Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

During the Harry Truman's presidency (1945-1952), the White House was
"restored." The interior was completely gutted, after carefully removing
everything (fireplace mantles, etc.). Only the exterior walls remained. All
interior items were photographed, cataloged, and labelled for later
replacement in exactly the same (historic) location. Does this sound
familiar (i.e., your Elan restoration)?

A new framework for the White House was fabricated inside the old exterior
walls. A steel girder framework, quite unlike the original wooden one, was
used. Better, no doubt, but not original. New interior walls, floors,
ceilings, etc. were constructed to exactly match the original layout: all
dimensions were replicated, along with the original "look and feel." Then
all the interior bits were replaced in the "correct" location. Of course,
all the wiring was replaced, along with the electrical fixtures.
Alternators, anyone? New plumbing too.

The White House restoration took four years. Some have finished their Elan
is less time, some take much longer. At least an Elan restoration will cost
less - I think?

Does the Spyder chassis installed in the White House make it any less The
White House?

Rich Boyd

Rich,

And just think, if they used iron pipe and knob & tube wiring, the plumbing
and electrical systems are due for another update!

Frank Howard
'71 S4 SE
Minnesota

But, the White House "LOOKS" the same. They did not replace the
fireplaces with A/C ducts. Open the hood(bonnet) of an Elan with a
Zetec engine and it does not look the same as with a twincam. A
Spyder does not look the same as a Lotus chassis. I think it will
always come down to "At what point is it no longer the originally
manufactured car?" IF the only criteria is, looks and handles like a
Lotus Elan... then one can loosely call a Miata a Lotus Elan.

Putting on my Nomex suit :-0

Mike Geiger.
--- In ***@***.***, "Richard A. Boyd" <[email protected]>
wrote:

During the Harry Truman's presidency (1945-1952), the White House
was

"restored." The interior was completely gutted, after carefully
removing

everything (fireplace mantles, etc.). Only the exterior walls
remained. All

interior items were photographed, cataloged, and labelled for later
replacement in exactly the same (historic) location. Does this
sound

familiar (i.e., your Elan restoration)?

A new framework for the White House was fabricated inside the old
exterior

walls. A steel girder framework, quite unlike the original wooden
one, was

used. Better, no doubt, but not original. New interior walls,
floors,

ceilings, etc. were constructed to exactly match the original
layout: all

dimensions were replicated, along with the original "look and
feel." Then

all the interior bits were replaced in the "correct" location. Of
course,

all the wiring was replaced, along with the electrical fixtures.
Alternators, anyone? New plumbing too.

The White House restoration took four years. Some have finished
their Elan

is less time, some take much longer. At least an Elan restoration
will cost

less - I think?

Does the Spyder chassis installed in the White House make it any
less The

White House?

Rich Boyd

A miata handles like an elan? For real??

Mazda offerred me a $25 gift certificate to test drive one of their
new cars. After the miata and the RX-8 test drive, I left feeling
really smug about my +21 year old car. And it isn't a lotus.

As a non lotus owner, I ask the question, "isn't having a toyota
motor in a lotus elise heresy?"

Elans? Well who could fault the car(s) that were in "Basic
Instinct".

--- In ***@***.***, "Michael Geiger"
<[email protected]> wrote:

But, the White House "LOOKS" the same. They did not replace the
fireplaces with A/C ducts. Open the hood(bonnet) of an Elan with
a

Zetec engine and it does not look the same as with a twincam. A
Spyder does not look the same as a Lotus chassis. I think it will
always come down to "At what point is it no longer the originally
manufactured car?" IF the only criteria is, looks and handles
like a

Lotus Elan... then one can loosely call a Miata a Lotus Elan.

Putting on my Nomex suit :-0

Mike Geiger.
--- In ***@***.***, "Richard A. Boyd"
<[email protected]>

wrote:
> During the Harry Truman's presidency (1945-1952), the White
House

was
> "restored." The interior was completely gutted, after carefully
removing
> everything (fireplace mantles, etc.). Only the exterior walls
remained. All
> interior items were photographed, cataloged, and labelled for
later

> replacement in exactly the same (historic) location. Does this
sound
> familiar (i.e., your Elan restoration)?
>
> A new framework for the White House was fabricated inside the
old

exterior
> walls. A steel girder framework, quite unlike the original
wooden

one, was
> used. Better, no doubt, but not original. New interior walls,
floors,
> ceilings, etc. were constructed to exactly match the original
layout: all
> dimensions were replicated, along with the original "look and
feel." Then
> all the interior bits were replaced in the "correct" location.
Of

course,
> all the wiring was replaced, along with the electrical fixtures.
> Alternators, anyone? New plumbing too.
>
> The White House restoration took four years. Some have finished
their Elan
> is less time, some take much longer. At least an Elan
restoration

will cost
> less - I think?
>
> Does the Spyder chassis installed in the White House make it any
less The
> White House?
>
> Rich Boyd

I did qualify it with "loosely" As NOTHING handles like an Elan.

