Lotus Elise S1 Restoration - The Essex Elise
Discussion
I've always fancied starting a Readers' Car thread and probably should have done one for my TVR and SL500 but felt I'd not add anything new on TVRs and the SL500 isn't particularly interesting enough to warrant one. However I hope my latest purchase will interest some of you given the start point for the car and how its being approached and warrant your time. I've also no doubt it will unveil a few curveballs that the collective wisdom of Pistonheads might be able help me with.
An S1 Elise has been on my 'must own one at somepoint' list ever since I was a boy but I'd always imagined I find my myself a tidy 111S and take my time being picky at searching for it and own it perhaps once the SL goes. None of that seems to have happened. Within a week of talking about Elise's whilst having some work done on one of my other cars (don't want to break posting rules by mentioning the garage unless advised otherwise) and subsequently trawling various selling sites wondering what the less pristine Elise's go for, I spotted, viewed and placed a deposit on a very unloved and non-running Elise project which was the cheapest in the country by some stretch and it arrives at the weekend!
The chap I purchased it from has been very helpful and had considerable interest in the car since which I think is a good sign. There's myriad things to sort on the car as it hasn't run or had an MOT for at least 3 years but the bones of it seem good and I'm looking forward to working with Bradley at my local TVR and Lotus specialist to return it to its former glory.
Plan at the moment it to return to it to standard or 'standard+' as much as possible whilst incorporating some of the common upgrades/fixes many have applied to Elises over the years. Its a very similar spec to the S1 in Lotus' heritage fleet I think so it would be nice to mimic that. We're dubbing it the Essex Elise as my plan is to see if the project can be completed using the network of specialists in North Essex to undertake all the specialist work (mechanical, cosmetic, interior, detailing etc) and as a showcase for the younger generation working on keeping the more interesting cars on the road and in tip top fettle.
A couple of pictures below of its current condition from the selling dealers photos but more to follow once it arrives and we've had it up on the ramp and receives a proper inspection by Bradley (fingers crossed I haven't missed any howlers). Suffice to say there is rust, there is algae, there are holes but no mayo'y oil and its the cheapest Elise in the country so the only way is up!
My first one of these so any tips on how to make it interesting or what you want to see or find out about please let me know!
Cheers
Alex
An S1 Elise has been on my 'must own one at somepoint' list ever since I was a boy but I'd always imagined I find my myself a tidy 111S and take my time being picky at searching for it and own it perhaps once the SL goes. None of that seems to have happened. Within a week of talking about Elise's whilst having some work done on one of my other cars (don't want to break posting rules by mentioning the garage unless advised otherwise) and subsequently trawling various selling sites wondering what the less pristine Elise's go for, I spotted, viewed and placed a deposit on a very unloved and non-running Elise project which was the cheapest in the country by some stretch and it arrives at the weekend!
The chap I purchased it from has been very helpful and had considerable interest in the car since which I think is a good sign. There's myriad things to sort on the car as it hasn't run or had an MOT for at least 3 years but the bones of it seem good and I'm looking forward to working with Bradley at my local TVR and Lotus specialist to return it to its former glory.
Plan at the moment it to return to it to standard or 'standard+' as much as possible whilst incorporating some of the common upgrades/fixes many have applied to Elises over the years. Its a very similar spec to the S1 in Lotus' heritage fleet I think so it would be nice to mimic that. We're dubbing it the Essex Elise as my plan is to see if the project can be completed using the network of specialists in North Essex to undertake all the specialist work (mechanical, cosmetic, interior, detailing etc) and as a showcase for the younger generation working on keeping the more interesting cars on the road and in tip top fettle.
A couple of pictures below of its current condition from the selling dealers photos but more to follow once it arrives and we've had it up on the ramp and receives a proper inspection by Bradley (fingers crossed I haven't missed any howlers). Suffice to say there is rust, there is algae, there are holes but no mayo'y oil and its the cheapest Elise in the country so the only way is up!
My first one of these so any tips on how to make it interesting or what you want to see or find out about please let me know!
Cheers
Alex
Edited by agreen on Wednesday 4th March 20:38
John D. said:
Well done for bringing it back to life.
Washer bottle looks a bit odd. Doesn't match the shape or have a cap on the top like normal. Expect this is least of your problems though!
Fingers crossed it is something as simple as it was previously moved out of the way to get to the battery!Washer bottle looks a bit odd. Doesn't match the shape or have a cap on the top like normal. Expect this is least of your problems though!
Edited by agreen on Wednesday 4th March 21:33
Thanks for the encouragement all.
