The Series 2 Lotus Elise draws inspiration from the 2000 Lotus M250 Concept, with a mid-mounted engine, a lightweight aluminum chassis, and sport-oriented styling cues. This 2005 example is finished in Chrome Orange, a color offered by Lotus’ Lifestyle Paint collection, and features optional equipment including a body-color hardtop along with the Touring and Sport Packages. The equipment also includes a removable soft top, staggered-diameter eight-spoke alloy wheels, and aftermarket speakers. Showing just under 12k miles on the odometer, this one-owner example is now being offered for auction by its seller out of Michigan.
This roadster is finished in Chrome Orange and features a body-color removable hardtop and a black removable soft top. Design cues include side air intakes, a rear spoiler, a rear diffuser, dual exhaust outlets, and 16″/17″ eight-spoke alloy wheels dressed in Yokohama Advan Neova tires. The Lotus lettering at the rear has been replaced with a badge. Detailed images are provided in the gallery along with a clean CARFAX report.
The cabin sports black leather upholstery covering the bucket seats, door panels, and dashboard trim as part of the Touring package, along with electric windows, full carpeting, and extra sound-deadening. The interior has been modified with body-color accents said to have been applied by the original Lotus dealer. Additional equipment includes a three-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel, aluminum pedals, a storage net, a CD stereo, and air conditioning. Aftermarket speakers have been installed along with an aftermarket rearview mirror.
The Elise is powered by a mid-mounted 1.8-liter DOHC 16-valve inline-four engine. As much as 190 HP and 133 lb.-ft of torque to the rear wheels through a Synchromesh 6-speed manual transaxle with reverse lock-out. Equipment includes a fully independent suspension utilizing unequal-length wishbones, Bilstein mono-tube gas dampers, Eibach coil springs, and a front anti-roll bar. Stopping power is handled by ventilated and cross-drilled discs paired with AP Racing and Brembo calipers. Additionally, the Sport package includes a sport-tuned suspension and two oil coolers.
This sale will include a clean title, owner’s manuals, a window sticker, and extensive documentation.
Comments (28)
@phurlston I guess Mecum and others have it all wrong.
Iexpe
Many consider that announcing when the reserve is met is basically announcing that the seller does not think the car is worth more than the current bid, which is why it's better not to discuss the reserve at all during the auction.
I just added a few additional photos of both keys with fobs, the tool roll, and additional documentation.
Additional content has been added to the gallery for this listing.
@vintiquemotors 12k-mile*. Also it has a comprehensive service history with all records accounted for.
@NuclearNeil yes I will announce when the reserve is met. Truthfully we are not far away, it is priced reasonably. It would be a challenge to find another 1-owner 12-mile chrome orange Elise. Anyone shopping for a top tier Elise should be heavily considering this one. Every single document from day 1 is accounted for, all the books, the tools, both keys and fobs… it’s an ideal example.
Will we be notified if the reserve is hit?
Bid in the amount of $51,000
Bid in the amount of $50,000
Bid in the amount of $47,250
Bid in the amount of $40,000
Bid in the amount of $38,000
@ace_pilot I trust you understand my response about paint meter readings was in jest. These cars are not made of metal. Paint meters can only gauge paint depth on ferrous and nonferrous materials such as steel and aluminum, not composites.
This is an all original paint car with zero blemishes. It’s a true 1-owner and has lived a pampered life order singular fastidious ownership.
Bid in the amount of $31,000
@ace_pilot Yep, I'll take a bunch and post them up.
@ibmiked Unfortunately no it does not. The singular owner of this example ordered it with sport package, however, he did not like the design of the sport wheels in person after it arrived at the dealership. He elected to have them removed and the standard wheels installed as he liked that design more.
The sport wheels are available for sale elsewhere. I spoke to Auto Europe, the dealer that sold this example new, and they have a set in stock. I've also seen them for sale on Lotus forums.
Can you do some paint measurement readings?