Mike


--- In ***@***.***, "d0ntdreamit" <[email protected]>
wrote:

A miata handles like an elan? For real??

Mazda offerred me a $25 gift certificate to test drive one of their
new cars. After the miata and the RX-8 test drive, I left feeling
really smug about my +21 year old car. And it isn't a lotus.

As a non lotus owner, I ask the question, "isn't having a toyota
motor in a lotus elise heresy?"

Elans? Well who could fault the car(s) that were in "Basic
Instinct".

--- In ***@***.***, "Michael Geiger"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>
> But, the White House "LOOKS" the same. They did not replace the
> fireplaces with A/C ducts. Open the hood(bonnet) of an Elan with
a
> Zetec engine and it does not look the same as with a twincam. A
> Spyder does not look the same as a Lotus chassis. I think it
will

> always come down to "At what point is it no longer the originally
> manufactured car?" IF the only criteria is, looks and handles
like a
> Lotus Elan... then one can loosely call a Miata a Lotus Elan.
>
> Putting on my Nomex suit :-0
>
> Mike Geiger.
> --- In ***@***.***, "Richard A. Boyd"
<[email protected]>
> wrote:
> > During the Harry Truman's presidency (1945-1952), the White
House
> was
> > "restored." The interior was completely gutted, after carefully
> removing
> > everything (fireplace mantles, etc.). Only the exterior walls
> remained. All
> > interior items were photographed, cataloged, and labelled for
later
> > replacement in exactly the same (historic) location. Does this
> sound
> > familiar (i.e., your Elan restoration)?
> >
> > A new framework for the White House was fabricated inside the
old
> exterior
> > walls. A steel girder framework, quite unlike the original
wooden
> one, was
> > used. Better, no doubt, but not original. New interior walls,
> floors,
> > ceilings, etc. were constructed to exactly match the original
> layout: all
> > dimensions were replicated, along with the original "look and
> feel." Then
> > all the interior bits were replaced in the "correct" location.
Of
> course,
> > all the wiring was replaced, along with the electrical
fixtures.

> > Alternators, anyone? New plumbing too.
> >
> > The White House restoration took four years. Some have finished
> their Elan
> > is less time, some take much longer. At least an Elan
restoration
> will cost
> > less - I think?
> >
> > Does the Spyder chassis installed in the White House make it
any

> less The
> > White House?
> >
> > Rich Boyd

I can tell you something that handles better than a '72 Elan- a '72 Elan with Spyder chassis, Spyder twin wishbone rear suspension, Minilite wheels and 165 x 70 tyres. Trust me. ;-0

Every time this forum gets a little slow, I raise the Zetec subject; works doesn't it?

Gidday, Les, nice to have you on board, mate.

Cheers,

Pete
----- Original Message -----
From: Michael Geiger
To: ***@***.***
Sent: Friday, January 07, 2005 9:47 PM
Subject: [LotusElan.net] Re: Spyder, et al.



I did qualify it with "loosely" As NOTHING handles like an Elan.

Mike


--- In ***@***.***, "d0ntdreamit" <[email protected]>
wrote:

A miata handles like an elan? For real??

Mazda offerred me a $25 gift certificate to test drive one of their
new cars. After the miata and the RX-8 test drive, I left feeling
really smug about my +21 year old car. And it isn't a lotus.

As a non lotus owner, I ask the question, "isn't having a toyota
motor in a lotus elise heresy?"

Elans? Well who could fault the car(s) that were in "Basic
Instinct".

