1999 Lotus Elise S1 with 155BHP DVA K13a upgrade – 38k miles

Many thanks for viewing the advert, I’ve owned this car for more than 10 years and it represents the perfect fast road performance set-up. It’s sublime to drive, sounds fantastic, provides great feedback and has had the weak areas of the S1 addressed so it’s ready for the next owner to enjoy. I know my Elises inside and out, have completely rebuilt several as well completed a Honda conversion & resolved many issues with friends cars and help run one of the owners clubs. This car has only been used in the dry during my ownership, I have another car that I take on track so it's been pampered.

The spec is as follows - significant amounts have been spent on this car, representing excellent value! If you're wondering what you'd need to spend to get an Elise to this level - below gives an idea :

I could downgrade it - sell the bits instead and lower the price. This shows the value of buying it as it stands - what it would cost to get another S1 to this spec :

Janspeed 4-2-1 Large Bore Manifold £948.00 + VAT

Victory Wheels - £1200-1500 a set

Dampers - at least £1500 now

Seats - £1200 + sill pads so £1400

Toe links - £350

Emerald K6 ECU - £740

DVA K13a engine work - £1875 + fitting

Close ratio gearbox - they go for around £700 now

Sports cat - £500

Clear indicators £200

Headlight covers £100

Alloy radiator £299 + VAT

£10,104.60 and fitting on top of all of that so represents great value with the car on top of that!!

1999 Lotus Elise S1 – registered in August 1999, 4 owners including me.

Engine & transmission

1.8 Litre Rover K series engine – by Dave Andrews to DVA K13a spec (which made 155bhp when dyno'd) :

Ported cylinder head modified flow enough air for 175BHP providing scope for future upgrades

- Deflashed inlet manifold

- Modified stock airbox to increase flow, plus K&N Panel filter

- Piper 633 camshafts

- Adjustable Piper vernier pulleys (timed by DVA)

- Emerald K6 ECU - with map that operates in closed-loop mode for MOT compliance

- 52mm Aluminium throttle body

- Upgraded Eliseparts throttle linkage

- 82 degree PRRT thermostat

- Clutch pedal truneon bush upgraded - so a nice smooth action

- Upgraded gear linkage bushes

- Braided clutch hose

- Janspeed large bore 4-2-1 exhaust manifold with Eliseparts flex sports cat

- Brooke Kensington Silencer

- B4BP Close ratio gearbox – reconditioned by transmission solutions

- Upgraded rear engine steady mount

- Aluminium radiator & replaced fan

Handling

- Reconditioned steering rack with bronze cups – completed by Hofmanns

- Nitron NTR 40 dampers with Hofmanns geometry

- Upgraded uniball double-sheer toe links (Elise-shop) - a very important safety item in my opinion - I always change these on my cars

- Carbon Lorraine RC5 pads, braided hoses, Motul RPF600 fluid, plain Pagid discs all round, the feel is great & bite excellent

Interior

- Floors are corrosion-free and were addressed as a factory recall years ago

- Refurbished S1 seats with probax inserts & cushions

- Sill pads are in A1 condition & not worn

- It’s a lovely place to be, very comfortable & tidy

Exterior

- New aluminium paintwork is in excellent condition, it has the later GRP boot lid

- Clear indicators - very desirable, as new

- Eliseparts headlight covers

- Black rear stone guards

- Soft top is in great condition, with the plastic strip remaining unbroken

- Door seals are not corroded unlike many and are nice and flat

- Grilles are very good too - not corroded at all

- Victory wheels finished in black with Nankang NS-2R tyres all round

Overall, it’s a lovely example. I’ve regularly maintained and improved it over the years. The gear change is slick direct, brake pedal solid, throttle response immediate. It turns in beautifully and has a much more urgent level of torque than the original 118bhp cars, while still not being overly loud. I always have used top quality oil – such as Millers CFS, Fuchs Pro S. While I’ve owned the car it has only been used on the road, although I am sure it would be very entertaining on track too and has enough parts upgraded that it would certainly be up to it. It fires up on the button and has never let me down, it just needs to be driven. Large folder of receipts and has the original ECU present. The alarm siren even works properly! If you’re looking for a fun Rover K powered Elise that is very entertaining to drive and ready for the summer, this could be it.

If you wanted to get a standard S1 Elise to this level then this gives an idea of the spend required :

Janspeed 4-2-1 Large Bore Manifold £948.00 + VAT

Victory Wheels - £1200-1500 a set

Dampers - at least £1500 now

Seats - £1200 + sill pads so £1400

Toe links - £350

Emerald K6 ECU - £740

DVA K13a engine work - £1875 + fitting

Close ratio gearbox - they go for around £700 now

Sports cat - £500

Clear indicators £200

Headlight covers £100

Alloy radiator £299 + VAT

£10,104.60 and fitting on top