The Lotus Elan Auction of the Century

Hi all,

just saw the newest entrys in the Auctions Catalogue for the “RACE RETRO CLASSIC AND COMPETITION CAR SALE 2023” by Silverstone Auctions which will be held on 25th February next year.

https://www.silverstoneauctions.com/race-retro-2023/2023-01-17

In total I count 7 Elans in auction, including Ron Hickmans, Rob Walkers, Jochen Rindts and Keith Duckworths personal cars.

In addition to this Jim Clarks S1 was (or is) for sale somewhere else a few days ago.

I myself would not pay the premium for a particular previous owner, what do you think?

This Piddington collection had a few nice cars by the look of that. No idea who that is though.
For every person who wont pay a premium there’s going to be someone rich who will. The auction will tell the tale.

This is a wonderful Elan collection, which I have been privileged to view on a number of occasions. Although all these cars have a wonderful provenance, they are all in the most exquisite condition. They have all been well restored where necessary and are in museum quality condition.

In addition, each of these cars has a very particular provenance, well documented and verifiable. Anyone buying one of these Elans would own a small piece of motoring history and a large slice of Lotus history. I hope that at least one may end up in the Lotus factory heritage collection and perhaps another down the road at Classic Team Lotus.

Tim

Unlikely to happen unless someone buys them and gifts them to those two parties.

Simon, as I wrote ‘I hope …’!

Tim

I saw this today and wondered what is/was the “Piddington” collection ?. I haven’t been able to find anything with a quick search.

It is a private collection and I believe the term Piddington Collection is one of convenience for the auction.

Tim

Oooo… love the ex-Hickman Elan https://www.silverstoneauctions.com/sa084-lot-19527-1971-lotus-elan-sprint-drophead-coupe-ron-hickman?el=19527&pn=1&pp=100

The only Elan at correct ride height is the Emma Peel? John

I think that Ron bought this car from Ken Miles I saw it sometime in the late 90’s at Donnington Ron had just started to return to the Lotus scene

Emma Peel’s car is our version of a genuine Bond DB5 !

What a nice collection! I never have seen such reverse lights arrangement like on the Sellers Elan. Is it knows who did this conversion and what are the two additional rear bumper bolts for?
I thought the Emma Peel Elan S2/3 was painted Jaguar Opalescent Blue (like mine), but this metallic paint has a green hue in it. Bad photo or wrong colour?

Phil,

The Sellers Elan has a rare optional rear bumper, only offered for a very short time. It was seen on the Baldet Silver Streak too. See att photo. The Sellers Elan also has the short run Corrello side indicators. See att photo.

The Peel Elan is indeed the Jaguar Snipe Blue [attachment=2]Baldet Silver Streak Rear Bumper.JPG[/attachment][attachment=1]Peter Sellars in 2019 restored 1.JPG[/attachment][attachment=0]Special Avengers Jaguar Snipe Blue.JPG[/attachment]colour, so it is just the photo reproduction that deceives. See att photo I took on my iPhone of the car.

Tim



Tim,

thank you! The optional bumper looks much better with the overriders in place, although I prefer the standard look. Your light blue metallic color sample looks like Opalescent Blue to me and like the color on my car. BTW, what are other ‚options‘, that never really were commercialized: chrome bumpers, overriders/ back- up bumper, what else?

I was lucky enough to be invited to see the collection and can confirm every word that Tim said. Before I set off, the owner, a really nice guy, told me his cars were significant. I had no clue what it meant until I arrived. It was a bit of a trip to get there and back in the day but it was a fantastic day. Every car he introduced had a really good story and as you can see linked to some really prominent people. I hope the auction goes well for him.
Without him where, and in what condition, would they be in today.
Good luck with the auction.

The descriptions and guide prices are on the site now, and I’m sure that a couple of them will far exceed their top estimate.

Most of the low range estimates are just how much an Elan would cost to restore to this condition!

What a stunning collection. It’s the Emma Peel and Peter Sellers Elans for me…I’m not greedy.

The guide prices are in the filenames below…

Mark Kempson






The Silverstone Auction’s Race Retro Sale on February 25th has 7 historic Elans going on the auction block:

1966 Lotus Elan S3 - Ex-Peter Sellers

1969 Lotus Elan S4 FHC - ‘Jochen Rindt’

1966 Elan S3 Drophead Coupé 'Emma Peel - The Avengers’

* After filming Series 5 and 6 of The Avengers, the Television Company gave this super little S3 Drophead to Diana Rigg who played Emma Peel in 51 episodes of the long-running British TV series.

1968 Lotus Elan S4 Coupé ‘Duckworth’

* An S4 Coupé given to Keith Duckworth, co-founder of Cosworth Engineering, by Lotus Cars to commemorate the first win by a DFV-engined Grand Prix car at the Dutch GP in 1967.

1968 Lotus Elan S3-SE 'Rob Walker’

* Prepared for Grand Prix privateer and “the ultimate Gentleman Racer”, R.R.C.‘Rob’ Walker, to commemorate Stirling Moss’ legendary Monaco Grand Prix win in 1961 aboard the Rob Walker Racing Lotus 18.

1971 Lotus Elan Sprint Drophead Coupé ‘Ron Hickman’

* This stunning Sprint was formerly the property of Ron Hickman, the South African-born, Jersey-based automobile designer and inventor who worked with Colin Chapman for years and headed up the design team responsible for the original Elan, the +2 and the Europa but is probably best known for creating the Black and Decker ‘Workmate’.

1975 Lotus Elan Sprint

Additional articles about the auction and cars: thisismoney.co.uk/money/car … -700k.html

There are also a couple of Lotus Cortina’s up for sale.

How much will they fetch at auction?

A lovely collection of cars, I can’t see one I wouldn’t want.

My favourite would be the ex Sellers Elan.

All restored by the same shop?

John

Yes, Ken and mostly Neil Myers.

Tim