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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Barn Find Hunter | Tom Cotter searches the country for abandoned cars bit.ly/BarnFIndHunter
Jason Cammisa on the Icons | The definitive car review
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Revelations | Untold Stories About Automotive Legends with Jason Cammisa
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The Driver's Seat with Henry Catchpole
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[@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 😁👍

[@ronadrian5539]

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

[@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.

[@_Chev_Chelios]

We know. That’s what automotive journalists have been saying for over 40 years.

[@stephen300o6]

How refreshing..

[@jimiverson3085]

The still-living exception is the Miata. Definitely not as light as the Elise, but at under 1100 kilos, it takes the prize among semi-usable cars.

[@carloscanizares4699]

@@jimiverson3085 my 2022 GSP with Sport Pack agrees with that message.

[@theotherchannel2028]

and car makers being colossal cheapskates (more accurate thieves but I'm being generous today) not using proper materials

[@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.

[@nsaal5400]

Underrated company to this day imo

[@davew5167]

Yep. Bit worried about the loss of focus currently, but remain hopeful they'll find some room in the lineup for analogue lightweight sports cars.

[@Ride2Xplore]

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

[@pashakdescilly7517]

I much prefer its looks to the Mk2. That car is also a lot heavier due to the Toyota engine and more equipment

[@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.

[@chaphammersmith9540]

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👌

[@mell_gif]

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

[@boazspronk3819]

That 106 was so cool tho

[@jn904]

A 106 1.3R restomod is surely coming soon, by the looks of it... And that, my friends.... 🥳

[@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.

[@godlyobject6509]

So they took an Elise, and added lightness? While also adding power? I want one. Badly.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@forsh3546]

Fabulous car ! and looking even more fabulous in 21:9 - Keep it up Henry/Hagerty!

[@marcdegraeve4328]

Henry, another great video. You and your team have a real talent for creating beautiful, interesting and engaging videos about cars. Glad you've found a new home with Hagerty, your Carfection material is solid gold.

[@Simonm2464]

Great video of a stunning car. Analogue has looked after my S2 Sports Racer for a few years now and Stefan does a fabulous job. All the best to the ‘Norfolk Singer”.

[@matthewboville6599]

I can't wait for summer and to get my Elise s1 back out the garage. Feels like such a long wait for winter to be over. Great video by the way guys. 👌

[@Marvolous]

Love that. More than anything else I’m so glad someone in the know appreciates the rover k series!

[@smurf9857]

Lovely car + expert engineering know how + great journalism and cinematography = a very compelling proposition

[@sliders15]

This could be a new addition to my lottery wish list. Would sit well in the dream garage next to an MST MK1... (Speaking of the MST Escorts, they may be a good comparison to this, both are lightweight resto-mods of iconic cars that deliver raw driving experiences for £100k+ price tags)

[@RCTanksTrucks247]

S1 is a timeless design. Still looks beautiful!

[@andrewrobertson5508]

My dad had one of the first S3 Elises brought into the US, it was a lovely Bordeaux red. I’ll never forget my mom complaining that the car “stunk” up the garage when he first got it… It was the bonding resin 😂

[@TheEnderBand]

I always wanted a Bordeaux red one because of Gran Turismo 4

[@bobk3432]

Can they build a replica Elise GT1? Another epic 90’s dream car. I wish everyone could drive an Elise. Greatest handling street car ever! Shame the EV change could be the final nail in the tire for Lotus.

[@PaddyMcQueen]

Another special episode really well done ! Thx Henry !

[@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. Now my 10yo daughter learns to shift while we are driving, from the passenger seat. In 6 years, she will be driving it. I hope it stays in our family long after I have gone.

[@kman5711]

I’m really wanting to buy an S1 to complement my 2005 Federal Elise which already feels like the purest driving experience once can have. I can only imagine what the S1 is like. Hope you and your daughter continue to enjoy your S1 for a very long time!

