car to be the best currently available, with an impeccable history portfolio and presented in a condition that wants for nothing.

BUY WITH CONFIDENCE – GUY MUNDAY HAS OVER TWENTY FIVE YEARS OF LOTUS EXPERIENCE.

For further information and to arrange a viewing, please call 01379 677177 or 07718 385168 at any time. Weekend viewings not a problem.

LOCATED JUST 90 MINUTES FROM LONDON LIVERPOOL STREET. COLLECTION FROM DISS RAILWAY STATION ALWAYS A PLEASURE. DELIVERY AVAILABLETO ANY UK LOCATION, AT MODEST EXTRA COST.

Many thanks for looking - images available upon request.

[Rambo]

How much ? When was the cambelt last changed ? Photos would help the sale

[lotusflasherman]

A very late Elan SE, manufactured in December 1992,

Surprised at that date of manufacture ...

I have an L Reg SE first registered at DVLA on 22 December 1993 to the Elf Oil Company following a P.D.I by Lotus Cars on 17 December 1993 so was interested to research the last few SE's made to see where mine was.

I know the 'production plug' was pulled by GM on Monday 15th June 1992 (still have Club Lotus News 1992 Issue 3 recording the sad news) but believed those on the line were finished shortly after that date. Researching the history of mine, Andy Graham, Lotus Archives, has confirmed in writing to me that the very last was made and signed off in July 1992 and had serial number 6817. Has he supplied duff information?

[Guy Munday]

I am sure that Andy Graham has supplied perfectly correct information but there were quite a number in dealer stock at the time that would have been registered over the following few months.

There was a communication from Ray Hunt, Operations Support Manager at Lotus Cars, dated 17th November 1993, way after production ended, reminding all dealers that the DoT's concession for cars without a catalytic convertor was due to expire on 31st December and that all cars had to be registered by that time. Your car is, therefore, one of the last registered - because it had to be!

[lotusflasherman]

I am sure that Andy Graham has supplied perfectly correct information but there were quite a number in dealer stock at the time that would have been registered over the following few months.

There was a communication from Ray Hunt, Operations Support Manager at Lotus Cars, dated 17th November 1993, way after production ended, reminding all dealers that the DoT's concession for cars without a catalytic convertor was due to expire on 31st December and that all cars had to be registered by that time. Your car is, therefore, one of the last registered - because it had to be!

Thanks, that's useful information. Always wondered why they didn't leave it a few days to make it a '94 car, so thanks for the explanation. I do sometimes have to point out to the MOT guy what emissions it's allowed.

Andy told me that mine went to Storm in Leicester as a showroom display car just after it was made - signed off from production 9th June '92. Storm were at 30 Nelson Street, Leicester that looks like a one way backstreet that goes nowhere on Google Maps and not surprisingly it was returned to Hethel unsold and unregistered. Not sure when but I saw a Pacific Blue SE on display when I was at Hethel on 'Bugatti Sunday' (19/9/93) when Artioli announced finding 800 engines so the Limited Edition S2 would be built and would commission a lightweight car like the Seven (= Elise). Probably harder to shift SE's from that day as they certainly weren't cheap and suspect people might prefer to wait for an S2.

Andy has a record of the PDI and date of Purchase by Elf Oil UK Ltd but no record of a Bill of Sale or price paid so the financial side remains a matter of conjecture...

[Guy Munday]

They wouldn't have paid full price for it!

Whilst there wasn't exactly an airfield of unsold cars at Hethel, the late S1's were definitely not easy to find homes for. Storm of Leicester were definitely one of the better, more proactive, dealers at the time so if they were struggling to sell cars, that would have been indicative of the trickiness of the market at the time.

In contrast, the 800 S2's (550 for the UK) created a bit of a bunfight as customers tried to secure one of the last examples and were all sold with relative ease and at full margin!

[lotusflasherman]

They wouldn't have paid full price for it!

Somebody has suggested it may have been traded for 'barrels of oil' ..

[chipp]

Phil, there is an ex Storm technician posting on the introductions page on TLF. Matrix.
He was there from '88 so may well remember your Elan.

chipp

[lotusflasherman]

Phil, there is an ex Storm technician posting on the introductions page on TLF. Matrix.
He was there from '88 so may well remember your Elan.

chipp

Cheers. Are you at 'the Bird' on Monday?

[chipp]

Should be there this time.

chipp

[clemo]

Tidying up pack . Bump