History

“Less is more” is often the ethos associated with Lotus. This couldn’t be more true when they introduced their smallest two-seater sports cars, produced in two series between 1962 and 1974 and later between 1989 and 1995. The first series consisted of four models: the Type 26, Type 36, Type 45, and the race-spec Type 26R. There was also the 2+2 Type 50, although the rear seats were best suited for children.

The Elan was the first Lotus model to use a steel backbone chassis beneath a fiberglass body, a formula that would be used in subsequent models for almost three decades, and featured a pair of beloved pop-up headlights. It weighed a mere 1,500 lbs, and, combined with its 1,558 cc Lotus TwinCam I4, four-wheel disc brakes, four-wheel independent suspension, and near-perfect rack-and-pinion steering, the Elan gained a reputation for being a svelte and engaging roadster. It was so good that even Gordon Murray reportedly said that he wished his McLaren F1 had the Elan’s perfect steering.

In 1965, the Lotus Type 36 was offered as a fixed-head coupe alternative to its drop-head brethren and was marketed as the Elan S3, the Elan S4, or the Elan Sprint in high-performance guise. It used the same 1,558 cc Lotus TwinCam I4 engine, with period marketing material quoting the S3 SE as making around 105 hp. The S3’s interior was also noted for having electric windows and permanent window frames.

Production numbers for the Elan are largely estimates, given Lotus’s erratic record-keeping at the time. The third-party Lotus Elan Registry uses a book titled “Authentic Lotus Elan & Plus 2, 1962-1974” by Paul Robinshaw and Christopher Ross to estimate a total of 13,202 examples produced between 1962 and 1974, with only 1,544 confirmed by the Registry as still being registered. Of those, approximately 2,650 were Elan S3s, with only 288 reported in the registry. 

This Car

This particular 1966 Lotus Elan S3, Chassis # 36/5819, is a very early S3 finished in the proper shade of green with a contrasting Black interior. While this car’s early story has unfortunately been lost to time, we do know that it was purchased by a Mr. Brian Stark sometime around 2001 as a driver-condition example ripe for a restoration. He wanted to use as many original parts as possible in bringing this Lotus back to the condition it deserved to be in, and spent the next 15 years or so meticulously sourcing those parts and restoring it.

By 2015 the Lotus Elan was left in a well-restored state. The engine was completely rebuilt with new Weber carbs, mounts, pumps, and a Pertronix distributor complete with a coil and wires. The radiator, starter, generator, wiper motor, window motors, and airbox were restored, but a new thermostat, heater valve, hoses, belts, and intake were installed alongside them. The exhaust headers were also Jet-Hot coated for improved performance and protection.

The transmission was also rebuilt with new shifter bushings, a new clutch assembly, new mounts, U-joints, and spring doughnuts. Underneath, the frame was stripped, reinforced, and powder-coated, with new Lotocones for the rear uprights, new coilover shocks, springs, and perches, and new wheel bearings. Likewise, the steering rack and gas tank were restored, and the latter received a new fuel filler neck and sending unit. All brake components, including the master cylinder and all lines, were replaced, while the calipers were rebuilt. The electrical system was not ignored either, with a new wiring harness installed, complete with a new battery, fuse block, voltage regulator, fuses, and relays.

The body and interior received some love as well, with the fiberglass properly tended to and new paint applied. New bumpers, a new windshield, new chrome trim, moldings, & emblems, along with a new auto antenna were also installed. Inside, just about everything was replaced. The Elan got a new headliner and visors, a new leather dash pad, a new Africa Rosewood dash, new carpets, a new center console, new trim pieces and moldings, new window felt, new seat covers, a new rear deck, a new steering wheel, a new radio with speakers, a new trunk wood kit, and whatever gauges needed rebuilding were also tended to.

Despite all the work, the Lotus wasn’t completely finished before other projects took priority. Thus, in 2017 the car passed to its current owner, sight unseen. The current owner began finishing what Mr. Stark had started. They did as much of the work as they could on their own before bringing it to Ragtops & Roadsters in Perkasie, PA, for some further sorting and fine-tuning. The speedometer cable was adjusted, a new heater valve was installed, new rear suspension springs were fitted, a new Facet electric fuel pump was installed, the starter was rebuilt, and the spare wheel was made to match the others on the car before receiving a new tire and being reinstalled into the trunk. In July 2023, the Elan also received a new correct style muffler from R.D. Enterprises, Ltd. in Quakertown, PA.

Following the Elan’s much-awaited completion, it attended several concours events where it received approvals and accolades. One such mention was at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum’s “Best of Britain 2025 featuring Lotus” show for its immaculate condition and perfect representation of what Lotus stands for.

This is likely one of the finest examples of a 1966 Lotus Elan S3 available on the market. The no expense spared restoration has left it in a very high-quality state of both presentation and correctness, while still retaining all of the aesthetic and mechanical characteristics that the Elan is famous for. Included in the sale are all of the service records on file, restoration records, and a period brochure showcasing the Lotus Elan Coupe. As well as the tools, Service books, and spare. 

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