Lotus Cortina, Seven & Elan

Temperatures scorch towards 40 degrees C, immaculate boutiques and air-conditioned fast food joints line the streets and traffic sits at 55mph along the four-way highway nearby. Pleasanton, California – seemingly a suburban film set of the American Dream – is not your typical location for a British classic car specialist, but, then, neither is Classic Cars Ltd your typical classic car dealer. ‘Oh, sure, we do the British stuff,’ says owner Paul Wankle, a typically affable, outgoing Californian, ‘but there’s American, Italian, German, French. You name it!’

Check out his website and you’ll waste hours trawling through the photos, pouring over the incredibly detailed listings and willing the exchange rate back towards two-to-one. Turn up at the immaculate showroom and you’ll find yourself delayed too, double-taking at such eclectic delights as a ’60s Ford Mustang, an ’80s Porsche 911, a Morris Minor van, even a Smart Fortwo. Today, we’re here to see a trio of Lotus sports cars: a Super Seven, an Elan and a Mk I Lotus Cortina.
‘I got the Seven and the Elan first,’ says Paul. ‘Both happened to be 1965 model years, so when I found this 1965 Lotus Cortina for sale, I just had to have it to complete the set.’

For the full article pickup your copy of the March issue