New Member in Kansas, USA
20 posts
• Page 1 of 2 • 1, 2
Hello to all members,
My name is Randy Hendershot, and 36 years ago I found a 65 Elan with a detachable hardtop that had been stolen and vandalized. The car has sat at various mechanics businesses, with limited success in refurbishment. The biggest problem is that here near Topeka there are few Lotus cars, and my active years were spent without the internet to help search for parts. I have been helped immensely by Ray at RD Engineering, who, by the way, is a wonderful human being who "adopted" me decades ago from halfway across the USA.
Now that I am retired the pressure to get the Elan on the road has prompted me to join the local British Car Club and bite the bullet to get the car running and painted.
Future questions to the forum will involve the detachable hardtop trim and the fasteners to the windscreen frame, and interior trim parts including door panels. Unfortunately a leaking shed roof and packrats have reduced my stored interior parts to mush. I will be grateful for all the advice I can get.
Randy Hendershot
My name is Randy Hendershot, and 36 years ago I found a 65 Elan with a detachable hardtop that had been stolen and vandalized. The car has sat at various mechanics businesses, with limited success in refurbishment. The biggest problem is that here near Topeka there are few Lotus cars, and my active years were spent without the internet to help search for parts. I have been helped immensely by Ray at RD Engineering, who, by the way, is a wonderful human being who "adopted" me decades ago from halfway across the USA.
Now that I am retired the pressure to get the Elan on the road has prompted me to join the local British Car Club and bite the bullet to get the car running and painted.
Future questions to the forum will involve the detachable hardtop trim and the fasteners to the windscreen frame, and interior trim parts including door panels. Unfortunately a leaking shed roof and packrats have reduced my stored interior parts to mush. I will be grateful for all the advice I can get.
Randy Hendershot
- Kansas Randy
- New-tral
- Posts: 8
- Joined: 11 Nov 2017
Here is a shot in the paint booth. Here in Kansas they are going to call that John Deere green.
And also a shot of the fasteners that hold the top to the windscreen frame. Any idea what parts bin they came out of???
And also a shot of the fasteners that hold the top to the windscreen frame. Any idea what parts bin they came out of???
- Kansas Randy
- New-tral
- Posts: 8
- Joined: 11 Nov 2017
Are there any winding roads in Kansas? Excellent paint scheme!
-
Fred Talmadge - Fourth Gear
- Posts: 666
- Joined: 24 Sep 2003
Please consider joining Lotus Ltd. We are the nations largest Lotus club. website is www.lotusltd.com
I am the Vice President of the club.
I am the Vice President of the club.
Tony Vaccaro
LOONY (Lotus Owners of New York)
http://www.lotusowners.com
Drive Fast Take Chances
ElanGTS, 93 Caterham, 05 Elise,
99 Elise190, 05 Elise, 2005 MiataSpeed Turbo
LOONY (Lotus Owners of New York)
http://www.lotusowners.com
Drive Fast Take Chances
ElanGTS, 93 Caterham, 05 Elise,
99 Elise190, 05 Elise, 2005 MiataSpeed Turbo
-
tvacc - Coveted Fifth Gear
- Posts: 1161
- Joined: 24 Dec 2003
Randy,
Welcome, nice colour scheme. Below is a source for rubber trim bits (no personal connection). I know nothing about the hardtops but if the rubber is similar to the cant rails then I think I have a leftover bit I can photograph for the profile, will have to hunt in the shed to see if I still have it.
I sewed up some seat covers myself, worked out great and didn't take much time, assuming some sewing dexterity, it was the first I had ever done. You will likely need to redo the foam / cloth and wires on the underside, if you look at will understand what I mean. You can buy seat covers from Famous Frank in Fl. I think.
Cheers,
Jack
https://www.macgregorukcarparts.com/
Welcome, nice colour scheme. Below is a source for rubber trim bits (no personal connection). I know nothing about the hardtops but if the rubber is similar to the cant rails then I think I have a leftover bit I can photograph for the profile, will have to hunt in the shed to see if I still have it.
I sewed up some seat covers myself, worked out great and didn't take much time, assuming some sewing dexterity, it was the first I had ever done. You will likely need to redo the foam / cloth and wires on the underside, if you look at will understand what I mean. You can buy seat covers from Famous Frank in Fl. I think.
Cheers,
Jack
https://www.macgregorukcarparts.com/
- jk952
- Third Gear
- Posts: 304
- Joined: 04 Jan 2011
Hi Randy
Just another "Welcome" from California [originally from Midwest].
