1969 Lotus Elan S4 FHC

The Elan's combination of sleek styling, sharp agility, and a potent engine easily marks it as one of the finest sports cars ever built. Painting the car was the final task left on John’s renovation checklist. While the gel coat shows some minor fracturing and crazing, the bare surface allows potential buyers to inspect the body thoroughly, offering total transparency about the condition underneath. The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there for yourselves. So please take the time to fully assess these high-resolution images and videos of the car, for you to make up your own minds about the condition of the paint. The body is evenly mounted on its chassis and is free of fractures, with a few localised repairs, but appears to be in good condition. There are a few drill holes where the mirrors and indicators were placed. Whilst the doors open and close without issue, the driver's door will need adjusting. While the Spyder stressed-skin chassis was replaced in the 1980s, it remains in excellent condition with minimal signs of age. It has been protected with Waxoyl. The underside of the body tub is in good shape, with no significant damage. The wheel wells, boot floor and engine bay are in good order. We've highlighted in more detail our observations through our high-resolution images and videos, so please take time to look through all the media files for a detailed view of what’s on offer, and for you to assess the condition of the car for yourselves. The dashboard is in good condition, apart for a small crack on the top padding ahead of the driver. The veneer looks excellent, having been acquired from Classical Dash. The switches and controls are likely original; the switches show some light age-related wear, but the dials are in good shape, and everything reportedly works as it should. The centre console has a couple of cracks. The door cards and headlining are smartly presented, though the driver-side door card is slightly loose and the headlining does have a few small tears and some staining. Both the rear parcel shelf and the glovebox are included with the car but will require finishing. The pieces of interior trim that fit below the dashboard down to the centre console are also included among the spares. They are new items. The test drive can only be described as exhilarating. John took us along a stretch of narrow country roads featuring clean, sweeping bends and excellent visibility. After allowing the engine to warm up thoroughly, he demonstrated how effortlessly it pulls from 30 to 50 mph. Feeding the throttle progressively from around 2,500 rpm, the glorious combination of the eager Twin Cam engine and the mild theatrics of the stainless steel exhaust proved just how well-sorted this tuned car really is. On the road, the car inspires total confidence, gripping well and delivering a ride that is both stable and comfortable. The steering feels tight, tracking in a straight line with no wobbles or mechanical knocks. Mechanically, the oil pressure stayed perfectly stable. The engine temperature did rise a fraction after a quick blast, but it quickly settled back down to normal as we slowed, cooling itself naturally without needing the fan. The glass is generally in good condition, though the windscreen does have a couple of small cracks, and the rear window seal is showing its age. Both the H4 Cibié headlights and the rear lenses are clean. The cars wing Indicators are included. While the chrome shows some minor wear, it is perfectly in line with the age of the car. According to John, the trim is 95% complete and comes with the boot lid letters and black nose emblem but not the side badges. While the front bumper is complete and free of damage, it still needs to be painted and refitted. Meanwhile, the rear bumper is securely mounted and its condition is consistent with the rest of the car's body. The 13” steel wheels are in excellent condition, with very few signs of age. All wheels are fitted with Uniroyal tyres, showing 155/80. They all date from 2022 but were said to be fitted in 2024. They all have plenty of thread and still show logistics markings. Please take 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. The seats are in smart condition and come equipped with Willans three-point harnesses. The carpets are tidy, dry, and completely free of damp. The engine fires up after a couple of cranks. It initially runs a little lumpy and requires the choke for a minute or two from a cold start - a typical characteristic of the Twin Cam engine. However, once warmed up, it idled evenly. More importantly, there were no unwanted noises or tapping, no warning lights on the dash, and aside from the usual initial cold-engine condensation, the exhaust is free of smoke. The car is also notably free of fluid leaks. The engine bay is cleanly presented, showing clear evidence of recent maintenance and care. The engine has been upgraded to a 'Big Valve' specification, running on Dellorto DHLA 40 carburettors and Newman Fast Road camshafts. Much of the engine work and performance upgrades were carried out by Vulcan Engineering. This comprehensive build features a Tufftrided crankshaft with standard-sized journals, and a fully balanced bottom end including the crank, rods, Powermax pistons, front pulley, flywheel, and clutch cover. The ported cylinder head was overhauled and converted to unleaded in 2022, at which time it was also successfully pressure-tested. The camshafts are precisely timed via vernier sprockets. Additional cooling and reliability modifications include an under-car ducted oil cooler with a thermostatic sandwich plate, a modified breather system with an additional front cam cover outlet, and an oil catch tank with a drain tap. The water pump shaft shows no play or leaks. The ignition system has been modernised with a Powerspark electronic distributor, matching coil, and new numbered ignition leads. Fuel delivery is handled by an electric fuel pump equipped with a relay and an inertia cutout safety switch. An alternator conversion has been fitted, and the system exhales through a stainless steel exhaust. Following a conversion from Stromberg to Dellorto DHLA 40s carburettors, a high-quality ITG filter was fitted directly over the carburettor mouths in place of the factory airbox which has subsequently been made into an airbox to reduce induction roar. The four-speed gearbox runs smoothly with no reported issues. The gear changes are slick, and John is satisfied with the clutch’s engagement and biting point. The car benefits from a new aluminium fuel tank sourced from Axminster Panels. Additionally, the steering rack has been recently overhauled - a comprehensive job that included fresh shimming, new gaiters, and new track rod ends. The front driving lights have been upgraded to LED items. First registered in January 1969 in London, the car was bought by John in July 1978 with a reported mileage of 41,774 miles to replace his much-loved Ford Escort GT. The Lotus was his sole daily driver until 1982, when it was taken off the road for a chassis replacement after a hole was discovered in the nearside front suspension turret. Though reassembled into a complete vehicle with a running engine in the early 1990s, work and family commitments temporarily paused the project. Crucially, during this long-term storage, the engine was regularly turned over by hand to prevent seizure. Upon John's retirement in 2018, work resumed in earnest. To ensure the highest standards of reliability, previous work was refreshed, and all perishable rubber components, hoses, and seals were completely replaced, culminating in the car returning to the road in driveable condition in 2024. The Lotus is backed by an impressive history file with invoices stretching back to the late 1970s. Crucially, this documentation includes receipts for the vehicle's replacement chassis, upgraded shock absorbers, and major engine work. Recent expenditure is also well-documented, detailing a wealth of new parts including fresh hoses, seals, electronic ignition, Denso spark plugs, steering components, and relays. Furthermore, the provenance folder includes an excellent selection of literature: two workshop manuals, two Elan-specific reference books, and the car's highly desirable original owner's handbook. Presenting a fantastic ownership prospect, the vehicle is officially classified as a historic vehicle and is both MOT and Road Tax exempt. We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a history check on the vehicle - this is a professional check operated by HPI that will highlight if the car has been previously stolen, recorded as being in an accident, or have any outstanding finance - note, this does not include a mileage history check. We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment of the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming. If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bids, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house. On the move, the suspension copes beautifully with bumps and imperfections in the road, running quietly with no unexpected noises from the running gear. This is no surprise given that the suspension components have been overhauled, with the setup utilising Koni dampers and fresh front springs installed in 2025. The brakes are highly effective, slowing the car smoothly and without drama. The system features copper brake pipes paired with stainless steel braided hoses for both the brakes and the clutch. Furthermore, the entire hydraulic system was overhauled within the last few years, and a fresh set of brake pads has been recently fitted. The car retains its original gear lever, while the correct-pattern steering wheel was bought brand new from Jacob Engineering.