Lotus Elan

1962 to 1975 · Convertible

A 1962 Lotus Elan cost $3,995 new. Over the past 12 months, 18 have sold publicly at a median of $30,167. The Shifty Estimate for a well-kept example is $30,300. Across the sales we have on file, prices ran from $6,800 to $82,000, depending on mileage, color, and history.

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Shifty Estimate

$30,300

High confidence · $17K to $60K

23.6% over 12 months

Oct 2025Rolling 6-month medianOct 2026

Median · 12 mo: $30,167
Sales · 12 mo: 18
Original MSRP: $3,995Up 658% since new

Collectible

Sold$33,000 · Bring a Trailer · Oct 2026

The market

Every recorded 1962 Lotus Elan sale, by date and price

Oct 2026 · Bring a Trailer

$33,000 · 47,000 mi · Yellow

See this car

Sold Bid to, not sold

102 sales · 35 unsoldmedian $30kupdated Oct 2026

Community

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Latest results

The newest 1962 Lotus Elan sales with photographs

Sold $26,266

€23,500

1963 · yellow · 32,979 mi

Oct 7, 2026 · Car & Classic

Euro-zone sales ran 5% below US sales for the same models over 3 years.

Sold $28,750

1971 · White · 4,400 mi

Oct 6, 2026 · Bring a Trailer

Sold $17,001

1966 · Lotus Yellow · 54,000 mi

Sep 5, 2026 · Bring a Trailer

Sold $33,000

1969 · Carnival Red · 8,000 mi

Aug 11, 2026 · Bring a Trailer

Sold $45,500

1966 · French Blue · 1,800 mi

Jul 9, 2026 · Bring a Trailer

Sold $17,250

1965 · Cirrus White · 84,000 mi

Jun 19, 2026 · Bring a Trailer

Every 1962 to 1975 Elan

Sold prices, all years · Oct 18, 2026

Every 1962 to 1975 Elan. Sold prices, all years · Oct 18, 2026
	Elan1962 to 1975	Sprint1971 to 1973	Series 11962 to 1964
Shifty Estimate	$30,300	$36,500Low confidence	Not enough sales yet
Sold median	$28,750103 sales	$40,0009 sales	Too few sales to call1 sale
12-month move	Down 23.6%	Too few sales to call	Too few sales to call
For sale	None	None	None

Other Elan generations

M100

Specifications

Engine: Inline-4, 1.6L
Power: 105 hp
Torque: 108 lb-ft
0 to 60: 7.1 s
Top speed: 118 mph
Transmission: Manual
Drivetrain: RWD
Original MSRP: $3,995
Designer: Ron Hickman

Common questions

How much does a Lotus Elan cost?

What is a 1962 Lotus Elan worth today?

The Shifty Estimate is $30,300, down 23.6% over the past 12 months. Confidence is high: 18 public sales in a year gives a firm read.

Is a Lotus Elan a good investment?

It has appreciated 658% against its $3,995 list price. Values are down 23.6% over the past 12 months. The caution is spread, not direction: across the sales we have on file, prices ran from $6,800 to $82,000, and mileage explains most of that.

How many Lotus Elan have sold?

Shifty has 102 public sales of the Lotus Elan on file. The earliest was on Jan 5, 2018.

What is the most expensive Lotus Elan sold?

The highest public sale on file is $82,000, on Oct 10, 2023, with 43,000 mi.

What has a Lotus Elan sold for at auction?

The 3 most recent public sales we have on file:

$33,000Oct 18, 2026Yellow · 47,000 mi
$26,266Oct 7, 2026yellow · 32,979 mi
$28,750Oct 6, 2026White · 4,400 mi

About the 1962 Lotus Elan

Colin Chapman's masterpiece redefined what a sports car could be. The Elan's revolutionary fiberglass body over a steel backbone chassis delivered exceptional rigidity at just 1,500 pounds, creating a power-to-weight ratio that embarrassed heavier rivals. Its twin-cam 1.6-liter Ford-based engine produced 105-126 hp depending on specification, but the real magic was in the handling. Chapman's sophisticated suspension geometry and precise rack-and-pinion steering created a telepathic connection between driver and road that influenced generations of sports cars. The pop-up headlights became iconic, while the removable hardtop offered versatility. With approximately 17,000 built across all variants, clean examples command strong prices today. The Elan's DNA lives on in the Miata, but originals remain the purest expression of Chapman's 'add lightness' philosophy. Early S1 and S2 models are particularly sought after by collectors.