Wow, Garage Find x10 Yeap it was a cool day.

[jwernquist]

Well guys heres the story the owner raced this car back in the 50s drove it on the street until 70s sometime. Then put it in the garage where it's sat since. Motor is free and the carbs are in good shape. I will be working on it more tomorrow at their space to get it running etc. I dont have much more info on the car other than it is a real lotus original motor with a spare. Inboard Disk Brakes and they call it the lotus coventry.

I do not know much more than that at the current time, however once the 68 is out this will be taking up a slot in the garage.

Sorry for the bad pics lighting was poor the garage door will need work to open and I only had my camera phone. Any insight on to what model etc would be greatly appreciated.

It was started less than a year ago however not since.

Pretty damn cool, every panel is either on the car or in the garage. I am still shaking /

Well here are a few pics more to come in the next few days I know the pics suck but understand I was too interested in looking at it closly than holding the phone out snapping shots. Notice the cool Lucas badge on the dash.

Jon W. - i know i know, like I need it but jeez why not.

[call911]

Um........I'm pretty sure that's a Lotus Eleven with an alloy body.

Congratulations. A very cool car that looks like a space ship out of the 60's.

[jwernquist]

Sorry didnt meen to post here. Can someone move it to Off Topic.

[jwernquist]

Thanks for the info, that does look like it. I did think the body was aluminum or alloy. it has 2 webers with a climax badge on the motor. The wheels are Spokes with knock offs. Frame is very very straight and rust free just old and dirty. There's alot of little things that were just mind boggling about the car.

[JayG]

That car is amazing. Wow couldnt imagine driving it out on the streets. But please do.

[widgeon13]

Beautiful, great find!

[mede8er]

Will those rims fit an 82 SC... Great find dude...

[notfarnow]

Holy crap, an Eleven... one of my all time favorite cars!

Somewhere in my pile of old R&T magazines, there's a Peter Egan article about driving across the US in a Westfield Eleven reproduction.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Bloody hell! That's awesome!

[Aerkuld]

Certainly looks like a Lotus Eleven. The Coventry Climax engines were pretty popular back then in Coopers, Lotus' etc. If I recall I think the company made engines for water pumps for fire trucks or something. I'll look it up see what I can find...

One heck of a good find!

[Aerkuld]

Yup, here you go...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coventry_Climax

[tcar]

Enjoy:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_Eleven

That was quick...

[azasadny]

Wow!!!

[pwd72s]

Effing beautiful...I mean, the lines of that car...nothing today can be aesthetically comparable!

[mb911]

man you know what that is worth? you'll have to be "movin on up to the east side" with all these finds

[TimT]

Wow!!!^10

how many of these gems are left out there?

[jwernquist]

You know its really crazy how I came across it, I was at my friends house showing him the pictures of Saturday and Road America and we took the 911 to get a bite to eat. As we are talking about the lotus elise (i drove one and loved it) an older women heard me talking about it and asked if I knew anything about Lotus i said very little however I have always loved them. My friend went into claws resturant and I talked with her a little bit more and got her number and arranged to meet her this afternoon, I didn't really know what to expect and theres still alot of work to be done since their main garage door is a monster and solid wood all the springs are gone and it is impossible to life. However since they were a racing family she has offered me to work on the car to get it going at their place in return I help them fix the door and umm I get to have the car. However I cannot reasonably take the car free of charge I had offered her some money as well which took her by surprise but she also appreciated it. (Not a Large Sum either) and with the car I get a spare gearbox , spare windscreen bubble bonnet and spare engine.

The cars paint is original and dirty but nice however there were some stupid things put on the car at one time like a radio and speakers as well as license plate holes . However I intent on removing and have the holes fixed somehow. However leaving the car as found just cleaner and hopefully running strong. There are duplicates for almost every part of the car including lights/ doors metal bonnets etc.

I will also learn a bit more of the history of the car since it had been competitively raced for many years. There is a book of information that I didnt look at today that has all the docs from the years as well as all the race history along with a box of photos.

It should be an exciting weekend and future months I certainly hope I can get it to the track before the season is over.

thanks for all the good words!

Jon W.

[Hugh R]

Score!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jwernquist]

ANd if the car is mechanically sound and works as it should with minimal investment it should be a keeper. First plan is to bring it to a shop/ lotus guru somewhere in the midwest. I don't think it is something that should be mucked with right from the get go it should see some serious professional attention. Correct me if I am wrong. Thats the way I look at it.

Any thoughts or any information on these are they as troublesom as I have been lead to believe or since their age are they fairly straight forward. I think the engines are based of an MG 4 Banger. However the transaxels and brake calipers are not and are highly complex and expensive.

Anyone an expert here?

JW

[gassy]

Very cool. Keep us posted!