--- In ***@***.***, "Michael Geiger"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>
> But, the White House "LOOKS" the same. They did not replace the
> fireplaces with A/C ducts. Open the hood(bonnet) of an Elan with
a
> Zetec engine and it does not look the same as with a twincam. A
> Spyder does not look the same as a Lotus chassis. I think it
will

> always come down to "At what point is it no longer the originally
> manufactured car?" IF the only criteria is, looks and handles
like a
> Lotus Elan... then one can loosely call a Miata a Lotus Elan.
>
> Putting on my Nomex suit :-0
>
> Mike Geiger.
> --- In ***@***.***, "Richard A. Boyd"
<[email protected]>
> wrote:
> > During the Harry Truman's presidency (1945-1952), the White
House
> was
> > "restored." The interior was completely gutted, after carefully
> removing
> > everything (fireplace mantles, etc.). Only the exterior walls
> remained. All
> > interior items were photographed, cataloged, and labelled for
later
> > replacement in exactly the same (historic) location. Does this
> sound
> > familiar (i.e., your Elan restoration)?
> >
> > A new framework for the White House was fabricated inside the
old
> exterior
> > walls. A steel girder framework, quite unlike the original
wooden
> one, was
> > used. Better, no doubt, but not original. New interior walls,
> floors,
> > ceilings, etc. were constructed to exactly match the original
> layout: all
> > dimensions were replicated, along with the original "look and
> feel." Then
> > all the interior bits were replaced in the "correct" location.
Of
> course,
> > all the wiring was replaced, along with the electrical
fixtures.

> > Alternators, anyone? New plumbing too.
> >
> > The White House restoration took four years. Some have finished
> their Elan
> > is less time, some take much longer. At least an Elan
restoration
> will cost
> > less - I think?
> >
> > Does the Spyder chassis installed in the White House make it
any

> less The
> > White House?
> >
> > Rich Boyd

To search the mailing list archives:
http://www.escribe.com/automotive/europ ... index.html






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--- In ***@***.***, "elansprint71" <[email protected]>
wrote:
"I can tell you something that handles better than a '72 Elan- a '72
Elan with Spyder chassis, Spyder twin wishbone rear suspension,
Minilite wheels and 165 x 70 tyres. Trust me. ;-0"


Just to keep the fires burning ............. My '72 Sprint drove and
handled like a charm in '76 totally original on tiny little 155X13
Dunlop SP Sports. It would out perform, out corner and out brake
nearly anything else on the roads at the time and it was by far the
quietest and most comfortable small sports car you could buy, in fact
it was more comfortable than some saloons. Just read the enthusiastic
road tests of the day.

The Elan is a design classic and I would argue one of the most
innovative cars ever built. I think sometimes it is easy to forget
just how significant a car it was and is. I think it is a mistake 40
years on to think we can improve it.


My two cents worth )

John

You can improve an Elan both without butchering it and without making
it look radically different so that it keeps up with the last 40
years in automotive technology development while still retaining all
the inherent character of the orginal car.

eg
You can get a reliable 170 plus road useable hp with a 1760 tall
block and careful internal engine mods with an engine that is
externally identical and this is enough in a 700 kg car to blow away
anything on the road just an the orginal elan did 40 years ago

You can fit an alternator ( Lucas 17 or 18 ACR, it was an option on
the S4 / Sprints and standard on Plus2S 130)

You can reinforce the original chassis in the few small areas where
it bends or cracks

You can fit modern sticky tyres of 165 width and springs and shocks
to match to give it as good or better handling than an Elise.

You can fit bolt on CV joints to get rid of the donut problems
forever.

None of these changes detract from the originality of the car unless
you are a big C concours judge or you like lying under the car
admiring your donuts, but they turn it into a car that is still the
best sports car on the road 40 years later. It really only suffers in
2 areas in comparision to something like an Elise which is its
closest modern equivalent

- modern electronic engine management makes starting and drive away
from cold so much simpler and easier in all weather conditions
- modern crash worthiness design standards makes you a lot more
likely to survive a big crash.

Rohan

It is fun. and it has been kinda slow off and on. What is everyone
up to? My friends up in northern climes are having sleet, and
suffering from power loss. The weather report said it might hit 80
tomorrow here in Tampa Florida! So much for winter. I don't even
want to think about what summer is going to be like.

Mike.

--- In ***@***.***, "elansprint71" <[email protected]>
wrote:

I can tell you something that handles better than a '72 Elan-
a '72 Elan with Spyder chassis, Spyder twin wishbone rear

suspension, Minilite wheels and 165 x 70 tyres. Trust me. ;-0

Every time this forum gets a little slow, I raise the Zetec
subject; works doesn't it?

Gidday, Les, nice to have you on board, mate.