[@buschtaxi75driver55]

Great stuff indeed ! Had an S1 and then the Exige S1. Will never ever forget them. The purest driving experience one can get ! Luved it to the bones.

[@buschtaxi75driver55]

@lexobarge 😂

[@pikeykam]

Still got my S1 Exige, absolute drama and dream to drive

[@buschtaxi75driver55]

@@pikeykam Good man ! Have you still got the K-engine with DVA and Emerald ECU treatment in there or did you do the Honda swap ? Cheers, Bruno

[@pikeykam]

@@buschtaxi75driver55 still got the K series and emerald. Car was refreshed about 2 years ago with new suspension, from Quantum Racing and I'm using Toyo R888R now

[@danielwatt3408]

Stunning incarnation of an Elise, hats off to Analogue Automotive for creating an truly unique bucket list car. Henry, cracking job as always bringing a smile to my face on a damp Monday morning!

[@majoriix]

Everytime I get blown away with Hagerty's production! Thank you guys for what you do! My favorite part of that restomod is that they've kept the K-Series by Rover and not just shoved some Toyota or Honda engine in there. Even more suprised they kept it NA. It's a gorgeous engine (bar old usual issues ofc). The T16 Turbo in my car is a monster.

[@bulversteher]

@3:24 - the Sport 190 with original full carbon body should be mentioned (of which only 3 exist).

[@palethorpe01]

I've just had to rearrange my dream three car Garage. Analogue Elise SuperSport, Alfaholics GTA-R 290, and the daily being an Alpine A110.

[@coxbright]

Bloody hell thats a good 3 car garage!

[@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.

[@SpitfireFortyFour]

'90s Rovers were great, it was when they got back on track. It was the earlier stuff that was awful.

[@peterlustig5293]

Actually Lotus stick after the K Series engines with Toyota engines. They uses in the Elise the Toyota 1ZZ-FE engine and a few were build with 2ZZ-GE like the Elise SC. Since mid 2000s they stick nearly only with Toyota engines.

[@JAMESYQ24]

@@peterlustig5293 Yep, both very good engines, as well as the 3.5 V6 Camry engine they use. I was referring to the fact that a very popular mod for the S1/S2 Elises were Honda K20/K24 swaps.

[@peterlustig5293]

@@JAMESYQ24 by Honda Engines would be the F20C from the S2000. 🥳

[@Abigailrp]

Kseries engine was a colab with Honda, its a masterpiece of a motor and had the title of lightest engine in its class for more than a decade. problem is that lotus was never an engine expert and had to rely on rove that messed up some aspects of the motor, thermostat location, cyl head dowels and gasket. I think it was on purpose, engineers paid by china to kill the brand so china could buy it cheap. Kseries motor is an engineering masterpiece. So much so china continued to use them for more than 20 years onwards with the mods to ensure reliability. As a racing engine they are sublime too

[@Bergie_78]

Nice one Henry and Steff! New premises looks epic too! Goes to PH and looks for early S1s…

[@belikof747]

Just a bought an Elise S2 lava orange with the K series fitted with the 160 kit. One of my dream car, I have a sweet spot on the S2 design compare to the S1. The joy to drive is thing is very high, actually I think it’s quite a bargain when you feel so much pleasure driving it normally. You feel a lot even at low speed, I can’t wait to put on track next spring and doing road trips. It’s the first car I’ve owned where I feel there is a lot to discover when you get up speed, drove it only few times with the semi slick in the Swiss alps from November, the grip is very impressive in this winter conditions. The roar of the engine with the sport exhaust is so good

[@bardhelmersen60]

I have a S2 as well. What did you do as part of the 160? Can I ask how much you paid approx?

[@belikof747]

@@bardhelmersen60 hi, the kit was fitted on the car from the beginning it was an option installed as part at the dealer

[@belikof747]

@@bardhelmersen60 it is mostly on the injection system

[@colin5577]

Any company called Analogue Automotive already has my attention. This car looks fabulous. Very interested.

