Chris Neil Elans

[Brian Walton]

I viewed an old ad for the Chris Neil version of the Elan. About 4000 pounds was the price at the time and that would
have been in the mid 80's. They were infact modern Elans just made up of spare parts.

Does anybody know how many were made..............and as they were infact made from spare parts...........was there a
trade in chassis plates after the event to make them real Lotus cars?

Brian

[ardee_selby]

Brian,
The CN "Sprint" was covered in two mag articles:
1.0 Sporting Cars International - May 86
2.0 Sports Car Monthly - Aug 87

The first article (which also covers their convertible
+2) describes the CN Sprint Kit as being an extension
to their parts catalogue, was built around a Lotus
galvanised chassis and fitted with 1600 XR3 motor. It
was said that the kit could:
a)Be used as a back-up for restoring a tatty Elan
b)Aid the assembly of a car using 2nd hand parts
c)Help build a car from all new parts.
The "dreaded" Type Approval" was mentioned.

In the second article things had moved on. It says CN
"are at pains to point out, presumably due to previous
brushes with the Wymondham powers that be, that the CN
Sprint kit is NOT a Lotus Elan kit and they would not
under any circumstances supply the kit buyer with
Lotus Elan badges".
It had the XR3 CVH motor, 5 speed Sierra box (gear
lever 7" further back than normal) and Sierra final
drive with shortened driveshafts and drum brakes.
Tubular wishbones front. Rear had short upper
wishbones. Again, it was seen as a way of building a
kit car to your own liking, or buying an old/damaged
Elan and re-building around the old Elan's donor
parts(??!)

I haven't ever seen a CN Sprint, and don't think I'd
like to - "neither fish nor fowl".

If anyone is that interested I could upload articles,
but may be largish files.

Cheers - Richard

--- "Brian Walton - dotco.co.nz" <***@***.***>
wrote:


__________________________________________________

Check out Yahoo! Shopping and Yahoo! Auctions for all of
your unique holiday gifts! Buy at http://shopping.yahoo.com
or bid at http://auctions.yahoo.com

[kstrutt1]

A guy I used to work with has one, while not original , it looks
very close to the original and the ride / handling is also very
close, the CVH engine is another issue!!
That said it is very reliable dead cheap to run and still pretty
quick. I imagine it would make a great daily driver especially if
updated with a zetec engine.

Kevin +2S130

--- In lotuselan@y..., "Brian Walton - dotco.co.nz" <info@d...> wrote: