Run Baby Run

[Davidb]

I have no information on what became of the Brodie Elan. However, the car and that MotorSport article had an effect on me! I first saw the article in 1983/84 and decided I wanted a car just like that. I remember the cover of that issue of MotorSport had a portrait of Dave Walker, the Aussie driver who had cleaned up in F3 and was expected to do well with Lotus in F1.

Imagine my surprise when the day after acquiring this magazine (and reading the Brodie Elan article) who should walk into my place of work but Dave Walker!! He was in Vancouver for some reason and one the managers said "You had better meet David B, he is a racing nut!" I don't know what happened to Walker after that.

About a year later I acquired 26 R5 that was now fitted with a very special lightweight S4 Coupe' body after a roll over at Mosport and a Brian Hart engine - I had my "Brodie" Elan!

We should track down the Brodie Elan. Peter, you are in the right location I think...

[elansprint71]

Dave Brodie wrote his autobiography fairly recently but frustratingly it sold out before I could get a copy.

[elansprint71]

Don't know where he got the idea from the paint job...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/16096573@N02/26254154256/in/pool-2515899@N20/

[Dave8921]

I came across this forum after looking for information about the David Brodie Lotus Elan as well. I can clear up some discrepancy about what happened to the Lotus.

My dad was a mechanic born in London and ended up in Texas.... Long story there. He purchased the Lotus from an advertisement in Autosport many years ago. He arranged transportation for the Lotus to ship from England to the United States. He had his own shop, a one man business, in Dallas Texas. The Lotus was a rebuild project that throughout my entire life (I was born in 1988) sat in pieces in the corner of his shop. Never really making progress because, as he put it, the mechanics cars are the last to get worked on.

Unfortunately, he died in 2012 and I had to close down his shop. I was a recent college graduate so that was not a fun time of my life. I contacted one of his friends in England who found a willing buyer to purchase the Lotus in what I hoped was a complete car, just in pieces. I sold him the car and he arranged transportation to ship it back to England. That was the last I saw or heard of the car. I only followed up to make sure there were no issues.

I no longer have the contact information of the buyer but the Lotus was returned to England in 2012 after being in a garage in Texas for over 20 years. I'm sure the owners intent was to restore the car.

[Hawksfield]

Ah

The glory days of British motor racing, it brings tears to my eyes.

[trw99]

Dave 8921, thank you for posting that and sorry to read about your father's death. Let us hope the car makes a reappearance soon somewhere over here.

Tim

[elansprint71]

Brodie tells me he sold the Elan to the USA; the new owner asked him to go over and drive it but nothing further happened. All in his 3-volume book apparently. ?115 and weighs 24 kilos!

[Davidb]

It is possible to read some chapters of Brodie's book on-line. He tells every story in minute detail- No wonder it is three volumes! Very funny though...