Elite - Lotus' push into posh 

The Elite was very innovative for the early 1970s. It was one of the first cars with side impact protection with door bars being built into the doors. The car won the Don Safety Trophy in 1974 I recall.

Good video. The Alcantara™️ type velvety material on the dashboard is called Marcasite and was used on the Esprit S1 & S2 as well. Alcantara is a trademark by the way. The story on why the interior was designed by Giugiaro's Ital studio was that the interior design proposal by the car's designer, Oliver Winterbottom was rejected. So Chapman got Ital to do the interior because at that time Lotus was working with Giugiaro on the Esprit.

Won the Don Safety Award , this car. Will come as a surprise as it was usually dominated by the likes of Saab and Volvos etc;. They developed a special construction with their interpretation of GRP moulding which gave the car fantastic rigidity which also aided the handling further aided by the fact it was a Lotus in the first place.

A bit surprised by the constant parts bin jibes, please look at any Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin etc from the 1970's, 80's and 90's and they are also full of parts bin parts And it's condition is because the owners looked after it, amazing how cars survive when they are not abused

This car really does look factory fresh. I remember falling in love with the Lotus Elite when I saw it in a brochure as the first prize in a competition for American Express credit card holders in 1980. Also had a model kit of it when I was a child. Yet another example of the High Performance Estate look like the Scimitar you just tested.

Wow Matt what a survivor and time warp is certainly appropriate in that case! The elite was such a well designed and appointed car and was a design which stood out when new and has stood the test of time that interior certainly oozes 70s! I bet it turned heads on the test drive for sure

I had the good fortune to drive one of these in 1981 at the tender age of 21, sadly it was an automatic but my lasting memory is actually the directness of the steering.

I love videos on obscure cars - thanks for producing this. And these are pretty obscure. The Excel was current when I was a kid but I remember these and I’m pretty sure I had the matchbox/corgi model of it too. I really liked the Excel - I vividly remember peering through the windows of a BRG on tan beauty parked in the centre of a market town in Bucks somewhere. That and Lotus Turbo Challenge were surely what influenced me to ultimately buy an Esprit Turbo SE. The gear selector surround is very modern looking - I wonder what happened to the original one.

The Morris Marina door handle gets absolutely everywhere!

Beige suit and mustache is a must while driving this beauty.

I loved seeing these as a kid usually on family holidays to the south coast usually pointed out by my car mad brother. The Elite, Eclat and the Esprit were all out at the time. One thing that I do remember was that the F1 championship plaques they used to be planted on the rear sometimes in no particular order on some cars. I also remember the the clear rear bulkhead behind the hatch. The interior was very Space 1999 Eagle. I've never been in one or seen one in decades but this video brings back some very old memories from my childhood. Many thanks Matt for sharing.

Great cars. My Step Dad had an Elite back in the 80s when I was a kid and from memory it was pretty reliable.

I worked at a dealer in 1974 when the Elite came out. A few things you mentioned were wrong. The brite work around the windshield and above the doors was not stainless, it was aluminum. And very soft. Try to take it off and you will see, star cracks where every you put to much pressure on it. The other thing is inside. The wood grain is nothing more than stick on stuff. Steel backing with this stuff stuck on the face. That rear space would smell like gas because the gas tank vents were so bad. But the thing that would piss customers off was the front suspention. The lower control arm was held in place by the sway bar. Drive over railroad tracks and the flex (give) would shack the steering so bad it would pop the wrist watch loose. We did several things to try to fix this, change the rubber bushings to a stiffer bushing. Helped some but still there. Seen some over the years with another arm locating the lower arm. Always wanted to first replace the lower arm to an A frame style with the stiffer bushings, but never got the chance. Other wise not a bad attempt by Lotus to move up market. BTW anybody got one for sale? I am in northern AZ, I got cash!!

What a car! What an amazing car! This was really something above the crowd.

The Elite, Eclat, and the Esprit were expensive, but much cheaper than the competition. They all handled, they looked great and they created a mystique that still exists today. I think it is a shame where Lotus ended up, but it appears as though there may be a glimmer of hope on horizon.

Blasted technology eh Matt . . . I was just relieved to read your message, brand new air buds coincided with watching your video, was pairing during the adverts and thought I got a dud set !! Great relief all round when I scrolled down . . . great vid, you must have been impressed given your usual view on Automatics !! Could only imagine how much fun it would be with a five speed in it !! Cheers !!

No, you NEVER grease your trunnions. you oil them! The uprights are not originally from a Herald, they were first used on the Standard 8 (made by Alford and Alder). The dash was clad in a material called Marcasite.

Gorgeous cars…….externally. One of my favourite childhood Corgi models. But…..the dashboard, with its stick on Formica wood and 1930s style dashboard rear view mirror, is ghastly! I’d have liked to have seen an Excel style update of these - the shape is still brilliant!