Interesting story, sad to hear about the deterioration & loss of parts.
I am no expert, but there are many on this site ready & able to help with most any question you may have.
Great to see the body looking so good! Looks like progress!
Not sure if you have ever driven one of these things in the past, but it is a unique & rewarding experience for any car guy & especially any sportscar guy [oops, um "person"].
Best of luck in getting it done & back on the road! I am working on my lhd S2 & will be glad to help if I can. Have you listed the s/n or vin?
Jay
_________________________________________________________________
Just another "Welcome" from California [originally from Midwest].
Interesting story, sad to hear about the deterioration & loss of parts.
I am no expert, but there are many on this site ready & able to help with most any question you may have.
Great to see the body looking so good! Looks like progress!
Not sure if you have ever driven one of these things in the past, but it is a unique & rewarding experience for any car guy & especially any sportscar guy [oops, um "person"].
Best of luck in getting it done & back on the road! I am working on my lhd S2 & will be glad to help if I can. Have you listed the s/n or vin?
Jay
_________________________________________________________________
just looking for clues at the scene....
- S2Jay
- Second Gear
- Posts: 182
- Joined: 21 Dec 2010
Welcome from Portugal!!!! I?m new on the forum. You have a fantastic paint job in you car, congratulations, one of my dream car, my uncle had two or three unfortunately they were all over.
Best regards Nuno
Best regards Nuno
- nunomauricio
- New-tral
- Posts: 11
- Joined: 21 Nov 2017
I have a very good Portuguese friend that lives in Kansas, he married with an American girl, in a barn
- nunomauricio
- New-tral
- Posts: 11
- Joined: 21 Nov 2017
Welcome Randy Great group of ?lan owners on this site, they were invaluable in my restoration projects. Yes, Ray at RD is a wonderful man with emense knowledge and most of the parts you need.
I have a complete write up with lots of photos of my frame off rebuild of my 64 ?lan S1 on this site. You might want to grab a cup of coffee and read through it.
Great body color! Looks fast just sitting in the booth!
I have a complete write up with lots of photos of my frame off rebuild of my 64 ?lan S1 on this site. You might want to grab a cup of coffee and read through it.
Great body color! Looks fast just sitting in the booth!
Glen
05 Elise - Back where I started
65 Elan S2 - 26/4055
72 Europa - 74/2358R
69 Elan S4 - 45/7941
64 Elan S1 - 26/0379
12 Colin 30 - Lotus Racing Kart
07 Exige S - Wicked Road/Track Car
07 Exige S - Fast Road/Track Car
06 Elise - Track pack
05 Elise - Back where I started
65 Elan S2 - 26/4055
72 Europa - 74/2358R
69 Elan S4 - 45/7941
64 Elan S1 - 26/0379
12 Colin 30 - Lotus Racing Kart
07 Exige S - Wicked Road/Track Car
07 Exige S - Fast Road/Track Car
06 Elise - Track pack
-
Certified Lotus - Coveted Fifth Gear
- Posts: 1233
- Joined: 04 Aug 2014
Thanks for the welcome and the various bits of information. The number plates were removed by the thieves, and I have not done a deep dive underneath to see if i can find the vin on the frame. The Kansas authorities assigned me a special number and a new vin to match. Are information plates available for the S1?
I am a long time member of Lotus Ltd.
What is a cant rail?
I will explore the parts site, thanks! Just got in a big box from Kelvedon, they were VERY helpful.
I am a long time member of Lotus Ltd.
What is a cant rail?
I will explore the parts site, thanks! Just got in a big box from Kelvedon, they were VERY helpful.
- Kansas Randy
- New-tral
- Posts: 8
- Joined: 11 Nov 2017
?What is a cant rail??
This made me smile, I asked the same question when I bought my S2 some years back, being unfamilliar with the S2 details at the time.
They are the fiberglass things the shape of the side window curve that the top snaps onto. They have the pin that goes into the unprotected hole in the bodywork...
This made me smile, I asked the same question when I bought my S2 some years back, being unfamilliar with the S2 details at the time.
They are the fiberglass things the shape of the side window curve that the top snaps onto. They have the pin that goes into the unprotected hole in the bodywork...
- jk952
- Third Gear
- Posts: 304
- Joined: 04 Jan 2011
20 posts
• Page 1 of 2 • 1, 2
Total Online:
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 5 guests