11Budlite Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 Nice looking Elite for sale on Ebay. But I don't remember seeing one with a single SU carb before. No affiliation, etc: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Lotus-Elite-Series-I-Lotus-Elite-Series-I-RHD_W0QQitemZ200365878184QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?hash=item2ea6bcaba8&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A2148 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDingo8MyBaby Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 The Twin SU carbs only came equipped on the SE models. In my opinion it was the most beautiful road going car lotus ever produced. That certainly is a fine example. Interesting though how the elite has 2 tail pipes because chapman wanted it that way. He was so fickle about weight and the elite has 2 tailpipes with a mere 75 horsepower. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 One of my favorite cars ever, if not outright # 1! Looks beautiful, probably better than it did when new. Gaps look perfect. Current bid is $30K. Any guesses as to where it will top out? I'd say$55K but that's just a wild guess. Not many come on the market. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
athens7 Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 I'm not crazy about the color, but the car looks immaculate. It sure would be nice to have too much money... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boxologist Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 u should check teh seller's other auctions. I like the tr4 w/ built 302 swap Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowss7 Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 Box, I agree. My first car was almost a red 1966 TR4A IRS. If it hadn't needed a new valve spring I may have bought it. It was $1,200. I ended up with a 1968 Triumph Spitfire for $800. instead. Fun little car that started my infatuation with nimble little English cars. It was the 1977 TR7 that came next that was almost the end of that infatuation.:banghead: Always liked the look of the TR 4-250, and 6's That install of the ford V8 looks really clean. That would be a fun car to cruise with for $11,000-15k. Wonder what it will go for. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeanG Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 Not sold at $31K. I very much want an Elite and that or light green would be my preferred color. For many years I thought that the Elite was one of the most visually appealing cars ever made. The bad press about the internal noise and fragility of the car put me off. After getting a ride in one at LOG 27 and speaking with several owners I now know they are not excessively loud or fragile. Oh, yellowss7 I agree that the TR-250 is a great looking car. My favorite triumph even though I have never been in one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 The e-bay auction still has 4 1/2 days to go on the Elite. My brief internet research on prices for Elites suggests it will go for something around $65K, assuming it is as represented. Thankfully the color isn't BRG (My son's college fund is still safe, for the moment). The baby blue does little for me, tho shows the soft brown interior well. My brief research also showed that Time magazine listed its as #11 on the all-time 50 worst cars (What do they know!?). Apparently they were put off by the fact that the car, frame and all, was fiberglass and had a tendency to break at certain stress points (e.g suspension failures). That may have been addressed if it was a high-end restoration as those weak points are typically reinforced if the car is conscientiously rebuilt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeanG Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 Oops. A lesson to all. Don't drink and post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xflow7 Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 Man, those cars are so beautiful. For those who, like me, are lusting but are still looking in the couch cushions for the other $64,999: http://cgi.ebay.com/1960-LOTUS-ELITE-BLUE-1-18-DIECAST-MODEL_W0QQitemZ150302183870QQcmdZViewItemQQptZDiecast_Vehicles?hash=item22feb551be&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12|66%3A2|39%3A1|72%3A2127|293%3A2|294%3A50 :jester: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 The gaps on the die-casst look much more authentic than on the e-bay car. My relentless internet research reveals a comment by a Lotus employee who helped write the shop-manual for the Elite. He notes it was difficult to put anything in writing about the car as the specs were constantly changing. He says if a part lasted a day as deigned, Chapman put it into production. If it lasted 2 days, Chapman considered it to be over built:). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 The e-bay auction is now closed (2 days early). The car was listed elsewhere by the seller for $64.5K. Something tells me he got his price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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