The Lotus Elise, McLaren F1 Gold Foil, and... Toothpaste? | Henry Catchpole - The Driver's Seat

The Series 1 Lotus Elise is one of the greats. And so, obviously, is the McLaren F1. As standard they share a dedication to lightweight and driver involvement. Purity personified. But now this evolution of the Elise from Analogue Automotive takes the connection even further. The SuperSport puts a bit of gold in the engine bay of the Lotus.
It does much more besides. For a start, the 1.8-litre Rover K Series engine is fully reworked so that it produces 210bhp and 160lb ft of torque. It does this without resorting to any sort of forced induction, yet remains supremely drivable. No lumpy cam histrionics or peaky, narrow power bands here. It’s matched to a close ratio ‘box, a Quaife ATB LSD, lighter flywheel and motorsport driveshafts.
As Steffen Dobke - founder of Analogue Automotive - explains in the film, the Lotus Elise’s chassis has received just as much attention. It begins with a full restoration, stripping the bonded extruded aluminium tub back as far as it will go so that it can be cleaned up and made as good as new. The rear subframe is also strengthened slightly. The original steel wishbones are replaced, in this case with a wider track and Nitron Clubsport dampers. There is also a quicker steering rack and lightweight steering arms.
Although the beautiful bodywork isn’t fundamentally changed, it appears wider thanks to the lower ride height and some clever alterations to the lights. At the rear, the lower grilles become functional and the reversing and fog lights replace what were previously merely reflectors. It’s all designed to enhance the original without changing it beyond recognition.
Henry Catchpole not only drives and reviews the Analogue Automotive SuperSport in this episode of The Driver’s Seat, he also puts to bed a certain myth… involving toothpaste and different colour glues. We hope you enjoy the film - if you do then please think about subscribing to the Hagerty Drivers Club www.hagerty.com/drivers-club/
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Like what you see? Watch our other series including:
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Jason Cammisa on the Icons | The definitive car review
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The Driver's Seat with Henry Catchpole
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[@Drcfan]

There is no compensation for low weight cars. It is the best driving experience you can get and those cars can never be produced again due to todays crash safety regulation and market demands for more luxury.

[@michaelsummerell8618]

Over £100k...? Really? Does the difference s between this and a standard old Elise really justify that sort of money? Why would anyone really want to put that sort of money into an old Elise when there a lot of other fruitier options available if you're spending that sort of money? I am SO bored of Restomods costing obscene amounts, it is getting very boring now.

[@nboy7]

The gen 1 Lotus Elise Mk1 was already a masterpiece...this thing must be unreal !

[@stevekidd34]

Aha! I once exchanged a thumbs up and a wave with Henry Catchpole whilst hooning across a fantastic road in North Wales. Henry was in an Aston of some kind, I was in an Elise Sport 160 😁👍

[@LRSTGS]

If it ain't broke... don't put LED max power lights on it. This looks like a great way to devalue your future classic.

[@ChapHammersmith]

As an S3 owner, the S1 is still the best looking imo (when the roof is off). Lowered, with the new lights and in black looks👌

[@ronadrian5539]

Hagerty, thank you for these beautifully directed, rich and captivating automotive content!

[@d23bw]

Henry is, to my mind, the best of all the car reviewers on the tube. Communicating the joy of driving the cars that he does, without the "me show" is refreshing and enjoyable. Evo should employ him.

[@yhmmmm9766]

Seriously? The K series engine?😂

[@JAMESYQ24]

After seeing so many Honda engined Elises, and also being an Englishman who grew up knowing how terrible 90s Rovers were, it’s still mad to think that the S1 Elise had a Rover engine.

[@davew5167]

That 20+ year run of Elise / Exige sports cars should be more widely celebrated. They are incredible machines to drive. Absolutely unique! Great review Henry. Keep em coming.

[@Ride2Xplore]

The Series 1 Elise will always be a beautiful design! It never will age!

[@mell_gif]

Me... dropping a like for the 106 Rallye in the background 😎 😎

[@justaddafan]

It's the car I'll never sell. Thanks for continuing to do videos on the Elise, I'll watch every one you make, twice.

[@ZeeBri]

They deserve massive props for not going mad with the power like how they often do with these restomods

[@chaserwilliams1]

I fell in love with the Elise the first time I saw one. 20+ years later it’s still my #1 dream car. Followed by a Ford GT.

[@nickb3968]

One of the most daring engineering decisions made by Lotus was to glue the aluminum chassis together....kudos to them for thinking out of the proverbial box.

[@georgimihalkov4781]

Another great video from Henry! And £100k actually sounds pretty reasonable for such a comprehensive build, you can barely get a base 911 for that sort of money these days.

[@michaelhuby44]

My 97 S1 is, and will always be, the best car in the world for me. Bought it new, now it has almost 100k miles. It followed me into the U.S. when it finally became 25 years old.

[@secretsquirrel3793]

There are very few cars reviewed by HC et al that I'd seriously consider dropping a large wad of cash on bur this is one. The k-series Elises are such iconic, lightweight, delicate cars which reward precision and allow the driver to extend them on the (dry) road. You can keep your supercars thanks.