[@gavinivers8941]

Another great video, by Henry. Well I know this is about a Lotus Elise, what is the story about the Pug 106 in the background on the workshop?

[@ImBarryScottCSS]

The Rover K was a seriously underrated engine, yes it had flaws, obviously it was famous for eating head gaskets. But once those flaws are dealt with, you are left with an extremely lightweight, free revving, torquey little 4 cylinder that perfectly matches the Elise, it even sounds good! I always much preferred the K to the Toyota 1ZZ/2ZZ that followed on.

[@jayshimada6893]

Hi Henry thank you so much for the video and I would like to congratulate Analogue Automotive for bringing elise to the higher level ! I nearly stopped watching it because of the rover “K” engine but continued and understood why the rover K. US has the 25 yrs rule and people on this side of the pond are willing to spend the big bucks for something really good and exceptional, which I learned while I am here. I’m hoping you guys find much bigger market globally because there was a guy like me standing next to the dark green Elise in display in earls court many years ago and still remember to this day the excitement. I’m in US and drive S260 exige, but I would love to drive yours back in UK 🇬🇧 on some typical British greasy wet roads 😅 cheers

[@analogueautomotive9402]

Hi Jim 👋

[@Qwertylol]

I’ll never forget the time that my husband and I brought our new (to us) Exige S240 to a local car show and a British chap came up to us and shook our hands and thanked us for keeping British racing history alive. (This was a car show in the states and we were the only Lotus there). No one ever tells you about the emotional impact of buying a car.

[@wareidav]

Back in the day I had one... I started with 160s .. Then I put micrometre adjustable high lift cams with Jenvey throttle bodies a multi layered steel gasket etc etc etc and had a little pocket rocket with if I remember correctly 230 ish BHP in the end. The gearbox used to stick in second when it got hot and needed a steel line for the clutch cylinder to make it work properly. A brilliant little car of which I still regret selling on but I so wanted a Boxster 3.2S (money pit) LOL

[@Chrissy-H]

Lovely to see a mention for the Motorsport Elise in this! I actually have one... not a lotus sport built car, but a Kelsport built car to the same specification which raced in the Autobytel series in 2001. Central driving position, motorsport widebody, straight cut gearbox and a K-series with 220bhp. This winter I embarked on a risky project to make it road legal, which was successful, and It's just had a full repaint in the classic 'Lotus racing Green metallic' with black splitter to match the original concept car. I even have the legit OZ racing split rims. That green motorsport Elise was my poster car when I was a kid, and even if I earn all the money in the world I can't see myself wanting anything else now. Henry, let's go on a trackday 😂

[@Drifty325i]

The Mk1/2 Elises and Exiges are just epic!

[@earthstick]

They were so careful and precise with that green glue.

[@pashakdescilly7517]

I would have expected a manufacturer to wipe off the excess squeezed out of the joints.

[@SportsCars_TE]

Fantastic video! I love these little fun cars!

[@TheMrrigma]

Love it. Fantastic video as always Henry and credit to AA for creating such a complimentary upgrade to the S1 without striving too far from its original DNA.

[@SabotsLibres]

Catchpole class, but Henry, Shakespeare did not talk of "gilding the lily" - it was "...to gild gold or to paint the lily..."

[@HenryCatchpole]

Thank you! And, yes, I do know the full Shakespeare quote (I nearly put all the lines in, but knew Glenn would have hated me for it!). That's why I said 'to paraphrase Shakespeare' at the start and then went with the correct 'gilding refined gold, painting the lily' when I referenced it again at the end.

[@kornerconstruction]

Awesome, love the purity.

[@JustFamilyPlaytime]

I had the Lotus sports suspension and the engine upgrade fitted to my Elise. The reduced ride height meant that speed bumps were a real problem, so this one will never be able to be used in a city. I hope they fixed the lift-off oversteer on this one, otherwise a lot of folks will be going backwards of the road at speed!

