1960 Lotus Other

S1 Series One Elite Coupe

4 CYL SOHC

Manual

1133

Clear

Gasoline

1960 Lotus Elite Red     San Francisco, CA   415-205-0716   sales@carplanet.com 1960 Lotus Elite Up for NO RESERVE auction! Very rare 1960 Lotus Elite Series 1. A two owner California car with both of it's  black license plates.  A very low mileage survivor (the last oil change sticker on the passenger door indicates a mileage of 18,909 miles, which is thought to be close to it's actual mileage) that is still wearing most of it's original paint. Presently in running condition with a later Ford Cortina Kent 1600cc engine installed. Disassembled Coventry Climax engine included. An excellent restoration candidate. One of the most aerodynamic cars ever designed. A detailed history and description of the Lotus Elite is available HERE. The following is a detailed description of the car, along with over 90 photos and 1 video.  iPad and iPhone viewers can access photos by clicking HERE. Please email or call us at 415-205-0716, if you have any questions. Photos        Body, Trim and Paint Having had only two owners and  being a very low mileage car, the body of this desirable Series One Lotus Elite remains in very original condition. No evidence of body repairs. Hood, doors and trunk lid  are originals and all close and open nicely. Each body panel is factory straight. Underside of the body is original and solid. The fiberglass body has a few stress cracks, but is amazingly solid considering it's 54 years old. Bumpers are missing, but reproductions are readily available. The front grille is not presently installed, but is included. The majority of the trim that is installed on the car is in fair original condition. All five wire wheels are still covered in their original silver paint and show no missing or bent spokes. Very rare to see, the majority of the paint is original.  As would be expected after 54 years, the paint has several blemishes and a few touch ups as shown in the photos. The underside was painted  black  by the second owner. Interior The seats, door panels, dash, headliner and rear area remain original. Only the original carpet is missing. The gauges and switches on the face of the dash are all present and are original, except the speedometer and tachometer which are from a Cortina. An aftermarket wood steering wheel is installed, but the original wood rimmed steering wheel in included. Electricals Headlights, tail lights, brake lights, turn signals and wipers are functional. Horn is not currently functional. The starter is functional, though the starter solenoid is not installed, so the starter gear has to be manually moved into position while turning the ignition key. Works fine once you get used to it. The speedometer and odometer are functional though the  mileage indicated on the odometer is not accurate. Tachometer and fuel gauge are functional. Oil temp gauge is currently not functioning. An Interstate brand 12 volt battery is installed. Engine, Transmission and Engine Running Video The engine installed is a 1600cc Ford Cortina Kent engine. According to the prior owner, the original Coventry Climax FWE 1.2L engine was stolen shortly after the first owner (a San Francisco fireman) purchased the car. The car was then garaged until the second owner's purchase  in the 70's. The second owner installed a strong running Ford Cortina Kent engine and drove the Elite an estimated 100 miles before placing it back into storage. The engine starts easily and accelerates smoothly with good power. There is no smoking on startup or during hard acceleration. A disassembled Coventry Climax FWB engine is included and can be modified for use in the Elite. A set of good JE forged pistons is included with this engine. A good set of rods, crankshaft and case are also there. The four speed transmission installed is  not original, but shifts smoothly with  no grinding in any gear. If you don't see the engine running video screen below, click HERE to view it.                     Suspension, Wheels, Tires, Brakes The suspension appears to be original and complete. Rubber suspension components will  likely require replacement after 54 years. The original 15" painted wire wheels are currently installed and are in good condition.  The spare wheel is also an original 15" painted wire wheel. Two 185/65HR-15 sized Firestone Affinity  and two 185/65HR-15 Goodyear Integrity radial tires are installed. All tires have good tread with no cracks. The brakes are functional, though the emergency hand brake is currently disconnected. Extra Parts and Documentation The following extra parts are included: Original  spare wire wheel, original wood steering wheel and front grille. Documentation includes clear California title. Phone: 415.205.0716  -- Email: sales@carplanet.com Terms & Conditions: This vehicle is being sold "as-is", with no warranty, expressed or implied. Vehicle is available for an inspection prior to purchase and we will be happy to arrange one at the expense of the interested buyer. Taxes and Licensing: California buyers will be charged sales tax and licensing and processed on your behalf. Out of state buyers (including other countries), we will send title and you will be responsible for registration and taxes in your own state or providence. All transactions will be charged a $65 documentation fee in addition to the sales price. If leaving the state or country, the car must be picked up by a transportation company that can provide a bill of lading, otherwise California sales tax will be charged. (All licensed transport companies provide these). Personalized plates on vehicles (if any) belong to the owner of record and cannot be included with the vehicle. Payment: A non-refundable deposit of $1000 is due within 24 hours of the auction close. The remaining balance is due within 7 days from the close of auction, unless other arrangements were made. Accepted payment methods are bank wire transfers, cashier's checks and money orders. If you wish to obtain financing, please do so ahead of time. We reserve the right to end the auction early. We also reserve the right to verify any or all bids to ensure exceptional auction integrity. Please do not ask the reserve amount, as we will not disclose this information. Shipping: Transportation expenses are the sole responsibility of the buyer. Vehicle must be picked up within 10 days from close of the auction, after which a storage fee of $15.00 per day (or partial day) will be charged. We cannot be held liable for any problems or damages arising from or due to transportation handling. The buyer is responsible for all shipping charges and fees from point of sale to the final destination. In addition, it is the buyer’s responsibility to arrange & coordinate shipping. We are happy to provide a list of transporters. This vehicle is being sold by CarPlanet.com, a licensed vehicle dealer in the state of California. Car is also advertised for sale locally. We reserve the right to end this auction early. On Jul-03-14 at 18:35:47 PDT, seller added the following information: Just to clarify. The separate Coventry Climax FWB engine that is included with the sale, includes the engine block, cylinder head, JE forged pistons, Carillo rods, crankshaft, water pump, oil pan and other miscellaneous parts shown in the photos. I'll try to add some photos of the engine prior to disassembly. Also just to add to the Electricals section, the heater blower also functions.