2000 S1 Elise, Yellow, 18k, 1 Prev Owner, Prodimex, Tillett

Very regretful sale due to a change in personal circumstances. I’ve owned various S1s and bought this nearly five years ago with the idea of it being the closest I could get to a brand new yellow Series 1, then adding some very selective and subtle upgrades.

MOT until 1^st June 2027, no advisories for last few years, regular use but few miles, just ticking over to 18k miles,. Cambelt and water pump less than a year ago, full Lotus service history in early years, before recommissioning and upgrades, all detailed below.

Two keys, one previous owner, V5 in my name and HPi clear with certificate, original sales invoice and Certificate of Conformity, working Cobra immobiliser (2 x fobs and touch keys), radio fitting kit but not fitted (storage box instead) nor speakers.

It’s not concours cosmetically, but it is very, very good – underneath as well as on top. Black soft top in perfect condition. Mint enough to feel really special, but not so few miles on it that you can’t actually use it. Always garaged.

Spec/Modifications

Just a few very specific mods that improve the build and reliability, but not the looks or performance.

I prefer the metallic Norfolk Mustard (Spice) Yellow and a boot box so wanted a later car, but prefer the earlier look of AWI wheels to Rimstocks hence the change. These are refinished, completely unmarked and ceramic coated, fitted with AD08RS tyres that have probably had fewer than 1000 miles use.

Full Prodimex shifter kit fitted with a few tweaks, all joints pinned and locked, and the selector tacked. I didn’t add the extra chassis hole and rivnut, but have added a Jordan Engineering weighted gearknob (can swap to original if you prefer). Certainly the best gearshift feel I’ve ever felt in an S1.

Spitfire toelinks, Nimbus heatshield, Eliseparts stainless exhaust, small amount of extra carpet under seats and a few tactical sections of hidden sound deadening.

Pair of Tillett B5 carbon seats with fixed side mounts. Drivers doesn’t have padding as I wanted to be as low as possible, still incredibly comfortable.

Service History & Maintenance

Essentially three ‘eras’ of history; 1) Full Lotus history in early years (plus various new parts, tyres, batteries etc), stamped and with invoices.

1058 Miles, 07/07/2000, HR Owen London Lotus
2976 Miles, 25/06/2001, HR Owen London Lotus
3957 Miles, 10/07/2002, HR Owen London Lotus
6017 Miles, 12/02/2003, HR Owen London Lotus
8323 Miles, 11/02/2004, Brooke Kensington
9551 Miles, 10/03/2005, Brooke Kensington
12,408 Miles, 20/04/2006, Brooke Kensington
14,130 Miles, 12/08/2009, Brooke Kensington

2) All services and maintenance carried out by the same local specialist when the previous owner moved from London to Devon. Gap of a few years at the start, but only in time, not mileage.

20/02/14, Various service parts
27/11/15, Cambelt, water pump, crank seals, aux belt, head skim and pressure test, uprated head gasket, new bolts, oil & filter, air filter
04/12/15, Service, plugs, leads, cap, arm etc
15/10/16, Fuel pump, flush and clean pump and lines, Speedo sensor
24/06/19, Service, oil & filter, plugs

Then 3) In my ownership. It has been MOT’d at Chris Foulds Lotus in Huddersfield, and all servicing and maintenance/upgrades done at home as I’ve always done on Elises.  Huge stack of invoices and paperwork for all work.

17,142 Miles, May 2022
Oil & Filter, Air filter, wiper, new EP headlight covers
17,159 Miles, September 2022
Refinished AWI wheels, Yokohama AD08RS tyres, force road balanced
17,161 Miles, December 2022
Nimbus heatshield, Spitfire toe links, Prodimex shifter, EP exhaust, EP rubbers, fittings and brackets/fasteners, stainless fittings, rotor arm, cap and spark plugs, new immobiliser fob covers
17,170 Miles, March-July 2023
Footwell panels cleaned/treated and painted (there are no panels stuck over), magnetic drain plug, new wheel nuts and side repeaters, new rack gaitors, brake fluid flush, gearbox oil change, track rod ends, oil & filter
17,750 Miles, September/October 2025
Cambelt (auto) tensioner, water pump, aux belt, new EP shaved crank pulley, new bolt & washer, coolant flush, new battery with isolator
June 2026
MOT, fuel filter

More Info

Everything comes apart properly as you’d expect, the usual stainless fasteners have been used whenever and wherever. I wasn’t planning to ever sell, it was going to be pressed into more regular use since I’d finished a few more tweaks. Various sections of chassis ceramic coated, ACF50 sprayed regularly etc.

It is currently fitted with original red Konis. I’ve driven this back-to-back recently with Bilsteins and remembered just how good the Konis are (especially on 2026 road surfaces!), and these still behave as they should. Next on my list in future was a set of custom spec dampers from one of the usual three UK suppliers with rates closer to these to try and replicate closer to Konis.

New diffuser and fasteners, extremely clean underneath otherwise. New Autostyle premium mats (well recommended on Seloc) that are effectively unused.

Advertised at what I feel is a fair price considering the mileage, colour and cost of the seats and shifter. Includes some extra parts, unused cambelt & tensioner kit, 3 x spare AWI wheels with old Yoko tyres, rear view mirror etc.

I might consider selling with standard immaculate black leather seats rather than the Tilletts, but would rather not. Strangely, if no interest in a straight sale I might also consider taking a very cheap S1 in part ex at a later date – condition/mileage etc not really an issue as long as it is a good chassis. Long story as to why, happy to explain in person.