- A one owner example that has covered just 25,500 miles from new

- Highly desirable S1 'Lightweight' variant complete with composite brake discs and an aluminium engine cover

- The 3rd of just 4 1997-season, UK-market Elises to be finished in Midnight Blue Metallic with Charcoal leather upholstery

Now here's a rare offering - a one-owner-from-new Elise S1 that's covered just 25,500 miles to date. Moreover it is one of the highly desirable 'lightweight' versions, that featured composite brake discs and an aluminium engine cover in the true Chapmanesque-style quest for the lowest possible kerb weight. The vendor informs us the car was supplied new by Oldbury Cars, has remained totally standard, and is apparently the third of just four 1997 UK-market examples to be finished in the pleasing combination of Midnight Blue Metallic bodywork teamed with Charcoal-coloured leather upholstery. The many factory-fitted options include: auxiliary driving lamps, Blue cloth soft top; interior stowage kit; Cobra alarm; passenger footrest; boot kit; and radio fitting kit (though a radio has not been installed). 'P313 ADG' has apparently only recently been serviced, during which the fluids were all renewed along with the cam belt, and it's presently considered by the vendor to have 'excellent' bodywork, interior trim, four-cylinder engine, and five-speed manual transmission. He is offering the car complete with Lotus Certificate of Provenance and an MOT valid to September 13th 2018. An unusually tempting example of one of the more recent band of British classics.

The Julian Thomson-penned Series 1 version of the Elise entered production in September 1996. Thanks to its deliberately low kerb weight, it was able to accelerate from 0-60mph in a supercar humbling 5.8 seconds, despite the relatively modest power output of 118bhp from its Rover K-Series engine. A markedly low centre of gravity ensured the road-holding of this mid-engined two-seater was equally impressive. The car's contemporary construction comprised a hand-finished fibreglass body mounted to a bonded extruded aluminium chassis. The Elise name was inspired by Elisa, the granddaughter of Romano Artioli, who was the chairman of both Lotus and Bugatti at the time of the little Lotus' launch.

PLEASE NOTE: All estimates are subject to a buyer's premium of 15% incl. VAT (@ 20%)