60 years since the Lotus Elan was launched
Discussion
aeropilot said:
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Carsie said:
My first rebuild was by Vegantune in the '80's. If I remember correctly they were in the North London, Finchley area and "Nobby" built my engine.
I thought they were in Spalding? 
Carsie said:
aeropilot said:
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Carsie said:
My first rebuild was by Vegantune in the '80's. If I remember correctly they were in the North London, Finchley area and "Nobby" built my engine.
I thought they were in Spalding? That's when Richard Marshall bought the rights to the Vegantune name and relaunched the company in Finchley. The engine guru there was a guy called Rob Morley who may have been the guy who did you engine? But as said this would have been between 1991 and 1999 which was when Morley left Vegantune.
Rob Morley set up his own firm in Potters Bar after that called Pro-Tune Racing Services, which are still in operation and do lots of work on Evante cars and the VTA engine which he and Steve Watkins developed when at Vegantune.
aeropilot said:
That must have been in the 90's then not the 80's as the original Vegantune Ltd in Spalding (and Evante) didn't go bust until 1991.
That's when Richard Marshall bought the rights to the Vegantune name and relaunched the company in Finchley. The engine guru there was a guy called Rob Morley who may have been the guy who did you engine? But as said this would have been between 1991 and 1999 which was when Morley left Vegantune.
Rob Morley set up his own firm in Potters Bar after that called Pro-Tune Racing Services, which are still in operation and do lots of work on Evante cars and the VTA engine which he and Steve Watkins developed when at Vegantune.
Thank you aeropilot- yes that's all correct.....oh the price of getting old; That's when Richard Marshall bought the rights to the Vegantune name and relaunched the company in Finchley. The engine guru there was a guy called Rob Morley who may have been the guy who did you engine? But as said this would have been between 1991 and 1999 which was when Morley left Vegantune.
Rob Morley set up his own firm in Potters Bar after that called Pro-Tune Racing Services, which are still in operation and do lots of work on Evante cars and the VTA engine which he and Steve Watkins developed when at Vegantune.
Back on topic...I quite like the musings of snotrag re. Elise kit.
The prettiest , best packaged and most desirable small sports car ever . I still kick myself at missing out on a pristine Sprint fhc which had been lovingly looked after by its Team Lotus mechanic owner. It was early 1979 and the price was £1200 -- and I couldn't raise the cash in time . I bought a 2CV as any other sports car would have been lacking .
I spend a lot of time at race tracks and a fond memory was watching a 26R pick off car after car after car at a very wet Silverstone - E -Types, Cobras , TVR Griffiths were left in its wake .
I spend a lot of time at race tracks and a fond memory was watching a 26R pick off car after car after car at a very wet Silverstone - E -Types, Cobras , TVR Griffiths were left in its wake .
Elan stories for you, my Dad had an off white S2 back in the late 60's early 70's. One bank holiday easter at Thruxton watching Graham Hill and Ronnie Peterson have an epic 50 lap F2 race long duel [Hill won just!!] when we were leaving Dad could not open the Elan, eventually the AA came along, removed the rear screen, I crawled in as I was only around 10 at the time and opened the car
Another, we were on our way to Naples Italy [ mums bro was stationed there] and Dad was racing a local Italian in his Opel coupe [can't recall what it was called but looked similar to an Elan from the front] eventually Dad overtakes him at rather high speeds, my mum going potty, as we go past the local, he lights a cigarette calmly as if nothing special was going on
Another, we were on our way to Naples Italy [ mums bro was stationed there] and Dad was racing a local Italian in his Opel coupe [can't recall what it was called but looked similar to an Elan from the front] eventually Dad overtakes him at rather high speeds, my mum going potty, as we go past the local, he lights a cigarette calmly as if nothing special was going on
I have and race a 1963 GTS - a 26R spec that was built from a road car rather than the 26Rs which started as race cars.
With 180+bhp it's an absolute hoot but you'd certainly not want any more power. For a road car much less power is needed. Here in action at Combe this year. P1 across the line but we cocked up the pitstop time which resulted in a P2
With 180+bhp it's an absolute hoot but you'd certainly not want any more power. For a road car much less power is needed. Here in action at Combe this year. P1 across the line but we cocked up the pitstop time which resulted in a P2
I can still recall going for a ride in a brand new powder blue colour, Elan Plus2S in about 1970. The best mate of the next door neighbour, who used to visit every week, had just bought it to replace his Healey 3000 Mk.III, and he turned up with it, and took myself and the lad who lived next door out for a blast up the A40 in it.
aeropilot said:
I can still recall going for a ride in a brand new powder blue colour, Elan Plus2S in about 1970. The best mate of the next door neighbour, who used to visit every week, had just bought it to replace his Healey 3000 Mk.III, and he turned up with it, and took myself and the lad who lived next door out for a blast up the A40 in it.
My old 1970 Plus2S in powder blue (well Wedgwood Blue) back in 2019 in the car park of the Sharrow Bay. Sadly both the car and the Sharrow are now gone. 
Lotobear said:
aeropilot said:
I can still recall going for a ride in a brand new powder blue colour, Elan Plus2S in about 1970. The best mate of the next door neighbour, who used to visit every week, had just bought it to replace his Healey 3000 Mk.III, and he turned up with it, and took myself and the lad who lived next door out for a blast up the A40 in it.
My old 1970 Plus2S in powder blue (well Wedgwood Blue) back in 2019 in the car park of the Sharrow Bay. Sadly both the car and the Sharrow are now gone. Still seems like yesterday rather than 52 years ago!
question, why does this steering rack has 2 options? its mounted in a RHD restored Elan coupe.
is this so you can use that steering rack also in a LHD so say turn it around and use the other mounting option for the steering axle?
I mean the 2 cover lids in the red circle, just curious.
its from this car with a lovely 250hp Zetec engine, but looking at that engine bay, say swapping from RHD to LHD is not easy I guess.
but I was just wondering looking at that type steering rack.
is this so you can use that steering rack also in a LHD so say turn it around and use the other mounting option for the steering axle?
I mean the 2 cover lids in the red circle, just curious.
its from this car with a lovely 250hp Zetec engine, but looking at that engine bay, say swapping from RHD to LHD is not easy I guess.
but I was just wondering looking at that type steering rack.
The only car in my entire car owning history that I genuinely wish that I had not sold.
I acquired my 1965 S2 Elan by doing a straight swap for an Escort GT in 1968, the pics of it in gold are just after that.
It needed a few bits and pieces sorting out and over the next couple of years I sort of got a bit carried away and it wasn't far off full race spec in the end.
I acquired my 1965 S2 Elan by doing a straight swap for an Escort GT in 1968, the pics of it in gold are just after that.
It needed a few bits and pieces sorting out and over the next couple of years I sort of got a bit carried away and it wasn't far off full race spec in the end.
moffspeed said:
Difficult to know the answer but this guy enjoyed the car at the time…
… however I think Chapman had already decided to move upmarket (and increase profits) with the Elite/Esprit offerings.
That was the picture that inspired me to many years of Lotus ownership with various models since my first Elan S4 SE in 1975( with a short gap due to kids and job moves). I’m hoping to get my Elan Sprint back from paint in early summer. Fantastic motors.… however I think Chapman had already decided to move upmarket (and increase profits) with the Elite/Esprit offerings.
Edited by moffspeed on Wednesday 19th October 21:46
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
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