Cheers,

Pete
----- Original Message -----
From: Michael Geiger
To: ***@***.***
Sent: Friday, January 07, 2005 9:47 PM
Subject: [LotusElan.net] Re: Spyder, et al.



I did qualify it with "loosely" As NOTHING handles like an
Elan.

Mike


--- In ***@***.***, "d0ntdreamit"
<[email protected]>

wrote:
>
> A miata handles like an elan? For real??
>
> Mazda offerred me a $25 gift certificate to test drive one of
their

> new cars. After the miata and the RX-8 test drive, I left
feeling

> really smug about my +21 year old car. And it isn't a lotus.
>
> As a non lotus owner, I ask the question, "isn't having a
toyota

> motor in a lotus elise heresy?"
>
> Elans? Well who could fault the car(s) that were in "Basic
> Instinct".
>
> --- In ***@***.***, "Michael Geiger"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> > But, the White House "LOOKS" the same. They did not replace
the

> > fireplaces with A/C ducts. Open the hood(bonnet) of an Elan
with

> a
> > Zetec engine and it does not look the same as with a
twincam. A

> > Spyder does not look the same as a Lotus chassis. I think
it

will
> > always come down to "At what point is it no longer the
originally

> > manufactured car?" IF the only criteria is, looks and
handles

> like a
> > Lotus Elan... then one can loosely call a Miata a Lotus Elan.
> >
> > Putting on my Nomex suit :-0
> >
> > Mike Geiger.
> > --- In ***@***.***, "Richard A. Boyd"
> <[email protected]>
> > wrote:
> > > During the Harry Truman's presidency (1945-1952), the
White

> House
> > was
> > > "restored." The interior was completely gutted, after
carefully

> > removing
> > > everything (fireplace mantles, etc.). Only the exterior
walls

> > remained. All
> > > interior items were photographed, cataloged, and labelled
for

> later
> > > replacement in exactly the same (historic) location. Does
this

> > sound
> > > familiar (i.e., your Elan restoration)?
> > >
> > > A new framework for the White House was fabricated inside
the

> old
> > exterior
> > > walls. A steel girder framework, quite unlike the original
> wooden
> > one, was
> > > used. Better, no doubt, but not original. New interior
walls,

> > floors,
> > > ceilings, etc. were constructed to exactly match the
original

> > layout: all
> > > dimensions were replicated, along with the original "look
and

> > feel." Then
> > > all the interior bits were replaced in the "correct"
location.

> Of
> > course,
> > > all the wiring was replaced, along with the electrical
fixtures.
> > > Alternators, anyone? New plumbing too.
> > >
> > > The White House restoration took four years. Some have
finished

> > their Elan
> > > is less time, some take much longer. At least an Elan
> restoration
> > will cost
> > > less - I think?
> > >
> > > Does the Spyder chassis installed in the White House make
it

any
> > less The
> > > White House?
> > >
> > > Rich Boyd








To search the mailing list archives:

http://www.escribe.com/automotive/europ ... index.html

-------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------

Yahoo! Groups Links

a.. To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lotuselan/

b.. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
***@***.***

c.. Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms
of Service.

Rohan
I would add one more modern upgrade, new fuse plug-in fuses and fuse boxes.

Can you really get 170 BHP with a 1760 TC? In street tune?
Ken
'69 +2 with BDR

Having owned both..and driven all three extensively.(by the way the Miata
..which my son has now and Elan are still here.)...





The stock Elan.like my Elan Sprint is a great handling car..very light.very
quick.with a lot of body lean and suspension travel..



Handles great.but you must be a good driver..and it takes a certain amount
of "balls" to go really fast.as the car is quite exaggerated in its
movements..it gets a little unnerving to the uninitiated when the Elan leans
over.and tires start to squeal.it will stick.but it takes real guts.nothing
quite like it though...







How ever..the fully Spyder conversion.complete with 26R finders.and 185/60s
on front and 205/60s on back..handled like a race car.like my Caterham.Like
a modern car.





Two completely different animals..only similar in looks.but without a
doubt.the Spyder is one of the best handling cars I have ever driven.close
to the Elise.but not as comfortable at speed.





As for the Miata.handles a tad less well than the Elan..does not have a
much lateral grip...but it is close.until you get to the point where the
Elan starts to lean.and still hangs on. The Miata will let go before it
reaches that point.



Just my personal experiences..





Tony V

www.lotusowners.com <http://www.lotusowners.com/>

Sounds like my porsche 914 (ya, the one with the VW motor) handled
comparable to a Lotus then. The 914's power was not inspiring.