Rest assured man maths has been very much deployed in this endeavour. There is even the chance it may stand up to the scrutiny of real maths! Trying to justify keeping 3x fun/‘non-essential’ cars (in my mind at least one is essential)
I’m fairly confident the chassis is square, didnt appear to have any crash damage and the clamshells aren’t cracked albeit there was puncture wound to the rear.
Suspension mounts I am a little less confident on - the wishbones are straight however there is some work to do at each of the four corners on wheels, brakes and suspension as can be seen below.
From a ‘+’ perspective the Koni’s look fairly toast after 57k so I’m looking at the Bilstein replacements that I understand are quite common without being widely different as part of a full suspension refresh. I’ve heard the gearbox feels much more positive with the addition of nylatron bushes and if the exhaust mounts are shot then those will be replaced by upgraded items.
The car looks to have a factory sports exhaust and I need to study the paperwork to check and then see what the part number on the exhaust is if it is still identifiable once it arrives.
Rest assured man maths has been very much deployed in this endeavour. There is even the chance it may stand up to the scrutiny of real maths! Trying to justify keeping 3x fun/‘non-essential’ cars (in my mind at least one is essential)
I’m fairly confident the chassis is square, didnt appear to have any crash damage and the clamshells aren’t cracked albeit there was puncture wound to the rear.
Suspension mounts I am a little less confident on - the wishbones are straight however there is some work to do at each of the four corners on wheels, brakes and suspension as can be seen below.
From a ‘+’ perspective the Koni’s look fairly toast after 57k so I’m looking at the Bilstein replacements that I understand are quite common without being widely different as part of a full suspension refresh. I’ve heard the gearbox feels much more positive with the addition of nylatron bushes and if the exhaust mounts are shot then those will be replaced by upgraded items.
The car looks to have a factory sports exhaust and I need to study the paperwork to check and then see what the part number on the exhaust is if it is still identifiable once it arrives.
Krusty.
Assume if you are in North Essex you are around folk who used to work at Castle Lotus/TVR?
Used to walk past them every day and have a hankering for exactly this sort if project so I’ll follow this in the hope that you’ll put me off; I already have too many snotters requiring £££.
Assume if you are in North Essex you are around folk who used to work at Castle Lotus/TVR?
Used to walk past them every day and have a hankering for exactly this sort if project so I’ll follow this in the hope that you’ll put me off; I already have too many snotters requiring £££.
Recently done a big tidy up on my 70,000 mile S1 160, including engine out, and front ‘guts’ out to address some aluminium corrosion.
Some useful threads on seloc, but defo the worst bit is working in the footwell! (I fitted some pedalbox reinforcement brackets while everything else was apart).
Good luck….
Some useful threads on seloc, but defo the worst bit is working in the footwell! (I fitted some pedalbox reinforcement brackets while everything else was apart).
Good luck….
jon-yprpe said:
Krusty.
Assume if you are in North Essex you are around folk who used to work at Castle Lotus/TVR?
Used to walk past them every day and have a hankering for exactly this sort if project so I ll follow this in the hope that you ll put me off; I already have too many snotters requiring £££.
Partner in crime on this is Bradley at Franklins Sports and Classics - same village (Stansted) that Castle was in but not the same folk. That placed got be hooked on TVRs back in the early 2000s.Assume if you are in North Essex you are around folk who used to work at Castle Lotus/TVR?
Used to walk past them every day and have a hankering for exactly this sort if project so I ll follow this in the hope that you ll put me off; I already have too many snotters requiring £££.
I'll try my best to do the opposite!
Cryssys said:
Will be watching this thread with interest. With regards to help and advice get yourself along to SELOC. A very knowledgeable and supportive community. If they don t know then nobody does.
Thanks, I joined the other day, that wiki and their forum history has been really useful already.hermes said:
Recently done a big tidy up on my 70,000 mile S1 160, including engine out, and front guts out to address some aluminium corrosion.
Some useful threads on seloc, but defo the worst bit is working in the footwell! (I fitted some pedalbox reinforcement brackets while everything else was apart).
Good luck .
Thanks, I'll keep an eye on that- I specifically checked them when viewing the car and seemed ok but I'll get a fuller look this weekend.Some useful threads on seloc, but defo the worst bit is working in the footwell! (I fitted some pedalbox reinforcement brackets while everything else was apart).
Good luck .
hermes said:
Some useful threads on seloc, but defo the worst bit is working in the footwell! (I fitted some pedalbox reinforcement brackets while everything else was apart).
Good luck .
I assume you’re referring to the “Lotus Position”. On your back in the footwell with your legs pointing skywards Good luck .
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