Lotus Elan SS

The Lotus Elan SS, a unique one-off model designed by Italian designer Pietro Frua, debuted at the 1964 Geneva Motor Show. Built on the Lotus Elan 1600 chassis, this coupe featured a distinctive design combining steel and aluminum bodywork, a plush grand touring interior with ivory-colored leather, and wire-spoke wheels. The rear hatch, inspired by Aston Martin, provided additional practicality. Shipped from Lotus Cars Ltd. in Hethel, Norfolk, to Swiss Lotus importer Holiday Cars Import in Geneva on January 27, 1964, the car’s transformation was likely commissioned by the Swiss importer rather than the French one, though conflicting reports suggest that Colin Chapman himself initiated the project to explore potential series production. The car was displayed at Frua’s stand at the Geneva show rather than the Lotus importer’s, appearing alongside a Maserati Mistral Spider. Period reports from Road & Track praised its refined design and grand touring attributes, noting the inscription “World Champion 1964” on the bonnet. Plans for production involved assembling the car in facilities in England, Italy, and Switzerland, but the project never moved beyond the prototype stage. The vehicle was later exhibited at the Paris Motor Show in October 1964, but it was not present at the Turin Auto Show that year, despite some claims to the contrary. Misreports also suggested it was shown at the 1965 Geneva Motor Show, which was not the case. Silvio Moser, a Swiss racing driver and Lotus dealer, purchased the car directly from Frua in Turin in late 1966. He encountered several issues, including water leaks that damaged the interior during transport, necessitating repairs by Frua. The engine also suffered from poor oil pressure, requiring either a cylinder head or full engine replacement. The car’s weight distribution was problematic, causing handling issues. Listed for sale in Automobil Revue in 1967 with 8,000 km on the odometer, it was purchased by Sergio Crivelli for 13,000 CHF. While driving from Lugano to Stabio, the left front wheel detached and lodged under the fender. The car was never fully road-registered as it remained untaxed, being used only with temporary permits. Over the years, the car passed through multiple owners, including dealers and private collectors, appearing in Automobil Revue’s classified listings in 1973, 1974, 1977, 1978, and 1982. It was registered in Bern in 1982 under Ruth Spycher, appearing as a “Mystery Car” in Classic and Sportscar magazine that same year. By 1984, the car was deregistered and later surfaced in London, where it was seen with the custom plate “NGP 93.” In 1988, the car was sold to a Japanese collector, imported from Germany to Japan in December of that year. It remained in Japan, appearing in Classic and Sportscar’s “Vintage Mystery Car Competition” in 1992. Despite a 1995 worldwide search attempt by Club Lotus, its whereabouts remained unclear. In April 2012, it was confirmed to be owned by Hidemi Yamatani in Tokyo, still retaining its original engine with serial number S283370E.