Less than 2,000 miles since new! Celebrity provenance!
The Lotus Elise was introduced to the world in 1996 by British manufacturer Lotus Cars. Named for Elisa Artioli, the granddaughter of Lotus and Bugatti chairman Romano Artioli, this mid-engined rear-wheel-drive two seat roadster featured a fiberglass body over a chassis made of bonded extruded aluminum which created an extremely rigid platform while at the same time keeping weight and production costs to a minimum.
Power came via a naturally aspirated 1.8L engine displacing 120 horsepower. A five-speed manual transmission provided power to the rear wheels. The Series I Elise, produced from 1996 through 1999, was well-received in European markets. Capable of a top speed of 150 mph and a 0-60 mph time clocked at 5.8 seconds thanks to a curb weight of just under 1,600 pounds, the Elise was also a nimble machine in corners thanks to a low center of gravity.
Lotus faced a significant challenge at the new millennium approached with the Elise, as the Series I failed to meet new European safety standards due to be implemented in 2001 and the company lacked the necessary capital to fund the redesign costs. Asa a result, the company entered into a partnership with General Motors who provided the needed funding in exchange for the rights to sell a rebadged and GM-powered version for their European brands Opel and Vauxhall.
The Lotus Elise Series II rode on a modified version of the Series I aluminum chassis that met the new safety requirements and was powered by the same naturally aspirated 1.8L powerplant from the Series I. The body was the first vehicle in the Lotus line to be designed on a computer. It was introduced to the public in October of 2000.
Lotus exported the Series II Elise to many countries but the car was not available to customers in North America until the introduction of the Federal Elise in the summer of 2004 as a 2005 model. While the car did not fully meet the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration bumper and headlight regulations, the NHTSA granted Lotus a three-year waiver to bring the car into compliance.
Power for the US version came from a 190 HP 1.8L DOHC Toyota engine with a Yamaha-designed two cam head featuring variable timing on both the intake and exhaust sides. A Toyota six-speed manual transmission was used to transfer power to the rear wheels. The new drivetrain combination dropped 0-60 time by almost a second over the Series I cars.
Production of the US model Elise came to a close in the 2011 model year when waivers allowing the car to be sold in the country expired and were not renewed. A total of 6,325 units of the US version were sold between the 2005 and 2011 model years with the first year (2005) accounting for just over half that number (3,321 units).
Evergreen Digital Showroom offers this excellent example of a 2005 Federal Elise for sale. This car is one of the lowest-mileage 2005 Elise models available for sale in the United States with just under 1,800 miles showing on the odometer. Additionally, this vehicle has significant celebrity provenance as it was originally purchased by famed Branson (MO) entertainer Shoji Tabuchi, one of the pioneers in developing the Ozarks entertainment mecca who has performed before millions of people over the past four decades.
This absolutely stunning car, one of 277 sold in Arctic Silver, is in showroom condition. The black leather interior provides a crisp contrast to the bright silver livery. The driveline features the 1.8L naturally aspirated DOHC engine and six-speed manual transmission. The vehicle has been a part of the present owner’s portfolio for eight years and has been stored during that time in a humidity-controlled environment.
Offered at $46,000, this is undoubtedly one of the lowest mileage examples of a US legal Elise available anywhere! Do not miss out on this opportunity to put this rare 2005 Lotus Elise in your collection! For additional information, contact Evergreen Digital Showroom sales manager Steve Russell at 417-532-8000.
NOTICE
Because of the number of vehicles we represent we cannot drive every vehicle for long distances. These vehicles have been part of static displays for long periods of time, in some cases for decades, and are subject to the flaws and imperfections consistent with that. While we do our best to disclose all issues we known about a vehicle in our advertising, these are old cars and something that has always worked in the past might not function properly today. Please check the requirements of your state regarding the licensing and registration of classic vehicles and make sure the vehicle you are looking at meets those if applicable. Unless otherwise noted, all vehicles represented by Evergreen Digital Showroom possess a clean (non-branded) title which will be provided the new buyer when purchase funds clear our financial institution. Virtually all our vehicles are sold as mileage exempt due to their age. We do not warranty any vehicle, nor any part of the vehicle including air conditioning systems, brake systems, electrical systems and gauges, fuel systems, accessories or powertrain components.
These are old vehicles and it is very common for them to require certain maintenance and upkeep for them to be operational. In many cases issues with leaks may develop when being driven after a long period of not being used. This is common, as classic cars at some point will leak fluids. For this reason, we do not encourage buyers to attempt driving their purchase home as we cannot guarantee functional reliability of these vehicles. We strongly encourage prospective buyers to be sure they are comfortable with these issues before purchasing a classic car.
Descriptions of vehicles represented by Evergreen Digital Showroom are intended to be informational in nature and do not in any way constitute any sort of warranty, expressed or implied. Again, these vehicles are presented “as-is, where-is” without guarantee or warranty. Vehicles manufactured prior to 1981 will likely not be included in the databases of companies such as CarFax and AutoCheck that provide vehicle history information to consumers. If you have specific questions regarding a vehicle we urge you to contact us at 417-532-8000.
