60 years since the Lotus Elan was launched
Discussion
Lotobear said:
Gemaeden said:
Lotobear said:
..loving the Corsair 2000E in the background, with which of course the Elan shares it's gearbox
...albeit with different ratios and shifter.The Mk2 Lotus Cortina, and possbly the Corsair but I can't be sure, did use the remote extension to bring the lever further back but the box and ratios were exactly the same as the Elan
Edited by Lotobear on Wednesday 10th April 20:24
My memory is a bit hazy but my Elan was a 1965 S2 which I don't think had the 2000E box, I do know that I changed it for a "Bullet Box", I also changed the diff but can't remember what to, I just remember it being very quick and seeing a slightly scary indicated 140mph on the speedo a couple of times going across the Pevensey Marshes.
Anyone remember the Elan fitted with the Alfa Twin Cam once tested in CAR ? I'd have to grub around in dark places to find my copy but I think it was in semi a GTA spec , and thus giving what might have been termed 'spirited ' performance .
If I may recount an Elan anecdote - which confirms that only nice people own them - in 2018/19 I was doing some race meeting reportage for CSCC. I had a quick interview with the owner of a lovely 26R and after we had finished he said 'you'll want to talk to my co driver Steve , I'll get him'. I didn't want to talk to this Steve at all, having already got what I needed, but not wishing to be rude I accepted the offer. Thankfully the Steve was wearing his race overalls with his name embroidered ,although I'd probably have recognised him - it was one time McLaren and Ferrari designer Steve Nichols. And he turned out to be a delightful man to talk to - and he loved racing the Elan . I thought it wise not to mention I'd recently interviewed Gordon Murray though...
If I may recount an Elan anecdote - which confirms that only nice people own them - in 2018/19 I was doing some race meeting reportage for CSCC. I had a quick interview with the owner of a lovely 26R and after we had finished he said 'you'll want to talk to my co driver Steve , I'll get him'. I didn't want to talk to this Steve at all, having already got what I needed, but not wishing to be rude I accepted the offer. Thankfully the Steve was wearing his race overalls with his name embroidered ,although I'd probably have recognised him - it was one time McLaren and Ferrari designer Steve Nichols. And he turned out to be a delightful man to talk to - and he loved racing the Elan . I thought it wise not to mention I'd recently interviewed Gordon Murray though...
TeeRev said:
Lotobear said:
Gemaeden said:
Lotobear said:
..loving the Corsair 2000E in the background, with which of course the Elan shares it's gearbox
...albeit with different ratios and shifter.The Mk2 Lotus Cortina, and possbly the Corsair but I can't be sure, did use the remote extension to bring the lever further back but the box and ratios were exactly the same as the Elan
Edited by Lotobear on Wednesday 10th April 20:24
My memory is a bit hazy but my Elan was a 1965 S2 which I don't think had the 2000E box, I do know that I changed it for a "Bullet Box"
The same ratios were used in the Lotus-Cortina Mk.2, Mk.2 Cortina GT/1600E, Escort Twin Cam/RS1600/Mexico and of course the Corsair 2000E.
The Bullet gearbox was just a competition set of gears and bearings for the same gearbox sold through Ford Motorsport.
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