A vintage Lotus once owned by an F1 legend is heading to auction – and could be snapped up for just £14,000.
The eye-catching 1991 Lotus Elan Turbo SE was originally handed brand new to racing icon Johnny Herbert at the height of his career.
The British star – one of the nation’s top Formula One drivers at the time and winner of the 1991 Le Mans 24 Hours – was the first of just three owners to get behind the wheel.
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And he clearly loved it, racking up around 40,000 miles in just two years, as reported by Whats The Jam.
After two decades with its second owner, the car was snapped up by a third enthusiast who painstakingly restored it to its former glory.
Under the bonnet, the classic motor boasts a punchy 1.6-litre turbocharged 16-valve DOHC four-cylinder engine.
It can hit a top speed of 137mph and churns out an impressive 165 horsepower.
The current seller splashed out big on the restoration – including £6,000 on a fresh respray alone.
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The sleek motor now shines in dazzling white, paired with a stylish black leather interior.
Major upgrades also include a new stainless-steel exhaust, brake discs and pads, gear-change cables, shock absorbers and Panhard rods.
The car will go under the hammer with H&H Classics at Pavilion Gardens in Buxton, Derbyshire.
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Bidding opens on 29 April, with the Lotus – now showing 80,000 miles on the clock – expected to fetch around £14,000.
A spokesperson for H&H Classics said: “A 2002 letter from Lotus Cars provides more specific details, revealing the first owner was Johnny Herbert, “C/O Lotus Formula 1,” one of Britain’s leading Formula One drivers from 1989 to 2000, and winner of the 1991 Le Mans 24 Hours.
“The service history suggests he used it until 1993, covering 40,000 miles.
“After Herbert, the Elan spent approximately 20 years with its fifth keeper until 2022, when the vendor, a retired motor engineer, bought it as a dismantled project.”
