Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Hello everybody allow me to introduce myself, my name is phil and I live in Liverpool and I'm self employed electrician working in the electrical contracting industry. I current own a 2004 K Series R 300 Caterham that I completely rebuilt 2 years ago, before buying the Caterham I tried to buy a 26R project but was I out bid by a ?100 the bids rising ?3500 in the last 10 seconds, the car sold for about ?14500 I think, may be somebody on here outbid me. I do love the Elan, but I don't know whether to go for a project car or a complete ready to drive and enjoy car with decent history. I'll probably have to sell the Caterham to fulfill my dreams of a perfect car

Thanks philbirch

Welcome Phil!

Welcome Phil,
This forum is brilliant for help and advice.
Can I suggest that if you are not already a member, then join a car club to find like minded people.
Our Club Lotus meeting is held every first Saturday near Standish and we have several members with Elans. Also some Plus twos and Europas. The Cheshire branch is also very active and could be nearer to you.
Hope to see you sometime.
Eric in Burnley
1967 S3SE DHC

Welcome!!!!

Welcome to the forum Phil.
Wish you all the best in getting a Lotus.

Welcome Phil.

Welcome Phil and good luck with your search.

Most of the dealers are still second hand car dealers who just happen to deal in old stuff.

I bought a car that had been rebuilt over 3 years but not then used. It was a mistake as it has
loads of little problems and silly errors. They should not have happened but that's no comfort whilst waiting by the road for the recovery - again.

If I could offer advise decide exactly what you want and buy it from an owner who has been using it.
Use the dealers to drive as many as you can. (Count your fingers afterwards!)

This forum is the best you will find.

Phil, you are going to need all youre electrical theory for these cars!
Welcome
James

Welcome to the Elan world, I also have a Caterham and am also the Caterham dealer in the NE USA.
Don't know when you were outbid for a 26R project that sold for under 15,000 but wow....if it was recently that would have been the steal of a lifetime.

Back in college I crewed on an ex Jackie Oliver 26R. That was 1971-73. I was offered the car for $5000 in 1980 and wish every day that I had bought it. That car I understand is now back in the hands of Jackie Oliver.
My good friend owns the twin of it. It is my understanding that 26Rs were only sold in pairs back then with the same number, Don't know if that is correct but that is what I have been told.

Tony V

Hello Tony you where wondering when I bid on the 26R, it was around Christmas 2013 that was when I originally joined the club, the 26R was British racing green and the engine had the head off, by the January I had bought the Caterham R300 which I took completely stripped and took the chassis to Arch motors to have the chassis repowder coated and reskinned, the car is now virtually brand new. Growing up there where 2 cars on my wish list a Lotus 7 series 2 and the Elan,

Phil

Phil, That would have been a heck of a deal. 26R are going in the hundreds of thousands right now.

Glad to see you have the Caterham. I love mine and it might be sacrilege to say it on this list....the order of my favorite cars to drive are the Caterham first, the Elise second and the Elan 3rd.

To look at in the garage....the Elan is first, the Elise is tied with the Caterham for 2nd.

To just sit in during the Winter and go "vroom vroom" and think of the summer, The Caterham!!!! The Elan and Else don't even register on that list.

Tony V

Hi Phil
Welcome to the Elan forum. Good luck with your search for a suitable Elan. I thought about selling my Caterham when I got my Elan 3 years ago, but resisted! They make a great pair of cars to own
Malcolm