Re: S1 ?lan Rebuild - My Story
Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2015 3:27 am
Tony, I am the 5th owner. I don't know who the first owner was but I do know who all the rest where. None have a last name that starts with Bu. Sorry.
I am fortunate to have some fairly good records of what was spent on this car by previous owners. It's nothing short of amazing as it has clearly been the money pit. As usual for most cars of this vintage, constant spending on little things that went wrong. One of the owners did a frame off restoration and engine/Trans rebuild in the early 80's. I spoke with him and got a good understanding of the work done on the car. The last owner of 16 years started spending some serious money but probably just gave up as there seemed to be no end in sight. The estimates to do work were getting bigger and I read the correspondence of the PO trying to keep the expenses to something realistic.
When the original engine was replaced I do not know. But the engine that came with the car was not factory supplied.
I bought the car and decide to rebuild it. It's on its third engine, two transmission rebuilds, two differential rebuilds and now has a new chassis, suspension, rebuilt or new drivetrain and a number of interior and body repairs/replacement of parts. And I'm not completely done.
Gotta love vintage cars. And the caring of the Lotus mark.
I am fortunate to have some fairly good records of what was spent on this car by previous owners. It's nothing short of amazing as it has clearly been the money pit. As usual for most cars of this vintage, constant spending on little things that went wrong. One of the owners did a frame off restoration and engine/Trans rebuild in the early 80's. I spoke with him and got a good understanding of the work done on the car. The last owner of 16 years started spending some serious money but probably just gave up as there seemed to be no end in sight. The estimates to do work were getting bigger and I read the correspondence of the PO trying to keep the expenses to something realistic.
When the original engine was replaced I do not know. But the engine that came with the car was not factory supplied.
I bought the car and decide to rebuild it. It's on its third engine, two transmission rebuilds, two differential rebuilds and now has a new chassis, suspension, rebuilt or new drivetrain and a number of interior and body repairs/replacement of parts. And I'm not completely done.
Gotta love vintage cars. And the caring of the Lotus mark.