Members Cars – North Kent Lotus Group

Member’s Cars

OWNER: Howard, Swanley, Kent
Model: Geneva Sport
Year: 2002
Colour: Green
Owned since: 2002

A Unique Car built from the body of the Original Lotus Motorsport Elise Geneva Show Car, The car was built by NTC Cars for Howard and has been displayed in the Design Centre at Hethel.
Geneva 190 Sport (Sport Elise) was re-born when Lotus had finished with her services at the end of the Challenge series in the year 2001/2.
She was the first of three pre-production prototypes and was shown at the Geneva motor show.
At the time she was proclaimed as the best thing since sliced bread. I commissioned her for road use after she had completed a tour of the UK main dealer showrooms and special events. She has had a treasured life since with some light track day use.

OWNER: Howard, Swanley, Kent
Model: Exige S
Year: 2015
Colour: Grey
Owned since: 2015

The first incarnation of the Exige was the Sport Elise shown at the 1999 Geneva Motor Show which evolved into the Exige we know today. We have had many variants of the Exige as it has found its way into the world of motor sport and has supported the true values which Lotus stand for. This latest ‘S’ version certainly continues all that Colin Chapman wanted from his cars. A race car for the road. In many ways it is today’s Lotus Elite. If this ‘S’ version should become the last variant of the line then it would be a fitting end to a chapter of Lotus history. With new models being talked about, maybe along the lines of the Evora, we will have to wait and see.

Owner: Vaughn
Location: Kent
Current Model: Elise S2 111S
Previous Model owned: Europa Twin Cam

I always wanted a Lotus Europa after sitting in the “works” racing version (Lotus type 47) driven by John Miles just after the 1967 Brands Hatch B.O.A.C 500km endurance race had finished.

Eventually I managed to purchase a road version (type 74) with a “sprint plus” TC engine, which included a Weslake gas flowed big valve cylinder head, from a well-respected racing mechanic in March 2000. His daughter had previously named it “Kermit” due to the colour and shape.

The photo shows it trying to be a type 47 at Brands Hatch paddock bend after I rebuilt the engine and suspension etc. After eight years of ownership, it was reluctantly sold to make way for my current 2002 Elise S2 111s in 2007.

The Elise is fitted with the 156bhp MG/Rover “K” series Variable Valve camshaft (VVC) engine together with a Lotus sports exhaust.

The first registered owner was Mrs Francis Clarkson the wife, at the time, of “Top Gear presenter” Jeremy!!!

Owner: Ron
Location: Bromley, Kent
Models: 1968 Elan +2 and 1992 Elan M100 SE

I’ve owned the Elan +2 for over 40 years. It’s currently being restored (very slowly) to it’s former glory after being hit by an uninsured driver.

After retiring I wanted to know if I still had the urge to carry on with the +2 restoration, so in 2017 I bought the M100 to tinker with.

It’s 2021 now and I’m still tinkering…..

              Owner: Neil Webb
              Location: Kent
              Model: Mk1 Lotus Cortina
              Year: 1966
              Colour: White & green
              Interior: Rally spec
              Owned Since: July 1999
              Previous Lotus’: S7 series 3, Elan Sprint

Owner: Richard
Location: Sevenoaks
Model: Lotus Elan S3 S/E DHC
Year: March 1968
Colour: Yellow
Owned Since: September 1975
Status: “Nuts & Bolts” restoration

              Owner: John U
              Location: Kent
              Model: Elan M100 SE
              Year: 1990
              Colour: Calypso Red
              Owned Since: 2012

Owner: Neil C
Location: Folkestone
Model: Lotus Elise S2 Sport 135
Year: March 2002
Colour: Laser Blue Metallic
Owned Since: 2013

I bought the car in January 2013 and still own it today, so I’ve now owned it for 8 years and it’s only done 20,000 miles. I’m still running it in!! When I first purchased the car I had a full check over and service carried out at the Lotus factory at Hethel (its birth place) so I would have a full Lotus report stamped in the service book. That year I took it to the Brands Hatch Lotus Festival where it won the Best Car and Best Car in Show much to my delight. Since then I’ve joined the North Kent Lotus group, a great bunch of enthusiastic Lotus owners who are good company, and know more about Lotuses than I do, even if they are quite a distance from me!

Owner: John
Location: Rochester
Model: Elise Sport 135R
Year: August 2003
Colour: Silver Mica
Owned Since: August 2003

Owner: Mark B
Model: Elise S1
Year: 1999
Colour: Ruby Red

My first dip into Lotus life was the welcoming of my new Azure Blue Elise S1 in 1998. Even Mum ‘n Sis showed interest, looking ready to go for a spin! Sadly, due to changing circumstances I didn’t have the car long it but certainly left its impression.

21 years later I’ve jumped back in! Sporting a 135 BHP upgrade, 111S wheels, an aftermarket exhaust and some interesting JK Composites seats, Ruby is my ’99 S1 having joined me from Paul Matty Sports Cars.

Owner: Roger, Sevenoaks, Kent.

Models: 1970 S4 SE Elan, colour white, 2000 S1 Elise, colour Azure Blue.

First ever car back in 1975 was a red series 4 Elan. All downhill from that point on until Lotus ownership was re-established in 2013 with the acquisition of an S1 Elise, still currently owned.

This was joined in 2015 when a 30-year barn-find S4 Elan presented itself. That was put in storage until 2020/21 when working facilities and retirement facilitated commencement of what is obviously a complete nut, bolt, chassis and body restoration.

Owner: Steve
Car: Exige 380 Sport
Year: 2018
Colour: Fire Red

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