“Peeling” out: ’65 Lotus Elan Series 2

This is the essential 1960s British sports car – the tiny Lotus Elan – and it remains a benchmark for nimble handling. With its pop-up headlights, curved windshield, and roll-up windows, it was a symbol of Swinging London. So hip the cat-suited character Emma Peel in The Avengers television series, chose to drive an Elan to emphasize her vitality and independence. That could be said of anyone who wants a Lotus Elan. It will also signal that person is under 5′ 10″ tall. The Elan was built with a backbone frame and a fiberglass body, and had four-wheel independent suspension. Its Ford 1600-cc four-cylinder engine developed 105 hp and featured Lotus’s own twin-cam head. Weighing only 1,420 pounds, early cars could do 0-60 mph in 7.1 seconds, with the quarter-mile in 15.7 seconds at 87 mph. Like today’s offering, Elans were roadsters until 1965. And the second series Elan arrived in late 1964, offering a full-width dash with glove box, oval tail lights, the battery in the trunk, and optional knock-off wheels which this car has. A well-maintained original Elan in a good, dry climate, or a fresh rotisserie restoration by a respected shop. So this is one you should consider if a pure sports car experience is what you are looking for. The Elan has had 2 long-term owners plus the seller. The previous owner rebuilt most of the major components and everything is said to function beautifully. These are Weber equipped and they too are dialed in just right. The seller went to a fair amount of trouble getting the interior correct. It looks like the effort paid off. If you can fit in it you will enjoy yourself. There is a Buy It Now for $43,000. Click here for the eBay listing.