MoPho Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 After my 13 year affair with my Elan, I am quite over vintage Lotus, well except for maybe a type 23b, or type 11, or type 72, or...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mondo Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 In the early 80s I completely went thru my Europa. It had the Renault motor so I was kind of double-jinxed. But after complete rewire/custom dash, interior, rebuilt motor by a Renault fanatic (side-draft weber, cam etc..), paint, wheels, the final straw was getting it smogged every two years. It got harder and harder to find a "friendly" smog shop. Ended up selling it to some guy from Japan, who took it back with him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 Hank, your car looks pretty nice to start with. The hood (bonnet cover?) seems to fit. So many Elites (even hi $ ones) have badly warped hoods with terrible gaps. Mike M. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bball7754 Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 The latest issue of Remarque (Lotus Ltd. magazine) has a '63 Elite Series II listed in the classifieds for $18,500, but..... it's a project car. Rolling chassis with inventoried parts. It does have the original Coventry Climax engine, and the numbers match. All I'm lacking is money, space, skill, and knowledge - listed in no particular order. The desire is there, though. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HankMauel Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 Hank, your car looks pretty nice to start with. The hood (bonnet cover?) seems to fit. So many Elites (even hi $ ones) have badly warped hoods with terrible gaps. Mike M. Thanks, Mike. The 1984 photo under the Lotus, CA Post Office shows the car shortly after I brought it in from England. The guy who bought it from me in 1986 was a follower of our Vintage Race Elite and he had the "lust". He drove it for 4 years and then started the resto. He was 55 when he bought it. The "project" was done by one of our fellow Lotus devotees and the glass work on the body is really nice. The project was slow and when finally back at home for the owner to complete, the enthusiasm had waned. It was in the owners garage most of the first 10 years of this century, with bits and pieces done. Approaching 80 and with no real drive to "git 'er done", he called me early this year and asked if I was interested in getting it back and completing the job. I've got to do interior, new wheels and tires (those in the photo are the same as in 1984!), bumpers and miscellaneous like rebuild the carbs as the gaskets are petrified, a new hi torque starter, auxilliary fan for cooling and just generally "fettle" the car. I'll post some photos as I progress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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