Elans & +2s Owned by the Famous

[Barney]

This is what happens when you blow your mind out in a car;
The wreckage of Tara Browne's Elan

[RotoFlexible]

Let us not forget the late Paul Newman, who started his racing career in an Elan.

[1964 S1]

.... Paul Newman... what a guy...
and, IF, I remember right, I believe Dan Gurney briefly "owned" an Elan at Indy in '63 according to Andrew Ferguson's book "TEAM LOTUS The Indianapolis Years."
Also, can we not count Colin Chapman? Jacky Ickx? What about Jochen Rindt? I'll bet there's a batch of famous racers who owned them back in the sixties?....except Jackie Stewart perhaps.... What else was(/is) there like an Elan? Innes Ireland? Stirling Moss?

[Old English White]

Let us not forget the late Paul Newman, who started his racing career in an Elan.

I found this b&w picture of its Elan ...

Christian.

[ardee_selby]

Probably most meaningful to the Brits among us - let's not forget the late, great, Dick Emery.

Cheers - rd

(Emery in Elan to be photograped for a Driving Quiz? Too dangerous? Used Corgi models instead! )

[Mazzini]

The October 1966 issue of Motor Sport states that

"Notable customers for the Elan have included Prince William of Gloucester, Lady Sarah Curzon, Viscount Gormeston, Stirling Moss, The Yardbirds, and the Jordanian Ambassador''

Eric Clapton was still with the Yardbirds in '66, and he was great friends with Jimi Hendrix, maybe that was Clapton's Elan that Hendrix was photographed with?

Andrew Loog Oldham, the then manager of the Rolling Stones, mentions owning a yellow convertible Elan in one of his books.

Years ago I can remember hearing that Diana Rigg was given her S3 as a gift by Lotus after she left The Avengers, but she found it impractical and gave/sold it to a friend. The S2 she used in the earlier series seems to have vanished without trace.

[robertverhey]

Yes dick emery described his ?lan thus: "oh it is AWFUL......but I like it".

I jest

What's the story behind the Tara Browne car?

[Elanintheforest]

Wiki has all....!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tara_Browne

Mark

[elanfan1]

I believe Adrian Newey has or had an Elan (not sure if it was a Plus 2)

What about Keith Duckworth's Elan - I happen to know where that car is!


and me I've got a Sprint (Oh sorry - infamous!)

[elansprint71]

On TV the other day Britt Eckland mentioned that her first car was an Elan, she did not mention that it was a Shapecraft, although it was. What has she done to her face? Looks like a puffer fish.

[pharriso]

Yawn....

Not that again...

[elansprint71]

Yawn....

Not that again...

Jim Crawford drove a Lagoon Blue over White Sprint; he raced in F1 for Team Lotus briefly before an untimely demise.

[ardee_selby]

Probably most meaningful to the Brits among us - let's not forget the late, great, Dick Emery. Cheers - rd

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/110768445816? ... 1423.l2649

So...Dick Emery, not only had an S4 DHC, but also a Plus 2S/130.

Cheers - Richard

[Robbie693]

Eric Clapton was still with the Yardbirds in '66, and he was great friends with Jimi Hendrix, maybe that was Clapton's Elan that Hendrix was photographed with?

Clapton was with the Bluesbreakers in '65, forming Cream in '66. Hendrix didn't come to the UK until '66 so I guess the Yardbirds Elan was someone else's in the band. Jeff Beck?

[trw99]

No, it was Noel Redding, see here: elan-f15/ebay-getting-beyond-joke-t23531-45.html

Tim