Has anyone here owned/driven an original Elan?

[Shaun @ Tru6]

^^^

only if you are talking about the 90s Elan

[herr_oberst]

Elan at 2:58

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqCGqooGfWc

[Jeff Alton]

We will have one at the shop shortly. Client is doing the majority of the build himself. We have modified suspension arms for adjustability, added some chassis gussets and restored all of the brake calipers. Once assembled we will have it for final set up and tuning.

Cheers

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

... only if you are talking about the 90s Elan

or the 70's

[Borders Reivers]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Elan at 2:58

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqCGqooGfWc

herr_oberst,

Watching the YouTube video I'm interested in the compilation of new music that Gordon Murray makes every year.

He talks about it at 6:10 in the video.

It appears this year's compilation is named "Aural Attractions". Murray says it is his forty-first compilation of new music.

Can't find any info about Gordon Murray collections.

Anyone have a link?

[widgeon13]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Elan at 2:58

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqCGqooGfWc

Great video!

[M.D. Holloway]

Looks to be the size of a Spitfire. Nice lines.

[87maniac]

I owned a 1967 Elan SE convertible.
British Racing Green.

Parents bought me a new Lincoln Capri for college, I sold it
and bought a Lotus Elan for $2200. Parents NOT pleased, refuse
to give $$$ for mechanics = how I learned to work on cars :-)

In retrospect, I drove that Elan all over California in the 70s
it was reliable, economical and FUN FUN FUN!

- superlight, tossable, unlike any car due to light weight.
(more like skiing than driving )
- no torque. got to keep it above 4K all the time.
- incredible sound with dual sidedraft Webers !
- you can -almost- touch the ground when sitting inside.
- reliable and never left me stranded.
- drove it on gravel roads, not a good idea.
- the convertible top is a Rube Goldberg experience

Bottom Line --- The Most memorable car ever.

[DanielDudley]

Originally Posted by URY914

I can tell you they are small. Very small

Too small for me. John Surtees thought they were one of the greatest driver's cars of all time.

[Borders Reivers]

There is a reason Bob Hall's goal designing the Miata was to re-create the Elan.

[Sunroof]

These cars are small.........for comparison, here are two I have owned that are similar in size, but lacked the horsepower of the Elan. The Fiat 850 (1972) and the Austin Healy "bug eyed" sprite (1959). To own a vintage Lotus is a YES!!!

[MrBonus]

Originally Posted by 87maniac

I owned a 1967 Elan SE convertible.
British Racing Green.

Parents bought me a new Lincoln Capri for college, I sold it
and bought a Lotus Elan for $2200. Parents NOT pleased, refuse
to give $$$ for mechanics = how I learned to work on cars :-)

In retrospect, I drove that Elan all over California in the 70s
it was reliable, economical and FUN FUN FUN!

- superlight, tossable, unlike any car due to light weight.
(more like skiing than driving )
- no torque. got to keep it above 4K all the time.
- incredible sound with dual sidedraft Webers !
- you can -almost- touch the ground when sitting inside.
- reliable and never left me stranded.
- drove it on gravel roads, not a good idea.
- the convertible top is a Rube Goldberg experience

Bottom Line --- The Most memorable car ever.

That's amazing. Do you have any desire to buy another one at some point?

Everyone I've talked to who has owned one has echoed similar sentiments. Also, as I understand it, their reputation of being unreliable is somewhat unfounded. Most people have used updated components for critical failure points (the water pump, rear differential donuts, generator to alternator conversion) and otherwise live with the occasional electrical or accessory gremlin.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by MrBonus

For what it’s worth, I’m 5’11” and 190 pounds and fit comfortably in it. They are roomier than I expected.

Reminds me of the time I spent 1 minute trying to get into a Europa and 5 trying to get back out!

Howz the Elan compare to the europa in size?

[MrBonus]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

Reminds me of the time I spent 1 minute trying to get into a Europa and 5 trying to get back out!

Howz the Elan compare to the europa in size?

The Elan is smaller but I've never sat in a Europa so I cannot comment. I did nearly buy an Elise roughly a decade ago and remember the fall out and roll egress process and the Elan isn't terribly far off. I also tried to get into a Caterham and felt like I had my dreams of future ownership dashed by the dimensional limitations.

[87maniac]

MrBonus-- Yes, I did own two Elans.

After I sold the convert, ($2500 in 1979) I missed it so bad,
I bought a hardtop and drove it a year.

Fun to drive!

[MrBonus]

So I finally drove it. The car is completely hot rodded and the 911 felt like a Lexus by comparison. The steering was like nothing I've ever felt and overall it was a bit scary in a fun way. The manual brakes take the most getting used to as you really have to slam your foot to the floor to stop but the little Ford 4-banger sings and has more than enough push to scare you at sane highway speeds. It feels like there is no limit to its grip.

The build quality is atrocious. There is zero practicality. The ergonomics are senseless.

I loved it, but I am a bit concerned with the surface rust on some of the frame and suspension components. I would want to wire brush it up then spray some corrosion inhibitor on them.

It likely needs new tires. The tach needs to be respun (doesn't work due to the alternator and negative to positive ground conversion) and all the gauges likely need to be addressed. I also would want to get the alignment done. The engine and transmission were smooth, pulled well. The fiberglass body is in great shape. I'd want to redo the exhaust into something a bit more attractive.

Overall I'm 50/50 on buying it. It's going to be an ongoing chore and if I buy it, I don't think the 911 stays in the stable. The reason to keep the 911 is I wouldn't hesitate to drive it anywhere tomorrow and it functions like a normal car. It's practical by comparison, but it isn't anywhere near as fun.

A few shots of the frame and suspension:

[recycled sixtie]

Although I have never driven an Elan I would say go for it as long as you know what you are getting into. For an occasional driver I think it is perfect. When I used to live in the UK and I would walk by an Elan I would drool over it. It seemed smaller than my present NC Miata. I presume it has seat belts? Horsepower is not everything. Yes if the price is right go for it.

[manbridge 74]

The amount of effort to address the rust appears staggering. Hopefully the Y shaped backbone frame is not compromised. These cars should always be stored partially submerged in oil or Fluid film.

[recycled sixtie]

I see the amount of rust that could be an issue in the frame and you mention dodgy brakes I question the wisdom of purchasing it unless you get it super cheap. There are likely better examples around likely for more money. Not my cup of tea. No longer drooling after I saw the pics....

[MrBonus]

Originally Posted by manbridge 74

The amount of effort to address the rust appears staggering. Hopefully the Y shaped backbone frame is not compromised. These cars should always be stored partially submerged in oil or Fluid film.

Originally Posted by recycled sixtie

I see the amount of rust that could be an issue in the frame and you mention dodgy brakes I question the wisdom of purchasing it unless you get it super cheap. There are likely better examples around likely for more money. Not my cup of tea. No longer drooling after I saw the pics....

The frame looks fine beyond the front assembly where the control arms meet. I'm going to get a screwdriver and poke around those front control arms and see if any has penetrated. My mind is telling me to pass even if my heart says differently.

As an aside, it is a great looking example until you look underneath: