Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Can someone provide the body width dimensions of a Series 2 26R? ( with the factory flared fenders) I'm picking up a body and I'm trying to determine if the body will have to sit on top of my trailer or if it will nestle between the side rails which are 5' feet apart.

Thank you,
Frank Filicicchia

If I recall correctly a standard elan is 4? 10? wide so with the flared arches it?s going to be very close indeed.

You are correct that it will be very close. I?m really looking for an exact measurement as I?m towing my trailer 2,500 mikes away to pick up this body. If the body is wider than my trailer I?ll build a platform to mount it to but I?m really hoping it will fit within the trailer side rails.

It will be a 5,000 mike round trip and really needs to be secure. Luckily no suspension, just the frame and body shell.

Frank

short of the required information, I would observe that the body is widest at the wheelarches, then chances are it would fit centered within the trailer wheels (I brought one back in a small truck that way) - of course if the body is pristine that may require some careful positionning of rags...

Could you take some flat board and some props and tip the shell up maybe 30 degrees (power drill and screws and hey presto??

For shell alone, using mic stands as uprights, 57 1/4" in the rear, widest spot.

John

My replica body is 4 foot 9 inches at the rear guards ( plus or minus half an inch)
Alan P.

FF, my original S2 body measures 57 3/4", at least. It might widen a tad more as the front of the fender drops down and my toe trammel arms are not long enough. The car is up on my stacking lift above the Sport 190 and therefore unable to get at it on the ground for a proper measurement. Would like to hear more about yours, serial number, condition, etc...off-line? Jerry

Thank you everyone for the words and the pics! I'm going to take the chance it will fit! My little t utility trailer is 60" wide between the rails and is 10 feet long. I'm going to remove the ramp on the back and hopefully will put the body and frame between the rails and tie them down. Doors, boot, bonnet, hardtop, bumpers, etc should fit in the Toyota bed with no problem. It might not leave me much room to sleep in the truck but maybe I'll pop for a few cheap motels!

While in California I'm going to try to attend the Charity Event at Sonoma. Sounds like a great event.

If anyone thinks of some reason why this might not work, please chime in. I have a longer 22 foot Featherlight trailer but that seems like overkill for this trip.

Frank

Frank, am going to miss you by a week, bummer. Make time to stop and see Ostrov. Jerry

Frank, worse case is you can buy some wood strips somewhere at your destination, if you need to sit
the body on top of the rails. Or just bring some lengths of 2 x 4s along with you.

If you do make a timber frame you may not need to tie the body down. Get some screws and large penny washers and screw the body down to the timber.

I?ve moved a shell very successfully this way

Jerry, Steve, Greg, etc

Greg knows lately I have a list for everything and this is no different. Example:

Tools:
Drill
Drill bits
Drill batteries
Wood Saw
Tape measure
Pencil
Hammer
Screw driver set
Open end / box end wrenches
Wheel Lug Nut wrench
Tire patch kit
Spare tire and wheel
Flashlights
Duct Tape
Rope
Bolts, Nuts, Washers, Screws
Hitch ball assortment
Pad locks
Ratchet set
Tie down straps
Phone charger
Trailer Tag
Maps
Tent
Sleeping Bag
Water
Money

Other than food and snacks, what am I missing?

Frank

Jack

Is he going too?


Got to wonder how much this is costing you in terms of fuel, wear and tear on your car/trailer, hotels, restaurant/extra food costs, your time (when you could presumably be productive on other things). Surely there are freight companies looking for a back load that could bring it to you at a lesser or at least competitive price?