1966 Lotus Elan S2 – first owned by Peter Sellers – up for sale

A very original 1966 Lotus Elan S2 – first owned by actor and Goon Peter Sellers – will go under the hammer with Silverstone Auctions on 14 November.

If anyone is associated with the Lotus Elan in the minds of the public, it’s Diana Rigg’s Emma Peel in the Avengers. But this particular Elan S2 is associated with someone who, as long as you’re old enough, is even more memorable – Peter Sellers.

First owned by Peter Sellers – known for so much, from the Goons to Inspector Clouseau – this 1966 Elan S2 has been in dry storage for the last ten years and only owned by two others after Sellers and before the current owner. And it’s very original.

The Elan is said to be mechanically ‘on the button’, and the bodywork – it’s fibreglass to help with Colin Chapman’s obsession with low weight – is in good condition, with the whole car just needing a light restoration to make it as good as new.

Harry White, Silverstone Auctions’ classic car consignor, said:

This truly is a unique Lotus Elan with superb ownership provenance, while it maintains a fantastic level of authenticity. First owned by Peter Sellers, who needs no introduction, this Lotus Elan has sat in a private classic car collection for more than a decade and will now be sold for the first time in many years.

The Elan is hugely appealing – and still a car that feels good enough to hold its own on modern roads – and the pre-auction estimate of £45-50,000 isn’t too extreme.

If you fancy bagging a cracking little Elan, with enough time to give it a tidy-up before spring, then Silverstone Auctions will be offering it on 14 November at the Classic Motor Show at the NEC.