Certainly the nicest Elite I have ever seen-they are like hens teeth here in the US. I remember when these came out and saw my first one at the Lotus dealer in Falls Church, Virginia. My Dad and I were getting parts for his 71 Elan FHC. For me it was a bridge too far at the time-too much of an upmarket shift from the Elans and Europas we loved and very expensive-about $16,000 at introduction here in the States-plus it had paint overspray on the inner door card plus fake wood! I wondered who would buy it at the price of a 911 while admiring the way it met US crash requirements with ease. Over time, I've grown to really like the wedgy style and features and wouldn't mind having one to go with my 69 Elan S4DHC , especially with upgrades like Lotusbits will do! By the way, I seem to recall the 502 spec had power steering and the 503 added air conditioning but I could be wrong. Thanks again for sharing.

Marina door handles were the best thing about the Marina.

504 was not the loved version due to the 4 denoting automatic. 501 base car, 502 air con added, 503 power steering added, 504 the auto box added. Parking a 501 and 502 required some muscle.

Excellent review as always Matt, first time I seen one of these was back last year at parked in the car park at the Lakeland Motor Museum in the lakes and I was confused to what it was, but what a great looking car, I beleive Princess Anne has never owned one of these 😂😂

What an intriguing car - huge Scimitar vibes from it but that’s not a bad thing! The detail in the cabin is just so nice and that was definitely one of the poshest cars at the time. The condition is simply gob smacking too! I am personally a fan of automatics but that really old school unit does seem to hamper the performance somewhat. Awesome video Matt

2:46 The back view looks like my Dads old 1980 Talbot Sunbeam after it's been sat on by Jabba the Hutt 🤣

Back in the day when I was a kid it was a very cool car

According to a magazine article i read recently, i was under the impression that the back seats were reasonably useful...

It's a "cigar" lighter, instead of a "cigarette" lighter, posh, indeed 😊

Those English cottages are so gorgeous and cute, that car is immaculate.

Only downside with the slant engines were the distributors sat under the forever leaking side draughs and a lot caught fire 🔥

Now there's a six speed manual conversion in the waiting. I've driven an FTO 4 speed slush-o-matic and that took enough prodding to wake it up.

This has to be the best car that you've reviewed Mat and you've been in some brilliant car's.

Especially for the time a very well finished car. Interior looks amazing, same goes for the front. Backside is a bit iffy... Another great review Matt! Where do you find these gems?

Had one with a Rover V8 and Jag XJ6 rear end. 12 previous owners at the time which tells you about the pain of owning one I suspect. Rear driveshafts formed part of the suspension linkage (as XJ6 setup but Jag version better made) so needed regular not to be neglected maintenance, as did those front trunnions, they can snap off if not oiled and they seize. The long doors can drop once safety side beam rusts away from the hinge mounting. Usually shown in photos with default-position raised headlamps as the vacuum system that holds them down against a big spring fails. Rear reminds me of Lambo Espada and also the Pink Panther-mobile to some extent. Fuel pump in trunk - it would always smell of fuel so moved mine to underneath rear body. There was a time when these were almost worthless but good to see some people committing to restoring them now. The looks if anything have improved with time. The later Excel which looks very similar had Toyota Supra running gear and so was a lot more reliable with respect to drive shaft UJ's, those trunnions etc. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Ly48HSpba3U.html

The crimped brakepipe screen washers are pure Chapman! Twenty grand of super 1970s style, best i've seen.

Amazing vehicle.

I'm pretty certain that the Reliant Scimitar also had Austin Allegro door handles , also I noticed the Austin Metro / Morris Marina etc etc column stalks.

our Morris Nomad has those door handles. Marina too, I think

The passenger seat might be all the way back. In normal position, the rear seat room is adequate. Way better than a 2+2

When lotus made interesting cars that stood out

Eclat was 2+2. Elite was full four seater, and yes, you could fit people back there. It’s quite comfy.

Treated myself to one of those Tilley hat's this week 😊

Gear selector and stalks look very Triumph.

12:14 HOOT! HOOT!

I remember Barry Carter, Lotus' UK Sales Director at the time of the Elite's launch, saying this was the car that was going to allow Lotus to compete in the market Porsche had made their own throughout the late 1960's. Sadly, while it was a great car to drive when working properly, it's build quality and reliability were absymal. I very much doubt it ever caused Porsche a moment's lost sleep.

I have the only Elite 501 ever made that that came from the factory with the automatic transmission. No aircon, no power steering, just auto.

Thanks for presenting that rare car!

Love these cars. 🎉

I see my old Marina door handles and indicator/horn stalk. The JVC cassette deck is from the late 80s or early 90s.

Thanks Matt great review of one of my all time favourite cars

The Morris Marina parts bin heavily used 🤣

Loving the Austin Allegro door handles (:

Was it Italian designed like the Esprit?

Borrowed an Elite for a weekend....was a delight.