--- In ***@***.***, "Tony Vaccaro" <[email protected]> wrote:

Having owned both..and driven all three extensively.(by the way
the Miata

..which my son has now and Elan are still here.)...





The stock Elan.like my Elan Sprint is a great handling car..very
light.very

quick.with a lot of body lean and suspension travel..



Handles great.but you must be a good driver..and it takes a
certain amount

of "balls" to go really fast.as the car is quite exaggerated in its
movements..it gets a little unnerving to the uninitiated when the
Elan leans

over.and tires start to squeal.it will stick.but it takes real
guts.nothing

quite like it though...







How ever..the fully Spyder conversion.complete with 26R
finders.and 185/60s

on front and 205/60s on back..handled like a race car.like my
Caterham.Like

a modern car.





Two completely different animals..only similar in looks.but
without a

doubt.the Spyder is one of the best handling cars I have ever
driven.close

to the Elise.but not as comfortable at speed.





As for the Miata.handles a tad less well than the Elan..does not
have a

much lateral grip...but it is close.until you get to the point
where the

Elan starts to lean.and still hangs on. The Miata will let go
before it

reaches that point.



Just my personal experiences..





Tony V

www.lotusowners.com <http://www.lotusowners.com/>

Ken

Re your comments

I would add one more modern upgrade, new fuse plug-in fuses and
fuse boxes.

I agree fully. I missed that item !. When I rebuilt my Elan the main
wire bundle to the back of the car had melted into a solid lump. I
replaced the fuse box with real useful fuses ( 6 switched, 6
unswitch )that blow before the wiring melts and rewired the car as a
result.

Can you really get 170 BHP with a 1760 TC? In street tune?

I have never built a 1760 cc engine to this spec but based on my 1600
cc race engines you would do the following and have 170 hp plus as
the only real difference to my 1600 race engines is the lower
compression ratio that the extra cc's will easily compensate for. My
simulation program that correlates well with my actual dyno runs says
you will achieve more than 170 hp easily.

1. A top quality porting job of a Weber head or the McCoy Weber
conversion of a Stromberg head that actually flows better than the
best ported standard Weber heads.

2. Big 1.62 inlet and 1.4 exhaust valves

3. Good quality big bore extractors and free flowing muffler ( how
much muffler depends on your local noise police).

4. 36mm chokes in 45 DOCE Webers or 45 DHLA Delortos and dyno tuned
to get the jetting right. Alternatively fuel injection throttle
bodies if you want to make drivability even better.

5. 0.45 inch lift 280 to 290 degree cam and valves springs etc that
can accomodate this lift.

6. Datsun L18 steel crank, Carillo rods, JE forged pistons with 10.5
comp ratio. Steel main caps or at least the later big square
shouldered cast iron caps ( which should come with a tall block) a
good idea.

7. Distributor centrifugal advance recurved to maximum advance at
around 3500 rpm of 20 crank degrees and adjust static advance setting
on dyno for max power. You will need points or electronic ignition
that will work to 8000 rpm. An electronic ignition cut out at 8300
rpm is desirable to fit as the engine will want to go well beyond
this and but the engine vibrations start to get destructive and the
valve gear struggles to keep up around 9000 rpm.

8. A good idea to put in a high volume high pressure oil pump

9. A new pre-engage starter to turn it all over will also help

10. A lot of other minor mods for reliability but not really needed
on a road engine. Only if you intend racing it and using the full rev
capability continually are these needed.


None of the above is cheap but when done properly you will have a
monster engine that has 170 plus hp between 7000 and 8000 rpm and a
big fat torque curve that over the entire rev range is well above the
original engine. Give your BDR a run for its money I think ! The real
advantage of your BD series head is that it can breath up to around
220 to 230 hp while a twin cam will only go to around 190 to 200 hp
no matter how much you modify it to breath better, or how fast you
rev it, or how big a block you put under it.

Rohan

Mike, the only thing in the UK at the moment which might hit 80 is the windspeed. That's if it drops from 90 !

Cheers,
Pete
----- Original Message -----
From: Michael Geiger
To: ***@***.***
Sent: Saturday, January 08, 2005 12:45 AM
Subject: [LotusElan.net] Re: Spyder, et al.



It is fun. and it has been kinda slow off and on. What is everyone
up to? My friends up in northern climes are having sleet, and
suffering from power loss. The weather report said it might hit 80
tomorrow here in Tampa Florida! So much for winter. I don't even
want to think about what summer is going to be like.

