✦ Shifty Estimate
$76,400
- 12 months median
- $69K
- Market cap
- $75.5M · 988 built
- Sales, 12 months
- 3
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1957 Lotus Elite
1957 to 1963 · Coupe · 988 built
Price history
Recent sales
21 sales
19632026-08-15$81,200
1961 · White · 11,000 mi2026-05-14 · Chan18$69,000
1962 · Green and Silver · 1,500 mi2025-12-08 · bluesprite$45,000
1960 · Green · 38,000 mi · manual2025-06-05 · DSFM2005$75,000
1962 · Red · 24,000 mi · manual2024-09-11 · dssbrown$20,250
1960 · Red · 35,000 mi2024-06-21 · BordenAG$95,000
1962 · Red · 745 mi2023-12-12 · FantasyJunction$62,500
1962 · Yellow · 12,000 mi · manual2023-09-02 · 1600veloce$79,000
1963 · Green · 32,000 mi · manual2022-12-08 · winningmakes$91,000
1960 · Blue · 10,000 mi · manual2022-06-15 · justinbsc$110,000
1960 · Green · 59,000 mi · manual2022-05-30 · BeverlyHillsMotoring$95,000
1960 · Green · 54,000 mi · manual2022-04-02 · HHG$42,000
1960 · Red · 34,000 mi2022-03-02 · 289fia$95,000
1960 · Blue · 11,000 mi · manual2022-01-08 · ajmg$77,000
1961 · Gray · 14,000 mi · manual2021-03-09 · Blacksmith_Garage$136,000
1961 · Red · 4,000 mi2021-02-16 · 52Jaguar$107,500
1960 · Purple · 21,000 mi · manual2020-05-25 · motoexoticastl$80,000
1959 · Yellow · 24,000 mi · manual2019-10-04 · RandallFehr$90,000
1960 · Red · 54,000 mi · other2019-08-06 · DavidUK$82,500
1963$123,200
1960$72,800
Specifications
- Engine
- Inline-4, 1.2L
- Power
- 75 hp
- Top speed
- 112 mph
- Transmission
- Manual
- Drivetrain
- RWD
- Production
- 988 units
- Designer
- Peter Kirwan-Taylor
Common questions
How much does a Lotus Elite cost?
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. Cars have changed hands anywhere from $54,600 to $87,860, depending on mileage, color, and history.
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.
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
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.