HankMauel Posted July 19, 2012 Share Posted July 19, 2012 I have just received the final edited rendering on my Lotus Elite (still undergoing restoration at Mike Ostrov's shop). But of greater interest to the USA7's group is that Graeme Jenner in England does this for all variety of foreign cars and can customize the drawing to the exact specs provided by the owner via color digital photos sent to him...as he did in the Elite drawing and also for the drawing of my Lotus 7...The Prisoner. Naturally, he can do a Caterham as well. The prints come on heavy stock and look great framed and hanging in the garage above the car. Attached are the two presentations Graeme did for my Lotus 7, accurate down to the tonneau snaps and the leather belt holding the spare tire. I have no skin in this game and post this as an informational item for those interested in a personalized rendering of their vehicle(s). Prices are reasonable and you can see sample renderings/contact Graeme through his web site: http://classiccarportraits.co.uk/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskossie Posted July 19, 2012 Share Posted July 19, 2012 Hank, Great work by Graeme! This is something for me to consider..... How about posting his renderings of your Elite, also? We'd love to drool over them.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HankMauel Posted July 19, 2012 Author Share Posted July 19, 2012 Your wish is my command.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HankMauel Posted July 19, 2012 Author Share Posted July 19, 2012 By the way, here are the real deals... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskossie Posted July 19, 2012 Share Posted July 19, 2012 Hank, Thanks! Very delectable -- both of them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
11Budlite Posted July 19, 2012 Share Posted July 19, 2012 Hank - Thanks for the link, those are nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Automoda Posted July 19, 2012 Share Posted July 19, 2012 Wouldnt that be nice on the wall? I have a Kirkham AC Cobra poster (they're local and spam the state's shows with posters). Or a t-shirt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted July 19, 2012 Share Posted July 19, 2012 (edited) Original Elite, my fav car of all time (esp if panel gaps are good, doors and hood fit), orig'l 7 is my 2nd fav. Wld love to see (lots) of photos of Elite when its done and hear your account of how it drives, compares to the se7en, compares to modern car, etc. Edited July 19, 2012 by Kitcat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HankMauel Posted July 20, 2012 Author Share Posted July 20, 2012 I'll post up some photos when the Elite is complete. Attached is a photo of it when I owned it back in the mid 1980's. Sold it to send our daughter to college circa 1986 and re-acquired it about a year ago, about 80% restored, from the gentleman I sold it to, way back when. I've dubbed it The Prodigal Elite. Note the appropriate location for the photo shoot, nearly 30 years ago. As for the driving differences between the 7 and the Elite, I can speak of that after 20+ years of vintage racing an Elite with my race partner and stock broker, Mike Ostrov. Summed up...the 7 is crude, rough, quasi comfortable for 25 miles max, goes like stink, corners like a scalded cat and has me grinning ear to ear whenever I drive it. The Elite is a ballerina. It drifts corners, soaks up bumps and stays stuck to the road, has creature comforts that enable long drives, is drop dead gorgeous and responds every bit as well as the 7, but with more sophistication. It won't win a drag race, but that was never it's intent. I love them both! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted July 20, 2012 Share Posted July 20, 2012 Thx Hank, tho you are not doing anything to help me get over my Elite fantasies:). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taber10 Posted July 20, 2012 Share Posted July 20, 2012 Hank, Thanks also for the link and for sharing the pictures of your cars. Taber Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HankMauel Posted July 20, 2012 Author Share Posted July 20, 2012 Thx Hank, tho you are not doing anything to help me get over my Elite fantasies:). Comedian Tom Lehr had a song about that sort of thing called "The Old Dope Peddler". One line was "the old dope peddler, spreading joy wherever he goes"...sort of sums up me posting these photos for all you "Lotus junkies"!:drool::smilielol5: I know it's cruel, but I've been there and had the same fantasies...started in 1958 when I read the first review of the Elite and saw the photos. Life was never the same after that and, lo and behold, 25 years later it came true. So, are you even remotely searching for an Elite or just beating yourself up over it?:banghead: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted July 20, 2012 Share Posted July 20, 2012 Hank-I got hooked in '62 or '63 as a teen-aged Road & Track reader. It is mostly a fantasy-prices seem to be way up there ($80-$120K for cars w/doors that dont fit and laughably poor fitting warped fiberglass hoods (bonnets?). While, I DO occasionally watch the Elites that (rarely) come up for sale, so far they are getting further out of my reach, rather than closer. Maybe someone needs to make a nice clone (Westfield?). And I'd want to drive one to see how much of the fantasy was real. One of my biggest disappointments was finally getting to take another fantasy car for a spin (Porsche 356). Dull brakes, absurd shifter, no power, my low bucks stock Miata was better in every way. I have attached a copy of the closest I will probably come to Elite ownership: it sits on my desk here at work and smiles all day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdaddy Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 ...still undergoing restoration at Mike Ostrov's shop... Wow, love the renderings. I'll have to check into getting one. Also, if your car is still at Mike's shop in a couple of weeks during the GGLC Shop Day, I hope to check it out. Mike's place is only about 1/2 mile from me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HankMauel Posted July 23, 2012 Author Share Posted July 23, 2012 Wow, love the renderings. I'll have to check into getting one. Also, if your car is still at Mike's shop in a couple of weeks during the GGLC Shop Day, I hope to check it out. Mike's place is only about 1/2 mile from me Oh yes, it will still be there. It's under the blue cover at the left rear of the front shop...a very slow restoration due to other life requirements these days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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