Mike.

--- In ***@***.***, "elansprint71" <[email protected]>
wrote:

I can tell you something that handles better than a '72 Elan-
a '72 Elan with Spyder chassis, Spyder twin wishbone rear

suspension, Minilite wheels and 165 x 70 tyres. Trust me. ;-0

Every time this forum gets a little slow, I raise the Zetec
subject; works doesn't it?

Gidday, Les, nice to have you on board, mate.

Cheers,

Pete
----- Original Message -----
From: Michael Geiger
To: ***@***.***
Sent: Friday, January 07, 2005 9:47 PM
Subject: [LotusElan.net] Re: Spyder, et al.



I did qualify it with "loosely" As NOTHING handles like an
Elan.

Mike


--- In ***@***.***, "d0ntdreamit"
<[email protected]>

wrote:
>
> A miata handles like an elan? For real??
>
> Mazda offerred me a $25 gift certificate to test drive one of
their

> new cars. After the miata and the RX-8 test drive, I left
feeling

> really smug about my +21 year old car. And it isn't a lotus.
>
> As a non lotus owner, I ask the question, "isn't having a
toyota

> motor in a lotus elise heresy?"
>
> Elans? Well who could fault the car(s) that were in "Basic
> Instinct".
>
> --- In ***@***.***, "Michael Geiger"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> > But, the White House "LOOKS" the same. They did not replace
the

> > fireplaces with A/C ducts. Open the hood(bonnet) of an Elan
with

> a
> > Zetec engine and it does not look the same as with a
twincam. A

> > Spyder does not look the same as a Lotus chassis. I think
it

will
> > always come down to "At what point is it no longer the
originally

> > manufactured car?" IF the only criteria is, looks and
handles

> like a
> > Lotus Elan... then one can loosely call a Miata a Lotus Elan.
> >
> > Putting on my Nomex suit :-0
> >
> > Mike Geiger.
> > --- In ***@***.***, "Richard A. Boyd"
> <[email protected]>
> > wrote:
> > > During the Harry Truman's presidency (1945-1952), the
White

> House
> > was
> > > "restored." The interior was completely gutted, after
carefully

> > removing
> > > everything (fireplace mantles, etc.). Only the exterior
walls

> > remained. All
> > > interior items were photographed, cataloged, and labelled
for

> later
> > > replacement in exactly the same (historic) location. Does
this

> > sound
> > > familiar (i.e., your Elan restoration)?
> > >
> > > A new framework for the White House was fabricated inside
the

> old
> > exterior
> > > walls. A steel girder framework, quite unlike the original
> wooden
> > one, was
> > > used. Better, no doubt, but not original. New interior
walls,

> > floors,
> > > ceilings, etc. were constructed to exactly match the
original

> > layout: all
> > > dimensions were replicated, along with the original "look
and

> > feel." Then
> > > all the interior bits were replaced in the "correct"
location.

> Of
> > course,
> > > all the wiring was replaced, along with the electrical
fixtures.
> > > Alternators, anyone? New plumbing too.
> > >
> > > The White House restoration took four years. Some have
finished

> > their Elan
> > > is less time, some take much longer. At least an Elan
> restoration
> > will cost
> > > less - I think?
> > >
> > > Does the Spyder chassis installed in the White House make
it

any
> > less The
> > > White House?
> > >
> > > Rich Boyd








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Hi All
Just a couple more points to stimulate more comment ;0

Not all period ideas were wrong. Chapman was a great car designer and
as I understand it part of his philosophy was to have lightly sprung
and well damped suspension precisely so that you get good handling and
a decent ride which doesn't loosen your fillings.

Polybushes, nasty little stiff springs and low profile tyres all tend
to spoil it.

The only reason you might want to lose the Chapman struts is to put
wider rubber on. The Elan doesn't need wider rubber on the road. It is
phenomenal on 155's unless you are going to drive like a lunatic. You
would also probably lose wet grip

Yep you can squeeze huge bhp out of a twink but it is usually no
longer a nice sweet torquey engine with a smooth idle but often a
nightmare to drive especially in traffic 120ish bhp is ample for a
road Elan

For the track please ignore the above.

For the record I am old enough to have driven lots of cars with
dynamos and with points in the distributor and have never been let
down by either. I cannot say the same for alternators and certainly
not electronic ignition.


John