[@coxbright]

The S1 Elise is just perfection and this is even better. But I want to know more about that S1 106 Rallye!

[@SimonWorlds]

I drive Exige's on track for work regularly, they are really awesome cars, the handling is amazing. My boss has a S1 Elise and it handles even better. But my fave is still the new 410 Sport, not quite as nimble, but it is still a beast of a car that rivals so many. Not easy cars to work on and have a few quirks, but they are such a rewarding car to drive. Lotus is one of my favourite cars outright, even compared to Lamborghini and Bentley etc, i still love the Lotus more, a real drivers car. Thank you for the review, always good to watch your content, you always keep it real.

[@adrianlukestylist]

Henry you’ve done it again!!! Greatest of all time you n the lotus

[@scooby3r]

Another great review of another great car! And what is the red one up on the lift in the back?

[@thiscocks]

Is that a Grp A 106 in the workshop? Also could see the TU2J2 on an engine stand 👌👌

[@blackjacket_]

one of the best motoring videos ever

[@jsleeio]

The hilarious thing about that particular pair of cars is that the F1 is the more practical one. Three seats and more luggage space! Very heavy though. Over 800kg!

[@alexelrod242]

The f1, f-40, and the gen 1 Elise are the 3 god tier perfect cars

[@sadmirtete9283]

What about that Pug 106 (rallye?) behind? 😍😍😍

[@cahillroberts6783]

Great review Henry, p.s I had the very same view as a teen as you regarding the F1 and S1 Elise ☺️

[@gweflj]

Yeah Steff! I’d 100% have one if I was still in the UK. All the best dude! Jamie

[@pfrancescutti]

I just bought an ND MX-5 RF as it's the closest thing I can afford to my ultimate dream car, the series 1 Elise/Exige .....at least aesthetically. Pure perfection

[@samuel999]

I’ve had an Abarth 124 for 4 years and just picked up a slightly ‘fixer upper’ S1 Elise. ND chassis cars are excellent, you can’t go wrong with them! Playful but still possible to drive for hours in comfort. Very lucky to have both at the moment. But if/when one of them goes, it’s going to be the Fiata.

[@jep1912]

Had a mate called Simon in Leeds with an Elise mk1. Was quite the rollerskate.

[@kenmason9354]

This is perfect definition of a Sports Car ❤🎉

[@oneeleven9832]

Brilliant little cars..never had an S1 but had S2 Elise & Exige👍

[@buschtaxi75driver55]

S1 Elise and S1 Exige here 🙃

[@andrewm5840]

Good stuff!

[@InspirationSessions]

God, it makes me feel old when restomod Elises are starting to hit the market

[@vwseb007]

One of the best car ever made ! Love my 111s (with green glued chassis 😅)

[@DjNikGnashers]

An even better version of literally the best sports car ever made.

[@minascholevas]

Great remake! The diffuser is not mounted properly though :P

[@Overanalyse_This]

Could you do a video about the Weissman (Wiesman?)? It's an old school looking German coupe with a BMW M engine? The cars are rare, beautiful and, apparently, amazing to drive. Last I heard, they were about to launch an electric supercar called Thunderball. It just seems like a good fit for this channel. And apart from the old Top Gear film that put it up against the TVR Tuscan. Which would also be a great subject...

[@damskivitch]

The Series 1 is still stunning, I miss mine 😢

[@buschtaxi75driver55]

same here and the Exige S1

[@monty6545]

We qued up and sat in the very first Elise at the London Motor Show in 1996 .

[@nigelsmith5807]

I wonder - do the suspension upgrades devised by Analogue Automotive address the lift-off-oversteer tendencies of the S1 Elise? That particular attribute was responsible for my much-loved S1 backing into a ditch at speed.

[@HenryCatchpole]

Yes, they do. I perhaps should have alluded to this more overtly. The changes make a big difference in this regard, The stiffening of the rear subframe is part of what helps.

[@johnnydeutschemark3620]

Thinking maybe they used wheel spacers to fill out the wheel well. ? Also, check out the increased camber on the Analogue Automotive car.

