Lotus Elan S2 special equipment, 1966, super rare

1966 Lotus Elan S2 s/e

Am looking to sell my very special Lotus Elan, have owned it for many years. And now, superfluous to my needs. (PS was sold bu buyer couldn't raise the funds)
A comprehensive summary of work I have done, improvements made, additions, and its overall condition: starting with the world's best chassis...Spyder of England, tubular space frame, powder coated, MUCH stronger than original, easier access to various components, stronger front cross member with drain tap, plated over upper front towers, really a fabulous piece of engineering. While many RHD Elans have this fabulous improvement, rare in the USA....and to be candid, most Elans in the USA, now with soggy old, suspect half century old chassis, are possibly in need of a HUGE amount of work.
Covered with an all fiberglass body/floors/etc. And just repainted, for the first time since new....body was and is excellent, no cracks, no wavy areas, never damaged, and with show quality deep BRG acrylic paint with (as you can see in the photos) a true 'mirror finish.' Hand wet sanded and buffed. Gorgeous.
Drive train: less than 200 miles on a comprehensive engine rebuild, the legendary Lotus 1558cc with aluminum twin cam cylinder head, new pistons and rings, bearings, high lift camshafts, new clutch, gas flowed head, balanced, twin 40 DCOE Webers, tubular headers, electronic ignition, painted and detailed. Coupled to an original ultra close ratio gearbox, just rebuilt by local gearbox specialist, one of the most enjoyable gearboxes in existence....short throw, very low drop of revs at each shift, quiet, excellent. And driving through a brand new (and almost impossible to find) 3.54 final drive. The highest ratio available for quieter, more relaxed highway cruising.
Have added a dual master cylinder for a higher degree of safety, brakes have been rebuilt a few years ago, Aeroquip flex lines, adjustable ride height at each corner. Awesome steering and handling.
Wheels are the correct, s/e center lock Lotus brand new wheels, all new hubs and chrome knock offs, fairly new Michelin radials. Even the original chrome trim rings. And yes, a spare matching wheel/tire in the carpeted trunk. With a jack and knock off hammer.
Rotoflex couplings aren't that old (I prefer them to the modern updated axles due to the superior ride), all bushings and joints are in good condition.
Wiring harness has been replaced, all of the gauges rebuilt (and the speedo recalibrated to the new differential gears), has a modern reduction gear starter motor, twin electric fuel pumps (with a dashboard switch for the backup), converted to negative ground, battery cut off switch, and a new battery.
Interior is really good...new wood dashboard, recovered dash top padding, new door panels, very good original seats, fairly new top, new stayfast cloth tonneau,3" wide racing belts,never skimped on ANYTHING when keeping this beautiful Lotus up to date.
Lots of little additions....radiator just cleaned, pressure and flow checked (its the original thick core unit) with a thermostatically controlled electric cooling fan (with override switch), aluminum fuel tank (no chance of rusty flakes inside), stainless steel exhaust system, halogen headlights, small diameter racing steering wheel, stereo/CD with USB input, AND IF I left anything out...it too was excellent, replaced, rebuilt, etc.

And after I finished the ad, remembered....new LED bulbs in the gauges and interior light which works perfectly), air horns, drilled and safety wired oil drain plug, original factory plastic battery cover, brand new trunk lock with keys, heater is very effective and keeps the interior cozy even on a 20 degree day, an extra 12v outlet for my XM radio, original airbox, pushbutton solenoid, tight vacuum system (headlights don't sink when going up long hills), original factory hand engraved VIN plate.

As shown, top is near new, fits very well, oil pressure is like new, spent a lot of money on a custom made stayfast cloth tonneau, doesn't leak water, no bad vibrations, no weird electrical issues, no surprises.

And the final result of all of this extensive work? A 1,400 pound car with probably around 130hp, smooth, refined, excellent ride, possibly the best steering of any car in the world, quick shifting, super close gearbox ratios, awesome looks, and truly THE iconic small sports car once described in an English enthusiasts magazine as being 'the ultimate in squirtability, the ability to 'squirt through traffic' like no other car.
Series 1s are nice but never fond of the 2/3 dashboard or the tail lights, Series 3s have those silly fixed wind frames and often unreliable power windows, Series 4s got the ugly bonnet budge and fender flares (and only 105hp in Stromberg form)....BUT the Series 2 (of which 1250 were built, a lesser number being the high performance 'special equipment' model) is the most beautiful of all. Super light, very quick, incredible feedback from the controls, AND the best thing of all, is that it offers an owner/driver the fun of quick driving but at speeds that approach the legal limits. I mean, sure, okay to brag to a friend how quiet one's Porsche of Ferrari is at 140 mph but what fun is that? FAR better to be in a super light, small sports car that zips around corners, accelerates quickly through the gears, yet probably will not wind up having its driver in jail for Reckless Endangerment or an endless number of speeding tickets. In all the years of ownership, never got a ticket.
On the road, unlike the track, it is how fast you THINK you are going. That's what counts. And an Elan is a truly fantastic driving experience.
Car is available for immediate sale.......for some reason I often have difficulties responding to eBay e mail inquiries. HENCE CALL. THERE is a reserve, it is WAY BELOW the Hagerty evaluation (ck and see), and no, this car is not selling for pennies. Sorry, bargain Elans are from a different era. It is one of the greatest sports cars of all time, it is in fantastic condition, and the best early examples are so very rare and so difficult to find. So, IF you ever wanted one and if you can afford one....here is your chance. Just call. Real simple.
I have been driving this car for more than a dozen years and it has never let me down. And no electrical problems ever. It was put together properly by someone who must have know what they doing, and while most Elans have lots of buggy ground issues, this car has never had those. I have invested a small fortune and am now willing to pass all of that to a new owner. MY terms are getting a 20% deposit within 48 hours of sale and the balance within 7 days. I can assist with delivery anywhere in the world and can store this car (at no charge) while a buyer makes arrangements to take delivery. I have tried my best to describe this car accurately, I have a 100% positive rating on eBay, and it is hard to imagine a better TRUE sports car anywhere in the world.
And one last item...have a super rare factory hardtop, perfect fit, makes the car very cozy and looks great....can offer it with the car (worth discussing).

• Make: Lotus
• Model: Elan S2 s/e
• Type: Convertible
• Year: 1966
• Mileage: 90000
• VIN: 26/44XX
• Color: deep green and yellow
• Engine size: 4 cylinder DOHC
• Number of cylinders: 4
• Fuel: Gasoline
• Transmission: Manual
• Drive type: RWD
• Interior color: tan and black
• Drive side: Left-hand drive
• Options: CD Player, Convertible
• Vehicle Title: Clear
Want to buy? Contact seller!