2003 Lotus Elise S2 Bell & Colvill 160

Highlights 

• Highly desirable Bell & Colvill 160 conversion

• Uprated engine, suspension and brakes

• Much improved performance over a standard Elise  

• Excellent condition throughout

• Full service history

Overview

From Grand Prix winning Formula One racing cars to the Elan and the Esprit, Colin Chapman's “simplify, then add lightness” ethos has served Lotus rather well over the years. This elementary approach to making cars go faster is brilliant in its uncomplicated ingenuity and the fruits of said labour can be seen across the Lotus range, with the truly excellent Elise deserving particular praise.

Frequently popping up on “top drivers' cars” lists the Elise is widely regarded as one of the most agile and exciting sports cars to ever grace tarmac - whether that be a twisty Cotswolds B road or clipping the Apex of Druids at Brands Hatch - and it's a reputation that is wholly deserved. 

Introduced in 1996 the original Elise wasn't particularly powerful but it only weighed 725kg, allowing it to hit 60mph from parked in less than six seconds. A prime example of Chapman's aforementioned principles. Rear mid-engined and rear-wheel-drive, this two-seater roadster utilised a fibreglass body strapped to a bonded and extruded aluminium chassis that kept the whole shebang wonderfully rigid, and indeed lightweight. 

Lauded by buyers and critics alike it sold well and the second generation arrived five years later. It was an improvement on the original in almost every way whilst still retaining those incredible ride and handling characteristics that made the Series 1 such a success and the Elise continued to be revered as a pure driver's car by everybody that had the good fortune to drive one.

Myriad variations followed over the Series 2's ten year production run but many consider the Bell & Colvill 160 conversion to be among the best bang for buck upgrades you can do, which luckily for you dear reader, is exactly what we have here.

Featuring myriad engine tweaks, including a performance camshaft, competition air filter, sports exhaust, gas flowed cylinder head and uprated valve springs, the Bell & Colvill 160 package significantly boosts the power output. Add to that the suspension and braking improvements the car has also been treated to and you'll soon understand why these cars are so sought after.  An Elise S2 is already pretty special but a Bell & Colvill example is simply next level, especially one in as fine condition as this and with full specialist service history. Yep, it's quite the package.

History and documentation

• Full service history (by Lotus specialists Bell & Colvill and Back on Track)

• Original service book showing inspections at the following intervals: After Sales Service at 1,620 miles (2003 – Bell & Colvill), A Service at 6,165 miles (2004 – Bell & Colvill), A Service at 9,946 miles (2005 – Bell & Colvill), B Service at 11,046 miles (2006 – Bell & Colvill), A Service + belts at 12,451 miles (2007 – Bell & Colvill), A Service at 13,735 miles (2008 – Bell & Colvill), C Service at 14,750 miles (2009 – Bell & Colvill), C Service + belts at 17,738 miles (2010 – Back on Track), A Service at 22,524 miles (2011 – Back on Track), B Service at 24,284 miles (2012 – Back on Track), A Service at 29,076 miles (2014 – Back on Track), A Service at 31,958 miles (2015 – Back on Track), A Service + Belts at 33,423 miles (2016 – Back on Track), service at 36,653 miles (2017 – Back on TrackBack on Track), A Service at 40,008 miles (2018 – Back on Track), A Service at 40, 415 miles (2019 – Back on Track), B Service + timing belt at 42,013 miles (2021 – Back on Track), A Service at 43,192 miles (2022 – Back on Track), A Service at 44,518 miles (2023 – Back on Track), C Service at 44,985 miles (2024 – Back on Track)

• Extensive set of supporting invoices

• Last serviced in November 2024

• In current ownership since July 2011

• Two sets of working keys

• Original book pack

• V5C resent and correct

• 3 former keepers

• First registered 08/05/2003

• HPI clear

• Advisory-free MOT until 26/11/2026

• 45,129 miles

Interior

• Black leather interior presents well with little sign of wear and tear

• Bucket seats with Schroth motorsport harnesses (no longer in date, but fine for road and track day use)

• All switchgear and gauges work perfectly

• Suede covered dash looks great

• Carpets and door cards in good condition

• Face-off Alpine stereo system (aux connection not currently working)

• Factory-fitted Category 1 security

• Fire extinguisher

Exterior

• Stunning Laser Blue paintwork in fine condition with only a few stone chips to note 

• Black 17” OZ Racing alloy wheels still in superb shape, having reportedly been refurbished in May 2025

• Lotus roundels all present and correct

• Full set of Nankang AR-1 tyres fitted in December 2024

• Quality car cover included

• Black removable soft top fits well and is in fine fettle

• All shut lines appear to be straight and true

• All glasswork looks to be in good order

• Headlight lenses have some cracks and have done since the owner bought the car, although have not shown signs of water ingress during his ownership

• Clean underneath with only a few minor scrapes to speak of

• No signs of rust

• Towing eyes present and correct

Mechanical

• Bell & Colvill conversion

• Reliable figures on the effect of the upgrades are hard to come by as they varied according to the individual options chosen; we've quoted figures in the data for the standard car but the conversion is said to add around 30bhp or a little more

• Five-speed manual gearbox

• Stainless exhaust

• Nitron NTR dampers

• Eibach springs

• EP Racing brake discs

• Goodrich brake lines

• Alloy radiator

• New brake master cylinder in April 2024

• Replacement water pump and timing belt in July 2024

• Starts and runs well with a smooth idle

• The vendor tells us the car drives excellently in both heavy traffic and on the track with no mechanical issues to report

Summary

With vastly improved performance across the board over a standard S2, this Bell & Colvill converted example may not be one for the purists but if you have even the slightest interest in the pure, unadulterated joy of driving then you owe it to yourself to chuck in a bid.

Any trip in this little pocket rocket - whether it be a trip to Sainsbury's or a whole day on track - is guaranteed to put a smile on your face that will be incredibly hard to remove long after you've stepped out of the cockpit. 

To arrange a viewing, click the 'Book Viewing' button located under the 'Place Bid' button. Viewings can be booked up until the day before the auction ends, after which the option will change to 'Contact Seller' for further enquiries. This seller is located in Godalming, Surrey.