The epitome of Lotus....Lot's Of Trouble Usually Serious 😂

Did u use the tea shelf?

Amazingly low vehicle. i love low cars , as you say a work of art , shame about the automatic

What a great find. I want it.

Looks like a baby Espada

Looks like a Hearse for Thunderbirds.

What a absolutely gorgeous car treatments❤

Was that a Lancia Gamma Berlina in the background when you were in the garage? Can you drive that baby? And if it’s not a Gamma - what is it? Looks tasty!

Please do a video on who manufactured those door handles which is found on so many cars of that era.

Those outside door handles may have also been in common with same era AMC cars. My family's Ambassador wagon had something very similar.

The bloke who owned the village chip shop owned one (this was c.1980). It was white.

What is the cable next to the throttle cable for ? not the choke as I can see that to the side.

Awesome car. Is it not suede covering the dash and not alcantara? I thought fake suede was only invented in the mid/late 80s?

The interior looks like a 70's Play for Today set. All in all an amazing but rather weird car.

RWD hatchback, that sounds familiar

Unfortunately audio isn't great. Caught about half of it.

If it has aircondition, why drive with the windows open, doesn't that affect the sound? Or do you have wires out to the cameras?

Is the dash from a TR7 🤔🤔

Mouse fur does not translate well today. And the styling, well.... Took the Esprit (and a Pretty Woman featured appearance) to really elevate Lotus, and for awhile that was the 'It' car.

Nowhere for the fluffy dice, 1/10... only kidding! When I first saw it I did expect the engine towards the back like the Europa (only Lotus I've been in). Also did they come from the factory without a timing cover?

I like it a low mileage luxurious Lotus l like the dashboard and interior also the exterior but there is a small detail id the automatic transmission l would prefer a manual and l am sure you would have apreciated a manual also but been a luxury Lotus and air conditioning excellent and l just wondering how much the Lotus is selling for and after your review it will sell quickly

Is it so wrong that im more excited about that Peugeot 309 in the background at about 1:35 in? Are you going to take that for a drive? Please say you are....

Bad luck on the audio quality in the car.

Wat. That interior looks boxy enough to be out of a 1975 Chevy pickup. Exterior: a Ferrari being buggered by an AMC Gremlin.

Oh! Nice apostrophe 👌

I liked them when I was a kid in the 70s although they never quite had the look of the Italian cars. In my early 20s I toyed with the idea of buying one. Looking back I'm so glad I didn't. I wouldn't want one now. It just looks old, slow and very expensive. Some things are better left in the Top Trumps deck.

Great video on the lotus, but could you hold your mouth away from the mic a little bit bit, sounds like a wasps nest, cheers.

Auto is far better in these. Manual will destroy your left thigh muscle and forearm in 10 minutes. Great overlooked sports car!

Another good video 🚗🚙🚘👏👏👍👍⭐️⭐️⭐️

LOTUS: Lots of trouble usually serious.

Nice video…… but sort your mic out mate!!

Yipee I'm 8th today

Dreadful audio - must be using the cheapest mic he could find rummaging through the unwanted liquidation stock of Tandy. Good video though

You're almost 10k away from 100k and you're not an American so please stop with these ridiculous starts to your otherwise good video's, you don't need this.

What's happened to sound it's awful sorry

I hate this car muchly.. My old Primary School Teacher had one of these and an Eclat,and I hated her as well!

This car is as groovy as a groovy thing - and who wouldn't love that green dash. However, a bit of a tough job for a Lotus salesman back in the day if a 12 cylinder XJS could be had for similar money I'd have thought.

Absolutely love these - and those wheels! - but I feel I may have missed the boat as prices have been on the up for some time 😢 Great review 👍🏼

I own 4 automatic cars. I regret nothing!

Thanks for bringing this…great review…and you deserve 100k😃👍

As a card-carrying 'punctuation Nazi', one of the best things about this video for me is your wholly appropriate use of the apostrophe in the title. Well done Matt 😂

Not keen on Red cars Matt 🤔 but think I would put up with that one , incredible design for 1980 , when that “ V reg” was registered I had just bought my brand new Honda Superdream 250cc motorcycle, happy days indeed.

It`s a coincidence that today`s video is an Elite. Earlier today I watched the Reliant Scimitar video (a week late) and I happened to mention it in a comment. The Elite is my favourite Lotus for those pop up headlights and that estate/shooting brake profile. This one looks particularly nice in red.

Very nice survivor! I love these, and the Eclat/Excel too.

The reliant was a better looking car and more practical

David Wilkie (Olympic gold medal swimmer) came to my school back in 1977 to encourage us kids to swim. He arrived in a blue Lotus Elite. I never had any interest in swimming but that car started a lifelong love of Lotus’s. Beautiful car.

O, I spotted that one for sale & could easily be tempted if I had the garage space. What a survivor 👍🙂