Lotus Elan S4 DHC — 1970

The car was first registered in England on June 10, 1970, under the registration number RJH 4H. The current owner purchased it in February 1997, during the period when he and his family lived and worked in England. According to the previous owner, the engine had recently undergone a thorough rebuild.

Shortly after the purchase, in spring 1997, the owner decided to give the car a complete renewal underneath as well. Together with a skilled mechanic, he replaced the chassis — a so-called rolling chassis — at home in his garage in New Malden. The new frame was galvanized, and all components from the old one were transferred over. At the same time, all bushings, control arms, shock absorbers, and other wear parts were replaced. The gearbox was sent off for refurbishment, and all brake lines were replaced.

After this extensive work, the car was used for another year in England. When the family moved back to Sweden in the summer of 1998, the owner drove the car all the way from London to Knivsta, via the ferry to Gothenburg. A year later, in July 1999, the car was officially registered in Sweden. At that time, the chassis number was stamped into the new frame in accordance with Swedish regulations.

Around 2005, the car suffered an unfortunate incident during winter storage — it was invaded by mice. They had chewed on the wiring insulation, though luckily nothing else seemed to be damaged. The owner thoroughly cleaned the car and moved it to a new garage. To be safe, he bought new, complete wiring looms for both the front and rear of the car, though the installation wasn’t carried out immediately.

It wasn’t until the winter of 2012–2013 that the owner contacted a workshop outside Knivsta specializing in automotive electrics. They then replaced the entire wiring system. After that, the owner drove the car for a few summers and continued to purchase some new parts, but as often happens, neither time nor energy was quite enough to complete everything.

By the summer of 2015, the car was left unused after failing to be inspected, and since then, it has been stored in a garage. The Lotus now needs someone willing to pick up where the project left off. The car should be regarded as a running project and will require startup servicing and likely some mechanical attention.

Included with the car are several parts, including a new vacuum actuator for the headlight lift mechanism — these can be seen in the photos.

• Mechanical condition

  The car has not been started for many years. A startup service and thorough inspection of its systems and auxiliary equipment are recommended.

• Interior condition

  The interior is in fair, usable condition with natural but visible signs of age and use — see photos.

• Exterior condition

  The paint is dull but looks decent overall. There are some minor blemishes — see photos. The underside appears solid, clearly showing the replaced galvanized frame. The soft top is in worn condition.

• General condition

  A Lotus that appears to be solid. With some effort, dedication, and the right resources, it could become a really enjoyable car. Perfect as a winter garage project.

Fordonsstatus: Avst 2017-07-08
Ursprungsbesiktning: 1999-07-07 (regbes)
Datum i trafik första gången: 1999-07-22 (700610)
Senast godkända besiktning: 2013-08-21
Besiktigad tom: 2015-08-31
Skattebefriad: Ja
Körförbud: Ja
Antal ägare: 1

The Elan was Lotus’s attempt to build a car that was cheaper to produce and therefore more profitable than its predecessors. The chassis structure was made of steel, while the body was constructed from fiberglass. Initially, the model was offered as an open-top version, but in 1965 it was joined by a fixed-roof coupé.

Location: Uppsala

For viewing the vehicle, contact the inspector/case manager:

Nisse Brandt
+46 707 50 89 99
nisse@bilwebauctions.se

Collection must take place before: 2025-11-20.

NOTE! Payment (deposit to our account) must be made within 5 days and before collection.