1972 Lotus Europa Twin Cam Special
$21K
Lotus Elite
1974 to 1982 · Coupe
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Shifty Estimate
$9,600
Low confidence · $7K to $12K
- Median · all time
- $7,300
- Sales · all time
- 8
Collectible
Sold$9,600 · Bring a Trailer · May 2024
The market
Every recorded 1974 Lotus Elite sale, by date and price
May 2024 · Bring a Trailer
$9,600 · 35,000 mi · Red
● Sold
8 salesmedian $7.3kupdated May 2024
Community
Every 1974 to 1982 Elite
Sold prices, all years · Sep 28, 2026
| Elite1974 to 1982 | Eclat | |
|---|---|---|
| Shifty Estimate | $9,600Low confidence | $7,500Low confidence |
| Sold median | $7,3008 sales | $9,6256 sales |
| 12-month move | Too few sales to call | Too few sales to call |
| For sale | None | None |
Other Elite generations
Specifications
- Engine
- Inline-4, 2.0L
- Power
- 160 hp
- Torque
- 140 lb-ft
- 0 to 60
- 7.8 s
- Top speed
- 121 mph
- Transmission
- Manual
- Drivetrain
- RWD
Common questions
How much does a Lotus Elite cost?
Across every sale we have on file, 8 have sold publicly at a median of $7,300. The Shifty Estimate for a well-kept example is $9,600. Cars have changed hands anywhere from $7,200 to $12,000, depending on mileage, color, and history.
What is a 1974 Lotus Elite worth today?
The Shifty Estimate is $9,600. That sits above the $7,300 median of actual sales because the median counts every car that sold, including high-mileage examples, while the estimate describes a clean, low-mileage one bought today. We rate confidence low: 8 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.
How many Lotus Elite have sold?
Shifty has 8 public sales of the Lotus Elite on file. The earliest was on Mar 20, 2018.
What is the most expensive Lotus Elite sold?
The highest public sale on file is $13,250, on Aug 26, 2021, with 39,000 mi.
What has a Lotus Elite sold for at auction?
The 3 most recent public sales we have on file:
- $9,600May 25, 2024Red · 35,000 mi
- $4,100Sep 2, 2023Red · 21,000 mi
- $5,000Jan 17, 2023Red · 70,000 mi
About the 1974 Lotus Elite
The Lotus Elite marked Colin Chapman's ambitious return to grand touring with the company's first four-seater since the original Elite of the 1960s. Built on Lotus's innovative galvanized steel backbone chassis, this wedge-shaped GT featured dramatic Giugiaro-influenced styling that divided opinion but undeniably turned heads. The 2.0-liter twin-cam four-cylinder delivered 155hp through a five-speed manual, propelling the lightweight Elite to 60mph in under 8 seconds, impressive for the era. Only 2,398 examples were produced during its eight-year run, making it relatively rare today. While initially criticized for build quality issues typical of 1970s Lotus, surviving examples have gained appreciation among collectors who value the Elite's unique blend of Italian design flair, British engineering innovation, and genuine usability. Clean, well-maintained examples command strong prices, particularly the later cars with improved reliability.
More Lotus in the market
Sales and listings
Showing 8 of 8 on file
1974 · Red · 35,000 mi
Bring a Trailer
$9,600
May 25, 2024
1975 · Red · 21,000 mi
Bring a Trailer
$4,100
Sep 2, 2023
1976 · Red · 70,000 mi
Bring a Trailer
$5,000
Jan 17, 2023
1975 · White · 39,000 mi
Bring a Trailer
$13,250
Aug 26, 2021
1975 · Blue · 57,000 mi
Bring a Trailer
$9,678
Jan 20, 2021
1977 · Red · 30,000 mi
Bring a Trailer
$12,051
Sep 11, 2020
1974 · Red · 24,795 mi
Bring a Trailer
$3,800
Nov 16, 2018
1974 · Yellow · 45,000 mi
Bring a Trailer
$3,400
Mar 20, 2018
Free: the 2027 Collector Car Outlook.