Lotus Elan Sprint

1971 to 1973 · Roadster · 1,353 built

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Shifty Estimate

$36,500

Low confidence · $27K to $46K

Median · all time: $40,000
Sales · all time: 9
Market cap: $49.4M · 1,353 built
Original MSRP: $2,898Up 1159% since new

Collectible

Sold$43,000 · Bring a Trailer · Feb 2025

The market

Every recorded 1971 Lotus Elan Sprint sale, by date and price

Sep 2026 · Collecting Cars

$49,910 · 238 mi

See this car

Sold Bid to, not sold

9 sales · 3 unsoldmedian $40kupdated Sep 2026

Community

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Every 1962 to 1975 Elan

Sold prices, all years · Oct 2, 2026

Every 1962 to 1975 Elan. Sold prices, all years · Oct 2, 2026
	Sprint1971 to 1973	Series 11962 to 1964
Shifty Estimate	$36,500Low confidence	Not enough sales yet
Sold median	$40,0009 sales	Too few sales to call1 sale
12-month move	Too few sales to call	Too few sales to call
For sale	None	None

Other Elan generations

M100

Specifications

Engine: Ford Kent Big-Valve, 1.6L
Power: 126 hp
Torque: 113 lb-ft
0 to 60: 6.7 s
Top speed: 121 mph
Transmission: Manual
Drivetrain: RWD
Curb weight: 1,499 lb
Production: 1,353 built
Original MSRP: $2,898
Designer: Ron Hickman

Common questions

How much does a Lotus Elan Sprint cost?

A 1971 Lotus Elan Sprint cost $2,898 new. Across every sale we have on file, 9 have sold publicly at a median of $40,000. The Shifty Estimate for a well-kept example is $36,500. Cars have changed hands anywhere from $27,375 to $45,625, depending on mileage, color, and history.

What is a 1971 Lotus Elan Sprint worth today?

The Shifty Estimate is $36,500. We rate confidence low: 9 public sales in a year is not enough to be firm, and the honest range is wide. Treat it as a starting point, not a valuation.

Is a Lotus Elan Sprint a good investment?

It has appreciated 1159% against its $2,898 list price. Only 1,353 were built. The caution is spread, not direction: across the sales we have on file, prices ran from $17,250 to $55,000, and mileage explains most of that.

How many Lotus Elan Sprint have sold?

Shifty has 9 public sales of the Lotus Elan Sprint on file. The earliest was on May 10, 2019.

What is the most expensive Lotus Elan Sprint sold?

The highest public sale on file is $55,000, on May 10, 2019, with 58,000 mi.

What has a Lotus Elan Sprint sold for at auction?

The 3 most recent public sales we have on file:

$49,910Sep 16, 2026238 mi
$43,000Feb 25, 2025Green · 30,000 mi
$36,500Apr 29, 2024Yellow · 35,000 mi

About the 1971 Lotus Elan Sprint

The Elan Sprint represented the ultimate evolution of Chapman's lightweight sports car philosophy, featuring the most powerful engine ever fitted to a production Elan. The 'Big Valve' Ford Kent twin-cam produced 126 hp, a significant increase that transformed the driving experience while maintaining the Elan's legendary balance and handling precision. Distinguishing features included the distinctive black front spoiler, Sprint badging, and wider wheels that enhanced both appearance and performance. Only 1,353 Sprints were produced during the brief 1971-1973 run, making them considerably rarer than earlier Elan variants. The Sprint's combination of increased power, refined chassis tuning, and ultimate rarity has made it the most desirable Elan among collectors. These final examples of the original Elan series represent Chapman's vision fully realized, pure, lightweight performance that modern cars struggle to match despite decades of technological advancement.