Hello, does the car come with the original split spoke wheels that came with the Sport Pack in 2005?
@vintiquemotors I'm good either way. I've already arranged a drop off location.
Thanks for the info.
Now is the time to see how this plays out.
@NuclearNeil Understood, if you're the buyer we can discuss a storage agreement until you're able to pick up the car if you don't wish to ship it. And of course, the car would need to be paid for in full beforehand.
By law, if you personally take delivery within the state of Michigan, as a dealer I am legally obligated to collect sales tax if you reside in state that has a sales tax reciprocity agreement in place with Michigan and I have to run the deal through the Michigan DMV which slows down the paperwork process. If we ship it on a contracted carrier, you pay your sales tax directly to your state, if you live in a state that levy's sales tax on vehicles, and I don't have to run the deal through the Michigan DMV.
New York and Michigan have a sales tax reciprocity agreement in place. New York's sales tax on vehicles is 4% while Michigan's is 6% so in this scenario I would collect your 4% New York sales tax, remit it to Michigan, and they'll issue a receipt showing you paid your sales tax in Michigan. You'll take this receipt with you to the New York DMV and include it with your paperwork submission for titling/registering.
Shipping it just makes everything simpler and quicker is all.
@vintiquemotors Good to know, although I much prefer flying out, checking out the other goods and having a fun drive back. Picking up my Spyder took us back thru the Tail of the Dragon and Blue Ridge mts.
@NuclearNeil It’s really no hassle at all. I ship cars enclosed to clients year round around the country. A little snow and cold never stops my enclosed haulers. I just shipped 2 cars to the Northeast to two different clients in CT and MA.
If you’re the buyer shipping enclosed to you is all but guaranteed.
@vintiquemotors I would be most interested in bidding, but...I'd really prefer to not go through the hassle of getting a car from Michigan to Western New York in the middle of winter.
Can arrangements be made to pick the car up at a later date?
Bid in the amount of $30,000
This 1-owner 2005 example is finished in optional Chrome Orange over a Black leather interior and was sold new at Auto Europe in Birmingham, MI on 7/7/2005. I obtained it from the original owner, in which, today the odometer shows just 11,970 miles. It has been routinely maintained by Auto Europe in Birmingham, MI through July of 2011 at 10,814 miles and by Cauley Ferrari in West Bloomfield, MI from then until present with full service records.
It is optimally equipped with the $1,980 sport package, $1,475 color-matched hardtop, $1,350 touring package, $1,200 lifestyle paint (chrome orange), $995 star shield paint protection film for a as delivered MSRP of $50,860. It is also equipped with a factory alarm system which, along with the star shield PPF, are installed by Lotus Cars NA before being shipped to the dealer. Production reports indicate that just 3,323 Elise's were produced for the U.S. market for 2005 in which just 302 were finished in Chrome Orange.
Included in the offering is the original window sticker, service records, owner's pouch with the books and manuals, 2 sets of keys and fobs, tool kit, and both the painted hard top and the soft top. With such a small amount of these extremely fun and nimble sports cars imported to the U.S., finding a 1-owner example, in one of the most desirable extra cost colors, with such low mileage, with complete documentation that is ready for the road is a choir so do not miss out on this one!
Hello everyone, my name is Adam and I'm the owner of Vintique Motors here in Metro Detroit, MI and welcome to my offering of this fantastic 2005 Lotus Elise.
I'd like to invite everyone to review all the HD photos and the video. I invest many hours into each and every presentation for you the bidders to fully gauge what you’re bidding on so please make sure you view them all and ask all your questions should you have any. I also encourage all inspections prior to bidding so please don’t wait until the last day to start your due diligence. Let's have some fun!
Additionally, I can assist with shipping. Just reach out via the contact seller button for a quote or via my dealership Vintique Motors.
This car is amazing in this color and super rare. The néw owner will be supper happy with this one. Also buying from this super reputable seller. Glwta