DE | UK | USA | IT | FR

Classic Driver Marketplace

Lotus Elan
Houtkamp Collection

Park and share on Facebook

colourRed
interior colourblack
driveLHD
typeunknown
year1966
price36.389 USD
VATNo
city1190 AA Ouderkerk aan de Amstel
countryNetherlands

Owned by 1 family since new

Only 60.000 kilometer driven since new

Nice history since day 1

Nice race history

1 of or probably the best classic car to drive with from this era


I think we can say that we might be very lucky that we have a company in which we are constantly busy with nice objects, where we meet people which we normally would never meet and where we can share a fantastic passion.
Another fantastic benefit is that we can drive with a lot of cars.
Honestly before we bought a part of a fantastic Lotus collection we did not had many Lotus cars before so the memory of driving a Lotus let us down.
But after approximately 10 seconds driving with this Elan it is clear why this is such a fantastic brand. It is absolutely impossible to tell you how this car is driving as it is so unbelievable spectacular.
It has a superb roadholding. The engine sounds fantastic and it is unbelievable fast. As we are driving quite a lot of rallies we know that the Porsches are mostly winning on the trials. But now we know which car we have to use to win every trial. It is absolutely amazing and impossible to find a different car with this superb road holding from these years and it will be completely impossible to find a car which gives so much pleasure in this price range.

This specific example has newly been delivered in the Netherlands at the 7th of October 1966. The car has been in 1 family since then and was initially bought as being a shopping car for the lady of the house. Soon after the car came in the family it became clear that the Elan was more a car to rally and race and therefore it was firstly entered for the Sauerland rally in 1968.

Since then the car has been always very well maintained and only professionals were allowed to work on this Elan. The result is absolutely unbelievable. As I started this story with, the car is absolutely unbelievable to drive.

History is coming with this Elan from day 1 including the sales invoice and a price lists and lots of invoices.

Amongst that does the Lotus come with an original factory hardtop, a tonneau cover, the soft top etc. etc.

If we go quickly back to the history of the Elan it might be probably more clear why we are so enthusiastic about this car.

In 1957, the Lotus Company owned by Colin Chapman was on the verge of bankruptcy. The success of the Elan is one of the main reasons Lotus is now a successful corporation. The lightweight fiberglass body fitted to a steel backbone chassis provided excellent performance and amazing handling. Mr. Ron Hickman was the designer of Elan and a former employee of the Ford Corporation.

Recalling Sixties spy-fi show The Avengers, the first thing men of a certain age remember is Mrs Peel's black leather cat suit. But the character's object of desire was her cute-as-a-button Lotus Elan.

The Elan was launched in October 1962 at the British Motorshow, just as the Sixties started swinging. Jaguar had launched the E-Type the previous year, and AC had the Cobra and Ferrari the GTO. Big, expensive, powerful muscles cars. The Elan was very different, and typically Lotus - ultra modern, lightweight, rapid and huge fun.

It summed up the Sixties: a playful topless two-seat ticket to freedom, it was technically innovative with the first backbone tube chassis of any road car, a fiberglass body, four-wheel independent suspension, 670kg with a peachy power-to-weight ratio, bang up-to-date styling beloved by Kings Road cruisers, and a liberating, rock n' roll attitude.

It came with luxuries that were a rarity at the time, like electric windows, carpets, a heater, and in vogue wooden fascia, but it was still light enough on the scales to outrun other automotive competition – not to mention groupies.
So if you are thinking of buying an Elan, please take the decision and to it. It does not have to be this particular example but do not hesitate too long as you will not be able to find a car in this price range which give you the same feeling by driving it as the Elan.

If you are looking for a very good example with a lot of nice history, please inform us.


For more information or an appointment, please call Rutger Houtkamp+31625098150 or send an e-mail to Rutger@Houtkamp.nl. Please feel free to contact us by phone during evenings or in the weekend.

The Houtkamp Collection is centrally located near Amsterdam and only 10 minutes from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.

 Petrol

Sold on the 07.08.2012
See all cars
Houtkamp Collection
Location:
Postbus 6
1190 AA Ouderkerk aan de Amstel
Phone
+31 (0)625 0981 50
Mobile phone
 
Fax
+31 (0)297 583 114
E-mail
e-mail
Home
http://www.houtkamp.nl


 official special
 yes
Aston Martin yes
Jaguar yes




Simple search for cars
Choose a manufacturer:
change to advanced search  
show

Competition Cars Search
Choose a manufacturer:

filter cars with FIA papers only
show

Auction Cars Search
Choose a manufacturer:
change to advanced search  
show