Prototype Elise S1: born 03 January 1996

[jep]

Busy day for Ruby: Goodwood Breakfast meet, Hampshire county cricket club (we lost), Portsmouth shopping:

Barrier to exit car park wouldn't open....no front number plate. Ticket inserted solved this problem 😀

Justin 

 

[jep]

Gone to meet it's maker: Ruby reunited with Russell Carr after a long separation. Two legends - and me. 

Another who stress tested Ruby in the 90s, Gavan Kershaw: 

Both total gentlemen, listening to the prattlings of this Elise fanboy. They could not have been kinder or more attentive. 

It's quite a journey from Elise S1 to Evija. Go Lotus! 

Justin

 

[cyberespion]

Hi, here is another very early model : https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1996-lotus-elise-4/

Jep, on your car, the sticker with the VIN shows "Lotus Cars Prototype" and your VIN is naturally not using the classic format which appears later.

On the other car currently advertised, it's not write "Lotus Cars Prototype" but "Lotus Cars Ltd". Its VIN ends by 0036. From Lotus archives, I know that:

Quote

The Lotus Elise was introduced [...] from serial number 0017, but these early cars were engineering cars. The first production Elise in RHD was serial number 0024 [...] and the first LHD [...] 0106.

I wonder if your car how your VIN ends... Is it between 0017 and 0024? We can discuss by private message if you want.

Thanks!

[jep]

@cyberespion sorry for the late reply. The prototype is pre-0017, it's not an engineering car, rather a prototype. It was then used to test changes to Elise including steel discs, 135bhp test bed and durability testing by anyone who would take her. 107,000 miles in 5 years until sold to engineer Dave Minter. 

Justin 

[jep]

Pistons and Pizza evening:

 

Justin 

[NR2k]

Interesting thread thanks. Glad to see that ruby is being enjoyed and not a garage queen. 

 

[jep]

131,000 miles rolled up 24 August 2023:

Shower cap works, dry inside.

Justin

Instagram: birthofanicon

 

[Techyd]

Incredible scenes! 🙂

[jep]

This chap drove Ruby in 1999. Luke worked at Stratton and collected Ruby from Hethel for her first MOT. 

Luke is now with Bell and Colvill. He was thrilled to see her again:

 

[Bazza 907]

Fabulous history that helped launch the best sports car of all time? 

Where's the front number plate though?

[jep]

Sorry Officer Barry, I was doing my InstaWapp pics and forgot to reattach the front plate. I'll fix that now, as I carry the plinth, plate, screwdriver and 3M double sided tape at all times. 😊

As I do for 340R, Evora, Elise S1 118bhp, Type 100. Excel looks better with a front plate 😁

Justin 

[scotty435]

5 hours ago, jep said:

This chap drove Ruby in 1999. Luke worked at Stratton and collected Ruby from Hethel for her first MOT. 

Luke is now with Bell and Colvill. He was thrilled to see her again:

 

Looks like Shmee’s 675LT in the background?

[jep]

Probably. Who cares? 😊

[jep]

Shere Hill Climb 2023. Ruby nipped up the hill too. Three times in fact. A special event.

Justin

 

[jep]

No Photoshop or adjustment on these pictures. Natural light last night:

Justin 

[jep]

AutoCar this week, not the prototype but a good article on S1 Elise:

AutoCar NOV23 on Elise S1.pdf

Hopefully the PDF is readable. Wonky scanning, some text missed but you get the gist.

Justin

[jep]

Ruby made the pages of Autocar in 1999: 

I discovered this by fluke on Sunday, the eBay listing for this Autocar supplement photographed each page and I spied Ruby, or rather what I assumed must be Ruby. T'was! 

100,000 miles by May 1999. Good on her. 

Justin 

[jep]

Breakfast after Newlands Corner: