Lotus Elite Série Ii 1962 / Manual

This Lotus Elite was built in 1962 and exported to the United States, where it was sold new to Ecurie Shirlee in California, then the Lotus importer and agent for the west coast.

The bodywork of this car was built by Bristol Aircraft Company, making it a ‘Series 2’ model. Its original colour is white.

Its full history is known, and the details are as follows:

The Elite’s first owner was Walter Weber, a Canadian who kept the car in California until it was sold in 1988. The car is also known by its Californian registration number GKH 420.

In 1988, it passed into the hands of Laurence Raphaël, who restored and upgraded the car (invoices on file). He kept it for around ten years, until 1998. This specialist in the make spent nearly 200 hours rebuilding it.


The third owner, Mr Gregory Noblet, a well-known French collector, bought the Elite in 1998 and entered it in the Tour Auto that same year.

In 1999, the Lotus changed hands once again and was purchased by its fourth owner, Mr Bernard Consten. He meticulously maintained the Elite and had driven the car for only 3,000 miles when he sold it to his close friend and founder of Amicale Jaguar France, Mr Claude Clérici.


In 2005, the rear suspension was rebuilt and optimised, whilst in 2006, the Coventry Climax FWE engine was stripped down for a further full overhaul (including a conversion to unleaded petrol).

In 2016, the engine was overhauled again and a rare synchronised ZF gearbox was fitted in place of the original MG gearbox. Photographs are provided and the original MG gearbox is sold with the car; it remains in excellent condition.