While plenty of restomods are being rolled out at the moment by OEMs and third-party companies, few are quite as daring as this Lotus Elise S1 from startup company Get Lost.
The company’s name perhaps gives a hint to the intentions of what it dubs ‘Project Safari’, with the original Elise treated to a radical makeover with off-road intentions.
Perhaps drawing inspiration from the Porsche 911 Dakar, Project Safari sees the fitment of increased ride height and width courtesy of a bespoke suspension setup, along with chunky all-terrain tyres.
There are further visual changes than simply the wheels and higher ground clearance, too, with bespoke rectangular headlights, four bonnet-mounted spotlights, a custom roof scoop, and a redesigned interior also clearly visible.
Mechanically, Get Lost is yet to confirm just what powertrain the car is running, but it does claim to use a new setup in place of the original Rover K-series engine that will deliver “strong, reliable performance”.
However, the fitment of a limited-slip differential and hydraulic handbrake has been confirmed, both of which add to the playful nature of the original Lotus Elise.
The new company Get Lost and this car is the brainchild of automotive photographer George Williams, better known as GFWilliams online, with his intention for the project being to reimagine the Lotus’ form and function without constraints.
“The idea of taking an Elise off-road might sound ridiculous, and that’s exactly why we leaned into it,” says Williams.
“That one silly idea gave us real creative freedom. Every element was considered from the ground up, not just to look good in isolation, but to enhance the character and capability of the entire car.”
Get Lost is already welcoming letters of interest from customers and potential collaborators in the project, with the first customer builds due to start in late 2025.
