Lotus Elite

1957 to 1963 · Coupe · 988 built

Over the past 12 months, 3 have sold publicly at a median of $69,000. The Shifty Estimate for a well-kept example is $76,400. Across the sales we have on file, prices ran from $20,250 to $136,000, depending on mileage, color, and history.

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Shifty Estimate

$76,400

Medium confidence · $55K to $88K

Median · 12 mo: $69,000
Sales · 12 mo: 3
Market cap: $75.5M · 988 built

Collectible

Sold$81,200 · Gooding & Company · Aug 2026

The market

Every recorded 1957 Lotus Elite sale, by date and price

Aug 2026 · Gooding & Company

$81,200

See this car

Sold Bid to, not sold

19 sales · 12 unsoldmedian $69kupdated Oct 2026

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Latest results

The newest 1957 Lotus Elite sales with photographs

Sold $69,000

1961 · White · 11,000 mi

May 14, 2026 · Bring a Trailer

Sold $45,000

1962 · Green and Silver · 1,500 mi

Dec 8, 2025 · Bring a Trailer

Sold $75,000

1960 · Green · 38,000 mi

Jun 5, 2025 · Bring a Trailer

Sold $20,250

1962 · Red · 24,000 mi

Sep 11, 2024 · Bring a Trailer

Sold $95,000

1960 · Red · 35,000 mi

Jun 21, 2024 · Bring a Trailer

Sold $62,500

1962 · Red · 745 mi

Dec 12, 2023 · Bring a Trailer

Other Elite generations

1974 to 1982

Specifications

Engine: Inline-4, 1.2L
Power: 75 hp
Top speed: 112 mph
Transmission: Manual
Drivetrain: RWD
Production: 988 built
Designer: Peter Kirwan-Taylor

Common questions

How much does a Lotus Elite cost?

What is a 1957 Lotus Elite worth today?

The Shifty Estimate is $76,400. We rate confidence medium: 3 public sales in a year is a thin market, and the spread between them is wide.

How many Lotus Elite have sold?

Shifty has 21 public sales of the Lotus Elite on file. The earliest was on Aug 6, 2019.

What is the most expensive Lotus Elite sold?

The highest public sale on file is $136,000, on Mar 9, 2021, with 14,000 mi.

What has a Lotus Elite sold for at auction?

The 3 most recent public sales we have on file:

$81,200Aug 15, 2026
$69,000May 14, 2026White · 11,000 mi
$45,000Dec 8, 2025Green and Silver · 1,500 mi

About the 1957 Lotus Elite

The original Lotus Elite stands as Colin Chapman's most ambitious early creation, a stunning fiberglass monocoque coupe that redefined lightweight sports car construction. With its aerodynamic body penned by Peter Kirwan-Taylor and revolutionary all-fiberglass chassis, the Elite achieved an impressive 0.29 drag coefficient while weighing just 1,100 pounds. The Coventry Climax FWE 1.2-liter four-cylinder produced 75-83 horsepower depending on tune, enough to propel this featherweight to genuine 115+ mph performance. Only 988 examples were built during its six-year run, making survivors increasingly coveted. Despite notorious build quality issues and fragile construction, the Elite's racing pedigree is unmatched, dominating its class at Le Mans and establishing Lotus's reputation for innovation over convention. Today, well-sorted examples command premium prices, with concours-quality cars approaching six figures as collectors recognize this pioneering design's significance in sports car evolution.