An independent Lotus Elise specialist is reporting increased demand for early examples of the no-frills sportster – with more enthusiasts now seeing it as an exciting alternative to a mainstream classic.

Neil Thompson of Leicestershire-based Monster Motorsport told CCM: ‘It’s been around for 15 years, which means the Series I Elise is now an affordable proposition as a modern classic. Its running costs can be reasonable too, as long as you buy a good example and shop around for the best deals on servicing and maintenance.’

Monster Motorsport offers servicing and repairs for all Elises, including later Toyota-engined versions, as well as the Series I with its K-series ex-Rover powerplant. And with prices for servicing starting at less than £140, Monster Motorsport’s aim is to keep ownership costs as low as possible.

‘We’ve noticed a lot of enthusiasts suddenly taking to the Elise, whether they’re looking for a modern classic or something for weekend track days,’ explained Neil. ‘And with demand on the up, I reckon the SI Elise is a classic that’s well worth hanging on to as a future investment.’

So what do CCM readers think: is the 1996-on Elise one of today’s unsung modern-classic heroes? Drop us an email ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) or write to us at the usual Peterborough address with your thoughts. Meanwhile, for further details of service and maintenance costs, log on to www.monstermotorsport.com or call 01509 266414.