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Lotus Elans on E-bay.......

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N

nomad

Yoda
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Two Elan's listed right now one very nice coupe, one very rough roadster. Can anyone give me an idea as to there value??? (Always wanted one!!)
KA.
 
Whoa. That 36 is well done from those pix. VERY original looking. Beauty, too.
 
Always wanted an Elan. Preferably a roadster. Wondering how much more rot there would be underneath the one listed and what it should really sell for. No action on it says a lot.
Kurt.
 
Frame is 18 Ga. mild steel, very susceptible to corrosion. Weak points are the front cross-member (it doubles as a vacuum chamber), the uprights in front (drains get clogged and can hold water). The diff has "steady-rods" holding the lower "ears" which run a bit forward and are bolted into the lower frame and can tear the thing in half. The rest of the thing is GFRP and the only "rot" will be mold and mildew in the various fabrics, etc. As an "upside" there are far superior tubing frames available. Pricey, but available.
 
Thanks fo the info Dr. Too bad this car has been in "storage" as the owner says. Apparently that was outside next to the ocean. I'm just day dreaming for now---maybe someday. Don't think there would be enough good with this car to justify the bid. And I would need to study up more on the costs to bid.
Thanks
Kurt.
 
From a fixed-head guy. :wink:

How's things up there inna ice 'n snow?!?!
 
Go to "The Shed"!!! Chat room!
 
When a pup I was in the FRP business making body's for flat tracker bike's here in the midwest and wonder why no one has ever offered a fiberglass kit of the elan or first elite. Theres been big healey and a zillion cobra's, early fords for hotrods and on and on. Seems a shame a guy can't build one. About all the guy on e-bay is offering is a glass body. Everything else is junk!!
Kurt.
 
DrEntropy said:
From a fixed-head guy. :wink:

How's things up there inna ice 'n snow?!?!
Click to expand...

No ice and snow here, for about 3 weeks. It's been 60ish, got lots done on the winter projects in the garage.

Early roadsters are valuable, but it makes no sense to pay 12k for that car, then have to spend 30K more on it. There is a reason for zero bids.

There are better priced basket cases out there, even a FHC guy knows that. :wink:
 
DrEntropy said:
Frame is 18 Ga. mild steel, very susceptible to corrosion. Weak points are the front cross-member (it doubles as a vacuum chamber), the uprights in front (drains get clogged and can hold water). The diff has "steady-rods" holding the lower "ears" which run a bit forward and are bolted into the lower frame and can tear the thing in half. The rest of the thing is GFRP and the only "rot" will be mold and mildew in the various fabrics, etc. As an "upside" there are far superior tubing frames available. Pricey, but available.
Click to expand...

The rocker sills have steel bars bonded in for strength. These are worth examining on roadsters, as years of water ingress can rot them away. I know of more than a few that have needed new steel bonded in.

In addition to the tube frames, there are also strengthened versions of the original, as used in race cars. So, there are two other choices besides a stocker, when it comes to chassis replacements.
 
True about the bonded steel rods inside the rockers. And the cost of restoring an Elan can be daunting.

Some of the comments in that ad are laughable, too.
 
Thanks for the insight folks, can't beat the BCF bunch!!
Kurt.
 
Thanks for the insight folks, can't beat the BCF bunch!!
KA.
 
LotusPosition said:
The roadster is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much money, take a pass on that one.
Click to expand...

Maybe, but I'd love to know where to find a cheaper one.
 
nomad said:
When a pup I was in the FRP business making body's for flat tracker bike's here in the midwest and wonder why no one has ever offered a fiberglass kit of the elan or first elite. Theres been big healey and a zillion cobra's, early fords for hotrods and on and on. Seems a shame a guy can't build one. About all the guy on e-bay is offering is a glass body. Everything else is junk!!
Kurt.
Click to expand...


Ever heard of an Evante?That's what you're asking about.

- Doug
 
No Doug, I had'nt till now----Going to Google right now. More info wanted!
Tnx, Kurt.
 
Also try Christopher Neil in England.If I remember,
they were the ones who built & sold it.

- Doug
 
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