The Lotus Elan Sprint, introduced in 1971, marked the pinnacle of the original Elan series, combining its signature lightweight design with a significant boost in performance. Distinguished by its striking two-tone paint scheme and unique “Sprint” badging, this final evolution of the Elan featured an upgraded version of the 1.6-liter twin-cam engine with “Big Valve” cylinder heads, increasing power output to 126 bhp. This enhancement delivered remarkable acceleration and solidified the Elan’s reputation as a driver’s car. Retaining the fiberglass body and backbone chassis, the Sprint offered the same nimble handling and dynamic driving experience that defined the model, while its improved power-to-weight ratio made it the fastest and most thrilling Elan of its time.
History
Production Notes
| Date | Type 36 & Type 45 | |
|---|---|---|
| February 1971 | 71.02 | Sprint Introduced |
| January 1972 | 72.xx.0001z | xx – Month of Production yy – Batch Number z – Car Type Identity: A – S4 FHC UK Market B – S4 FHC Export C – S4 DHC UK Market D – S4 DHC Export E – S4 SE FHC UK Market F – S4 SE FHC Export G – S4 SE DHC UK Market H – S4 SE DHC Export J – S4 FHC Federal (USA) K – S4 DHC Federal (USA) |
| August 1973 | 73.08…… | Sprint ceased Production |
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Performance Data
Technical Data
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