Lotus Elan 1969 in need of full restoration

[Simsmark]

Hi everyone

My dad's 1969 Lotis Elan has been sat in his garage for nearly 50 years. Hes not able to restore it ( as he planned for all that time!) So wr need to decide what to do with it.

I've always hoped to restore it, but not sure how much that would cost or whether we need to sell it an auction.

Any advice on options for restoration, or auctions would be greatly appreciated. Its orange, black badge and all original

[Beachbum]

Restoration and Auction, will very much depend on current condition.
It is in really good nick and just needs a polish, or has it rusted down to just its chassis plate and its a complete rebuild?

Location would help as to where to take it.

[stevieturbo]

Mathewson's on TV would seem a reasonable option for auction ?

[Discendo Discimus]

I'd be sending an email to Car S.O.S to see if they fancy featuring it. Sounds like an ideal candidate.

[BertBert]

Sadly the likelihood is that it needs a lot of work to restore which would almost certainly not be economically viable even if you did all the work yourself as far as you could.

I bought a +2 partly dismantled needing a resto (very cheap). I never really got going as it was a huge job so sold it on for what it cost. The new owner did do it, but it took 5 years to get done!

So unless you have the time and inclination to do it or a (very?) large budget to get someone to do it for you, I'd say for advertise for sale or go to auction.

Albeit it does depend entirely on the condition of course.

I'm restoring a 1982 Caterham 7 which is a far simpler project but even so, I planned it for a winter rebuild and I'm 24 months in now and I suspect another 12 to go - maybe I'm just a slow worker

[wildoliver]

You don't have to sell at an auction, I think people get carried away with watching the TV programmes and people bidding crazy money, and that does sometimes happen. But what happens more often is the car sells for what a private sale would achieve or even substantially less all while stinging you and the buyer with auction fees. Then there are the scammers like hampson auctions which are even more worrying.

Better to come up with a number you want and advertise the car imo. I mean depending on the number I might be interested as I'd love another elan to keep forever and a project car will be my only way in now. I know some people like the idea of not having to deal with Joe public but the auction houses are sharks, the sort of buyer for a classic elan is not going to be turning up in a golf r with half a dozen friends and be a nightmare buyer.

[Simsmark]

Its in South West London.
Not sure on the condition, but as it hasn't moved for so long I can't imagine it being that great - spit spending its life in a garage

Beachbum said:

Restoration and Auction, will very much depend on current condition.
It is in really good nick and just needs a polish, or has it rusted down to just its chassis plate and its a complete rebuild?

Location would help as to where to take it.

[Simsmark]

They already did an Elan so wasnt sure they'd want another one!

Discendo Discimus said:

I'd be sending an email to Car S.O.S to see if they fancy featuring it. Sounds like an ideal candidate.

[Simsmark]

Id love to do it up myself, but don't have a garage or the time and agree it probably needs a lot doing.

Thanks for the advice. If I can work out how to put photos on I'll add a couple

BertBert said:

Sadly the likelihood is that it needs a lot of work to restore which would almost certainly not be economically viable even if you did all the work yourself as far as you could.

I bought a +2 partly dismantled needing a resto (very cheap). I never really got going as it was a huge job so sold it on for what it cost. The new owner did do it, but it took 5 years to get done!

So unless you have the time and inclination to do it or a (very?) large budget to get someone to do it for you, I'd say for advertise for sale or go to auction.

Albeit it does depend entirely on the condition of course.

I'm restoring a 1982 Caterham 7 which is a far simpler project but even so, I planned it for a winter rebuild and I'm 24 months in now and I suspect another 12 to go - maybe I'm just a slow worker

[Simsmark]

Ive got no real idea of what its worth which is probably the benefit of the auction approach. But we do want it to be restored by someone who knows what they are doing!

wildoliver said:

You don't have to sell at an auction, I think people get carried away with watching the TV programmes and people bidding crazy money, and that does sometimes happen. But what happens more often is the car sells for what a private sale would achieve or even substantially less all while stinging you and the buyer with auction fees. Then there are the scammers like hampson auctions which are even more worrying.

Better to come up with a number you want and advertise the car imo. I mean depending on the number I might be interested as I'd love another elan to keep forever and a project car will be my only way in now. I know some people like the idea of not having to deal with Joe public but the auction houses are sharks, the sort of buyer for a classic elan is not going to be turning up in a golf r with half a dozen friends and be a nightmare buyer.