In search of first Elan (second Lotus)

[DrinkMan]

Hi,

Just introducing myself. My wife and I love to drive and maintain our little collection of European sports cars from our youth. Cars that we always wanted and can now enjoy. We did a little 2 year experiment of reinvigorating an 1928 Ford Model A and realized that while we had a blast learning and getting it running good that we just did not appreciate it enough and sold it to someone who would better appreciate it. Now that leaves us with an empty space in our garage. So, we think that it is finally time to buy a dream - a Lotus Elan (DHC or FHC..... hard to decide, we shall see). So, our search begins...

Dan

[The Veg]

Hi Dan!

Good seeing you here. Welcome to the asylum!

Ben

[S3DHC]

Hi Dan,

That's an impressive garage line up.
Welcome to the forum, anything you have to ask on the Elan here will always prompt a response.
DHC or FHC may not matter so much as I guess you have both options already in your garage.
Guess it comes down to available cars, cost & condition etc.
Happy hunting, update us all when you make a great investment.
Colin.

[Elan45]

Hi Dan,

Welcome to the group. I spend some time in central Florida, just south of St Augustine and I have my S3 Super Safety down here. I know there are a few other Elans in the vicinity, but I've never actually seen another. There have to be a few in Atlanta as well.

Roger

[DrinkMan]

There are a few here in the metro Atlanta area. I see them at our local shows and talk to the owners. We are also fortunate to have Famous Frank up here as well. While I would like a DHC, we have a few convertibles already and the FHC is really growing on me as a nice idea for the unexpected shower (I'm bad about being optimistic about weather and have quite a few incidents of having to pull under a tree, overpass, or gas station to put up the top) and it has a lower acquisition cost as well. Leaving me more money to buy tools, a lift, or beer.

[Europatc]

Welcome Dan

[Famous Frank]

Welcome Dan, sounds like you lost the bid on the Medici Blue S2 in California.

I'm so glad you joined the forum.. This group is filled with some of the most wonderful people in the world, .....and I mean the world. I've received parts and advice from people is so many countries, it's unbelievable!

Let the education begin!
I agree with your thoughts on a DHC, or a FHC, although, I may be wrong but in the Elan world I believe its Roadster, DHC, or FHC. The S1's and S2's are considered Roadsters because the top does not fold down, it gets disassembled and laid in the trunk. The S3's and the S4's tops fold down into a boot area.

Personally I lean toward the Roadsters and the "Non Air-Flow" Coupes. If you look at the Coupe pics on this forum or via Google, you will notice the very early Coupes did not have any vents in the roof behind the door. All Coupes from mid 1967 onward were considered Air-Flow Coupes. But it's just personal taste and it's a minor thing but my taste is unquestionable! Ha!

Hope to see you tomorrow at C&O. I'll be in a Graphite Elise with a red hardtop from 7:15 to 8:30. After that I'll be going to the other show on HWY 92. Greg Z will be at the C&O show in his gorgeous 72 Elan Sprint DHC. His top will be up because he never takes it down. He'll be there giving away magazines.

George (CABC26) on this forum may be there also in his outstanding Medici Blue S2 with a silver hardtop!

I'm looking forward to looking at or discussing cars with you both!

See you later, All the Best,
Frank

[DrinkMan]

Thanks for the welcome, Frank. We'll see you there. Blue Elise and Purple Opel. Don't know if we are going to go up to the other show. (you are right about Roadster, I was just using shorthand. maybe I'll just call them topless and hardtop)

Dan

[Certified Lotus]

Hi Dan, PM sent.

[DrinkMan]

Just want to close this thread. We bought an Elan a few weeks ago from a post here on this website. It is everything we could wish for. And just to make it easy to follow, my wife already posted information about the car:

http://www.lotuselan.net/forums/introducations-f46/elan-owner-finally-t36567.html

A couple of the members here - Tony V & Frank have been a great help.

We were very fortunate that we have a great binder with the history of the car. I'm already researching the first owner and have been surprised to find that the car spent some time in a museum. In addition, an author of a book about the area where the car spent its first 8 years has contacted the son of the first owner to get me his memories of the car.

I'll be posting in Parts Wanted some of the things we need but we already have a great driveable car. Thus far we have gotten the headlights working, replaced the tires, installed seat belts, repaired some loose trim, fixed the heater valve, installed the glove box, gotten the parking brake working, fixed brake squeal, repaired choke cable, and some other minor issues. Still working on the fuel gauge (found a broken ground but repairing that did not fix the problem), the horn, and trying to find the final hardware for the soft top.