1967 Lotus Elan S3 – 20,500 Original Miles

words by ShiftGate

Jim Clark Elan Tribute

Now, THIS is a Lotus Elan done right! A beautiful tribute to the Elan S1 owned by famed Lotus racer Jim Clark, this 1967 Lotus Elan S3 has received a tremendous level of restoration inside, outside, and under the hood to revive its original glory. Not only that, but the seller is also just the second owner, and this Elan shows only 20,000 miles on the clock!

History

Depending on whom you ask, British automaker Lotus produced between 9,000 and 12,000 Elans during the 1960s and early 70s. This was the golden era of Lotus racing when they dominated the Formula One universe. Jim Clark won the Indy 500 and F1 World Championship in 1965 – becoming the first and only driver to accomplish this feat.

Just imagine how electric the Lotus factory must have been with this kind of success! That engineering prowess, centered around Mr. Chapman’s laser focus on lightness, was channeled into the Elan, which would become the company’s first commercial success.

Auto journalists heaped the Elan with praise, like Car and Driver’s note, that the Elan was the closest thing to driving a Formula car on the street. These cars are rare little beasts known for their otherworldly handling and clean design. Today’s 1967 S3 is a truly special Elan with known history from new that has benefitted from serious pride of ownership.

Classy Fixed Head Coupe

The gorgeous red and silver color scheme on today’s 1967 Elan S3 was created by the current owner as a tribute to the Elan S1 owned by Jim Clark. Originally white, the car underwent a painstaking overhaul between 2020 and 2021 that involved hand sanding the car down to bare fiberglass with no paint stripper or bead blasting used.

The body was then repainted with multiple coats of primer, the current shade of red and silver, and a final clear coat. Additionally, the steel backbone chassis was repainted at the time. All body panels, including the hood, doors, and trunk lid, are original.

All chrome and brightwork were replated, and the original 13” steel wheels were powder coated. They feature three-eared knockoffs and are mounted in Uniroyal Tiger Paw rubber sized 155/80 all around. Gallery pics highlight the condition of the wheel wells, brakes, and suspension with the wheels removed.

Along with the “TwinCam” motor, these Elans were advanced at the time with their four-corner disc brakes and fully independent suspension.

Notable exterior highlights include the silver front and rear bumpers, pop-up headlights, and single center exhaust. The car retains its original fender badges touting the automaker’s racing achievements and has been upgraded with a pair of Border Reivers Racing Club logos up front.

The Border Reivers team was known for getting Jim Clark’s racing career up and running, including a 3^rd place finish at the 1960 24 Hours of Le Mans. Mr. Clark’s personal 1963 Elan featured a Border Reivers team logo, so the emblems on today’s S3 are a deliberate aspect of the tribute.

Noted issues include the removed driver’s side mirror. This is how the car was received by the owner upon purchase three years ago. He notes there are three small mounting holes for a mirror that will be included in the sale, or they can be fitted with small rubber plugs.

Additionally, the rear antenna has been removed due to rust, and the mounting hole has been filled with a rubber plug. The antenna base and wire will be included in the sale. Undercarriage condition is clean with some surface rust present though there is said to be no major corrosion on the car.

Original Walnut Dash

As part of the refurbishment, the seats, door panels, center console, sun visors, and headliner were all reupholstered. The front buckets are finished in black vinyl with patterned inserts with the color extending to the doors, carpeting, and dashboard that is free of cracks.

A three-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel with a Triumph emblem frames a set of Smiths instrumentation. It includes an 8,000-rpm tachometer, a 140-mph speedometer with just 20,455 miles on the odometer, a fuel level dial, and a combination gauge for oil pressure and coolant temperature.

That killer dashboard is the original walnut piece and shows patina and cracks consistent with the age of this 1967 Elan. The Blaupunkt radio does not work and is not currently connected.

Highlights include power windows, a wood shift knob, a lockable glove box, and some interesting seat belts. As seen in the gallery, they feature the Irvin Air Chute logo. Irvin is an English company with a history of making parachutes and, as seen here, seat belts. Very neat.

The white headliner shows a tight fit, the carpeting appears to be in very good shape, and the trunk houses a matching spare wheel and tire.

Noted flaws include black plastic trim on the interior windshield pillars that is cracked or missing in some places and two black plastic trim pieces under the dash that may require a re-install per the owner.

Additionally, the metal plate beneath the shift lever is loose from normal usage. The owner believes longer or larger screws would fix this issue. Currently, he simply pushes the plate down when entering the car.

Fully Overhauled

Sitting in a very tidy engine bay is the original DOHC 1558 cc inline-four. Featuring red valve covers and twin Weber 40 DCOE carburetors, it pairs with the original four-speed manual transmission to spin the rear wheels.

The original air cleaner cover has been removed to improve performance. It has been refinished and is included in the sale. The only modification is the installation of an auxiliary fuel pump in the trunk.

An incredible amount of work was performed during the restoration to ensure this TwinCam is running in top shape. Dave Bean Engineering was the primary source of original equipment and replacement parts, while The Vintage Connection managed mechanical work. Highlights are as follows:

Engine disassembled
Various components steam cleaned and polished
Reassembly completed with new seals and gaskets
Valve springs and spring seats replaced
New intake and exhaust valve guides installed
Replacement of water pump and radiator hoses

Additional work completed under current ownership includes rebuilding the brake booster and servo, new brake rotors, calipers, and pads, along with fresh wheel bearings and seals. Differential seals were also replaced as part of the restoration.

During disassembly, the technicians confirmed the low mileage shown on the odometer due to the lack of wear on the internal engine components. Invoices from all suppliers and records of all work performed will be included with the sale.

Showstopper

Located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, this 1967 Lotus Elan S3 coupe has been under current ownership for the past three years. In that time, 1,000 of the original 20,500 miles have been added. The factory tag indicates this car is chassis number 36/6975, and a photo album of the restoration work will accompany the sale.

This Elan was originally purchased in London and relocated to the U.S. when the first owner took a job here. It was stored in a modern barn in Purdue, Indiana, which is where the current owner picked it up in January 2019. Photos in the gallery show the car’s condition upon purchase.

To say the current owner has invested some time, money, and enthusiast pride into the restoration of this Jim Clark Elan tribute would quite an understatement. This red and silver stunner is an absolute showstopper that is sure to bring endless joy to its next caretaker.

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