Early example
Yes, that’s right, this classic car has been verified by its maker as being the first production Lotus Éclat.
What’s more, it is one of only 15 that has the vertical rear bulkhead, as well as a larger boot and smaller rear seats – and we will come to the latter soon.
It is set to cross the block with British auction house H&H Classics at its sale on 30 July 2025 at the Pavilion Gardens in Buxton, Derbyshire.
Here is its story.
Number one
This car, Éclat chassis number one, is being sold with a Lotus Certificate of Provenance, proving it is what it claims to be.
And when it heads to auction this month, it will have a pre-sale estimate of £14-18,000 (c$19-24,000).
A bit of a squeeze
And here are the smaller-than-usual rear seats of this classic Lotus.
The remodelling of the Elite to become the Éclat already robbed the back seats of some headroom and this example’s upright rear bulkhead, which means the fuel tank can be positioned further forward for extra boot capacity, further compromises room for passengers.
Maybe it’s better for younger children only – or as extra luggage space?
Hidden history
The auction house explains that not much is known about this 1975 Lotus Éclat 520’s past, despite its place in the model’s history.
In fact, its story starts as late as 2018, when marque specialist Lotusbits rescued it from a garden in Essex.
As supplied
It was Lotusbits that realised this was chassis number one.
The car‘s current custodian bought it from the specialist that same year with a view to restoring the car to its factory specification.
Getting to work
Once the owner confirmed this Lotus Éclat 502’s identity with the marque’s own archivist as the first off the line, by April 2019 it was time to commence work on the car.
It was a difficult start.
Under the skin
Unfortunately, when the body was taken off the chassis it revealed badly repaired accident damage, as well as very rusty suspension mounts; the chassis was deemed to not be economically viable to fix.
Instead, an unmodified 520 body was found, as well as a secondhand chassis which was stripped then powder coated.
A fresh coat
By 2020 it was time to give the Éclat a fresh coat of Carnival Red paint.
Its four-speed gearbox and differential were completely overhauled, too, by a firm known to Lotusbits who’d unearthed the car two years earlier.
Cream dream
Inside, the team tried, where possible, to reuse original pieces and it was retrimmed by someone who used to do just that for Lotus, who also could get hold of the oatmeal-coloured vinyl fitted to the cars when they were new.
Alcantara, rather than factory-spec nylon, was used in some places because it’s considered to be more durable.
Ready to be enjoyed
The same restoration policy was employed outside, with trim pieces either refreshed and polished, or swapped for new-old-stock items from trusted specialists.
On 26 April 2024 this Lotus passed its MoT and since then it has covered just 100 miles, during which time any further issues have been resolved.
Wedge appeal
Oliver Winterbottom’s design for the Lotus Éclat, the fastback version of the Elite, hits its half century in 2025, yet this shape remains the definition of a ’70s wedge.
And while the Series 1 Éclats were available in a number of specifications, ranging from the basic 520, as we have here, to a fully loaded 523 and the 524 with its automatic gearbox, no other Type 76 can claim to be number one.
Almost time
This 1975 Lotus Éclat 520, the first production example, will go under the hammer with H&H Classics on Wednesday 30 July 2025, with a £14-18,000 pre-sale estimate.
Its restoration was fully documented and this will be sold with the car, plus it has an MoT until June 2026.
Could you be tempted?
For full details about this auction, please click here.