We’ve yet to do a proper CC on the Elan, but this review by R&T goes some distance to help put the Elan in perspective. This Sprint version was the final development of the Elan, which came out in 1962, and would be gone in another year, “replaced” by the Esprit, which was quite a jump. As such, the Elan was as mature as it ever was going to be, which still meant that it was a typical Lotus. Meaning sheer brilliance but with certain frustrating aspects.
Although Emma Peel’s Elan was an earlier one, we would be remiss in not paying a brief tribute two of the more seductive shapes and personalities of the ’60s, especially since Diana Rigg passed away just last month.
The Sprint version had what became known as the Big Valve version of the 1558cc Ford-Lotus twin cam four. That boosted power to 126hp outside the US, and 113 in de-smogged form. Enough to give the Elan brisk performance for the times, especially when so many other US-certified cars were losing power precipitously. It meant that despite weighing some 200lbs more, it performed on par with the earlier versions tested by R&T.
Not only did it scoot pretty well, but the four wheel disc brakes resulted in the shortest stopping distance from 80mph that R&T had ever tested. And handling was just about equally good.
It wasn’t so much that its ultimate lateral grip was all that great; it was just so controllable, under any and all circumstances. It was this quality that the Mazda engineers were most eager to replicate in their Miata. But unlike the Miata, there were a number of compromises in the Elan, including its tight cabin. The fact that the window frames were fixed wasn’t mentioned, but they sure look a bit outdated for 1972.
I’ll read it in full later, but the CC effect was in action this morning – the first car of note I saw on the shopping run was an Elan Sprint.
Good photo selection too, in perhaps the best colours for a ’60s Lotus
Long before I had a license I was a serious Lotus fan, and even had the opportunity to ride in a few Élans, a Europa and a Seven as a teen. Then, sometime in the late seventies, I finally had a chance to drive an Élan, back to back with a 2 liter (4 cylinder) Porsche 914, a car which until then had little appeal. The cramped, peaky, and darty Lotus was a real disappointment; the tractable, roomy, refined 914 was lastingly memorable. But the Élan’s styling looked great then and still does.
These were absolute terrors on the track. Still are in vintage racing. West coast vintage racer and Napa vintner Gil Nickel raced a 26R, the factory racing version of the Elan, with great success for a number of years at different vintage events around the U.S. One of my good friends raced a Triumph GT6 in Group 3 along with Nickel’s Lotus at a number of these events over several years, and he always commented how damned fast that 26R was, usually winning Group 3, sometimes even lapping the field.
I’ve owned two of them, both early S2 models. Current one for almost 20 years now. I’ll keep it until I can’t get in and out of it. Picture is from a couple of years ago when I had it stored at my brothers.
Beautiful! That must be a great drive! Happy Lotusing!
I do prefer the side window profile of the early cars.
I was 13 years old when I first read this review. My reaction was “what’s with the window frames, and why doesn’t anyone mention them?” Still my reaction.
Electric windows with the frames, vs slide up on the frameless cars.
When Autocar first tested an Elan they surprised themselves by recording 1G lateral acceleration, unheard of at the time, and on 145×13 tyres.
It was unusual to see those cam-covers without a pool of oil in-between …
Last of the original Elans but the name was resurrected with the very late 80’s, early 90’s Isuzu-engined FWD Lotus Elan…which I seem to be in a distinct minority of liking the shape of…wow, just realized it’s now been longer since that one bowed out than the time span between the originals and that newer one!
Beautiful cars, the whole lot of them, and likely a sparkling drive according to those who’ve had the pleasure.