IWR Elans

[elansprint71]

The Ami 4 is in my top ten list of desirable cars. The IWR Elan is not.

[Stumpy]

Hi,

I'm trying to learn more of the history of this beautiful car and believe it to be the same one posted here a few years ago http://classic.trade/vehicles/lotus-elan-iwr-coupe/

Any help would be appreciated.

[trw99]

Stumpy

Reproduced by kind permission of the author from Club Lotus News' article on unusual Elans Jul 2012:

Ian Walker Fastback Elans
Ian Walker was a well known Lotus dealer, racer and friend of Colin Chapman. During the early 1960?s Ian Walker Racing Ltd ran various Lotus Elan?s in gold and green livery, driven by amongst others, Jim Clark and Peter Arundel. In early 1964 Walker designed new bodywork for the 26R Elan with a view to running it at the 1964 Le Mans in the Index of Thermal Efficiency class. This car was given the unit number of IWR/GT/1 and was initially registered XJB 1, subsequently FRX 176C. Williams & Pritchard were contracted to make up the fastback style alloy bodywork and after testing, Jackie Stewart took the car to first place in the GT race at Monthlerey. It was during preparations for the Le Mans race that, with one week to go, Mike Spence rolled the car damaging it to such an extent that it could not enter. It was subsequently restored, painted green with a gold stripe, raced and owned for many years by Paul Matty. It is still being campaigned by Martin Stretton. Having heard about this good-looking car, the Swiss Hermann Huber contacted Walker and asked him to sell the car to him for his father. After many refusals by Walker and many further requests to sell by Huber, Walker eventually offered to make a road going version for him. IWR/GT/2 was intended only as a Grand Tourer and after Williams & Pritchard had fitted the bodywork, which had a front resembling the Gordon-Keeble, the car was completed by Harold Radford in French Blue with red Connolly hide. It was delivered to Huber in 1965 and remained un-molested in the family collection until 2004, when Paul Matty provided it to a new owner on registration NAB 935D. This car is currently available again through Paul Matty. These were the only two Ian Walker Fastback Elans.

Tim

[Stumpy]

Many thanks, Tim, for the fast reply and detailed history.

Much appreciated.

[elansprint71]

Matty's current advert for the blue IWR says: "... an unrepeatable chance to own a real piece of Lotus History, for the price of a good Sprint! ?67,950".

[ken ob]

The blue IWR is shown as sold on Paul Mattys website.

[elansprint71]

A couple of years ago IWR announced a "small production run" of copies of their aluminium Le Mans Coupe; has anyone heard anything more about this?

[bigvalvehead]

Hi Pete
Don't think anyone has stumped up the £200K yet!!!

Perhaps I will make a Glassfibre one!
Dave

[elansprint71]

Hi Pete
Don't think anyone has stumped up the £200K yet!!!

Perhaps I will make a Glassfibre one!
Dave

Go for it! Can you imagine the noise in that tin box?! plastic makes more sense.