1972 | Lotus Elan Sprint

Lot details

Year: 1972
Make: Lotus
Model: Elan Sprint DHC
Registration: NGN 134L
Chassis No: 72050686G
Engine No: N26726
Mileage: 73,004
•: Comes with a Lotus Certificate of Provenance.
•: Original handbook and service book.
•: Colin Chapman signed steering wheel.

The Lotus Elan was introduced in 1962 and would go on to become one of the most successful sports cars of all time. It was the first Lotus road car to use the steel backbone chassis with fibreglass bodywork embodying Colin Chapman's minimum weight design philosophy, weighing in at just 1,600Ibs. Powered by a 1558cc, twin-cam four-cylinder engine, the Elan adopted several other firsts for a Lotus road car including four wheel disc braking, rack and pinion steering and four wheel independent suspension. Lotus debuted the Elan Sprint in 1970 at the Earls Court Motor Show with the official launch following in February 1971. The Elan Sprint went on to become the most desirable of the Elans. The power was subsequently increased to 126bhp, this in turn offered a top speed of over 120mph and a 0-60mph time of an impressive eight seconds. These performance figures were achieved through an increased compression ratio, big valve head and high lift cams.

Originally registered on 9th October 1972 this Lotus presents beautifully in Colorado Orange with Cirrus White paintwork. The current vendor has covered less than 2,000 miles throughout his nine years of ownership, with the car being stored in a humidity controlled garage when not in use. We are advised the actual mileage the car has covered is 85,463 the documentation shows a speedometer change at 12,500 miles in 1976, it is thought both the engine and chassis are original. For increased reliability the distributor has been replaced with an Aldon electronic unit, the original will be supplied and can be easily be refitted if desired. We are advised the Tachometer is currently inoperative. This Elan Sprint DHC is supplied with a V5 registration document, a Lotus Certificate of Provenance, an original Lotus handbook, a Lotus service book stamped up until 1980 and a collection of servicing invoices from 1980. An iconic car of the period that looks great and is enormous fun to drive. Consigned by Stewart Banks.