[@cloudsurfer6577]

I returned to the Elise after all kind of different sports cars/GT’s. Elise spoils you and there is less joy in other cars from then on. Would love to drive to Wales to experience those roads. Can anyone tell me, where they are? PistonHeads tests their cars also on these roads. Cheers ✌️

[@marktickle8480]

PH used my Elise for the 25 series videos. North Wales for PH, on the exact roads I bought the car to use on many years ago. Can confirm the S1 on the roads is a great combo!

[@pete5534]

Slick process. It’s hard to beat such a naked car when it comes to dynamics.

[@WayApp]

Simply elegant

[@firstprototype]

Preserving the car culture ,this is what this company is doing for us 😊🎉❤✌🇷🇴

[@casparharte]

This is a dream. But please check your levels, theres only so many times I can adjust my volume in one video.

[@danielpope6498]

Where Caterhams are made seems a little secondary to the fact the Caterham Seven is a licensed copy of the Lotus Seven.

[@philipkennard6603]

lovely! Shame the front number plate wasnt applied straight!

[@JeffersonGomes87]

Very good 🔥🔥🔥🚀🚀🚀

[@user-ei4wk8yw3v]

Wonderful video. I am back in an Elise, having waisted time and money in German fat soulless boxes. I forgot what matted and why I love driving, got suckered by the HP marketing. So sad Norfolks car industry is dead. Thanks again for the reminder of what driving can be, even now.

[@logtothebase2]

I really liked the bug eyed MK1, Lotus quickly refined it into the Mini Supercar look that was more fashionable. but the Mk1 had more personality about it.

[@PhillyDee215]

I just wish we had roads like that to drive on

[@mickwrinkles2318]

Somehow I'm interested in the Peugeot, much more my price class.

[@zedlicious]

S1 owner since 99 ✅ Green glue car ✅ Carbon grey colour ✅ Halo headlights ✅ Lowered on quantum shocks ✅ Carbon seats ✅ Light weight rims wider tyres ✅ Stainless exhaust ✅ Smoked indicators and black badges ✅ But I’ve got a Honda K20a ❤🎉🏆

[@Otto72ish]

I was lucky enough to own a Lotus Elise Mk1 for many years. Just the standard model. Despite much competition, it's still the best car that I've owned. Loved it and miss it. Easy in traffic, but great fun out of it. Even better with more power though! (However, really not much fun for long motorway journeys. Just too noisy in the cabin at motorway speeds, and the seats are pretty firm.)

[@paullondon5332]

I have an S1 160 it’s fantastic!

[@weatherall68]

Stunning car!

[@khalid0957]

I think if same principle applied to a McLaren 570S would make great outcome. A manual striped out, more solidly finished.

[@DoubleDeckerAnton]

The S1 lives on, in another dimension.

[@Mexxx65]

3rd..on the Lotus Podium of Hit after Hits!!!!

[@joebeus6886]

Lotus Elise Mk1 from the time Lotus and Bugatti had the same owner Romano Artioli (Bugatti EB110) and Elise got the name from his granddaughter! I've spoke with Elisa Artioli and she's on youtube! I've driven Elise Mk1 and almost bought one but the steering wheel was on the Right/Wrong side! 😁

[@NSXTypeRGTRLM]

Would there have been a benefit to swap in a Honda K series as opposed to a Rover K series? I feel like if you spent all that money, might as well go all the way.

[@okatbikes4917]

I want to know what was said about mountain bikes :D

[@marktickle8480]

Lovely, can't see me ever selling my S1

[@konkeydong6907]

Im looking at an Elise/Exige S1 on the market now. The 1.8 Rover engine seems to be my biggest concern. How reliable are they and how are they to work on?

[@jase6370]

fantastic with a modern gasket. Miles more charachter than the toyota they just sound fantastic and make decent torque

[@dream_supercars_daily]

Such cool cars