1998 Lotus Elise

The Lotus Elise embodied the essence of minimalist design, stripping away the unnecessary to reveal a sports car of unrivaled focus. Its lightweight chassis and mid-mounted engine delivered a driving experience where form and function were perfectly intertwined.

When the Lotus Elise debuted in 1996, it seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. Just three years earlier, General Motors had sold Lotus to Italian entrepreneur Romano Artioli, whose ambitious revival of Bugatti with the EB110 was hurtling toward bankruptcy at 213 mph. Despite the turmoil, Artioli gave Lotus exactly what it needed—the freedom to create an all-new sports car.

The result was a small, affordable, and groundbreaking road-going track car—so innovative that its legacy continues to propel Lotus forward to this day.

The Lotus Elise was built with a lightweight, performance-driven ethos, prioritizing handling over luxury. It featured lightweight fiberglass body panels and a removable soft top with manual operation. The wheels were sized for optimal grip and balance, with 15-inch alloys at the front and 16-inch at the rear. Inside, the interior maintained a simple and driver-focused layout, featuring analog gauges for speed, RPM, temperature, and fuel. True to its lightweight philosophy, the car also had manual windows.

Now available on our showroom floor is a super rare and highly collectible 1998 Lotus Elise Series 1, finished in Lotus Racing Green. Delivered new through Trivett Classic Sydney, this Elise has traveled an exceptionally low 21,000 km. According to Lotus archives, of the 84 Series 1 Elise models delivered to Australia, only two were finished in Racing Green over Faffia Leather with a Green Soft Top—making this one of the rarest configurations.

Having had only two owners from new, the first owner purchased the car in September 1998, using it as a weekend driver. Over the first few years, he sparingly drove it, accumulating just 14,000 km, before moving overseas indefinitely. The Lotus was then placed in professional storage for approximately 15 years.

Upon returning to Australia, the owner had the Elise recommissioned by Lotus Cars Sydney in July 2020, with an extensive $11,000 service. This included a major service and inspection, the installation of an upgraded clutch kit, a hydraulic system overhaul, and the replacement of all fuel lines. The car also received new brake master cylinders, a refreshed transmission with new bushings and gear linkages, and a new exhaust system, delivering a thrilling soundtrack.

The most recent service was completed in May 2024 at Lotus Cars Sydney, which included an oil change and full fluid flush.

For true Lotus purists, this early production example features the green glue chassis bonding, known to be lighter than the orange glue used in later models. Additionally, it is a UK-manufactured ‘H’ code example, further enhancing its collectability.

Accompanying this vehicle is the Lotus Heritage Box, which includes a keychain, bookmark, pen, cufflinks, pins, and a metal card engraved with the car’s details. Also included are the OEM parts catalogue, owner’s manuals, service booklet, and two original keys. This Elise retains its original green fabric roof, painted center roll bar and mount, original gear knob, and roof Allen key.

The original Lotus Elise S1 remains a masterpiece nearly three decades after its debut. Its perfect balance of power, grip, handling, and lightweight construction delivers a driving experience as fluid as it is rewarding.

With such low kilometres, impeccable condition, and extreme rarity, this example represents a true investment-grade opportunity to own a landmark car from one of the world’s most prestigious automakers.

It’s more than a car—it’s a timeless icon.