The 1966 Lotus Elan S2 occupies a special place in the history of the sports car. When Colin Chapman introduced the Elan in 1962, he did more than add a model to the Lotus range; he redefined what a small sports car could be. Built around a lightweight steel backbone chassis clothed in a fiberglass body, powered by the now legendary Lotus twin cam engine, and guided by Chapman's relentless pursuit of lightness, the Elan delivered handling and responsiveness that larger, heavier rivals could not approach. It set the template that the modern sports car has followed ever since, and decades later it remains the car most often credited as the inspiration behind the roadsters that revived the breed. The Series 2, produced from 1964 through 1966, refined the original formula and stands today among the most desirable expressions of Chapman's vision.
This 1966 Lotus Elan S2 is a correct and purposeful example of one of the most admired sports cars ever to come out of England. Finished in Lotus Yellow over a black vinyl interior, the car presents with exactly the kind of bright, confident character the Elan was born to wear. Chassis 26/4954 is believed to have been delivered new in Arizona before moving to California in the 1980s, and was later sent to the UK for a comprehensive refurbishment by marque expert Richard Winter at Europa Engineering across 2005 and 2006. That work touched the fiberglass body, the repaint in Lotus Yellow, and rebuilds of the twin cam 1.6L inline four, the four speed manual transmission, the four wheel independent suspension, and the disc brakes at all four corners. The odometer shows 46,000 miles, roughly 10,000 of them added under current ownership, and recent attention in May 2025 included new CV joints, a wheel and tire balance, a speedometer repair, and a fresh oil change.
What separates the Elan from so much of what came before and after it is the way it drives. The backbone chassis, the supple four wheel independent suspension, and the eager twin cam four, here breathing through dual Weber carburetors and rated at 105 horsepower from the factory, combine to produce a car that feels alive in a way that sheer power never quite captures. The Elan rewards the driver who appreciates balance, precision, and immediacy over brute force. As one of just 490 Series 2 Elans sold in the United States, and confirmed by its Lotus documentation as the 193rd of those cars, this is also a genuinely scarce machine, and sound, properly sorted examples are increasingly difficult to find.
Lotus Yellow is the natural color for a car like this. It catches the light, sharpens every curve of the slender fiberglass body, and gives the Elan the kind of presence on a show field or a back road that more subdued colors simply cannot match. The black vinyl cabin provides a fitting contrast, framed by a wood rimmed steering wheel, a wood dashboard, and a full set of Smiths instrumentation, while retractable headlights, oval taillights, wraparound bumpers, and a black convertible soft top with a matching tonneau cover complete the period correct picture. The 13 inch steel wheels on three eared knock offs and BF Goodrich rubber finish the look exactly as it should be. Chassis 26/4954 is accompanied by a Lotus Classic Certificate of Vehicle Provenance, a tool roll, and a Montana title, and prospective buyers with an appreciation for correct, honest, and rewarding sports cars will find this Series 2 Elan a rare and compelling opportunity.
Offered at $65,000 USD
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