Lotus cars at NEC classic show

[alexblack13]

Hi Guys,
Just got back from the NEC classic car show. I was disappointed Lotus wise. Unless I am mistaken (and I could well be), there was not one Elan on show. I saw one of the later type M cars on the LDC stand but that was it. Club Lotus ? Were they there? Again I could be wrong. I found a stand full of esprit cars but I was not sure if they were CL
or not. No one made any attempt to talk

The autojumble was the same. Nil lotus type stands / stuff to be found.

Great show otherwise though. Superb early Elite on the Option 1 stand.. Just awsome.

Anyone else go??

Alex B....

[elansprint]

Alex i went as you say no CL just membership forms on the esprit forum stand. Lovely Europa on LDC stand with 240 bhp redtop. Did you see the ex california S2 europa in hall 1 with lumps of paint missing had sold at ?7950 !
Ian

[bcmc33]

Two Europas, one beautiful 62 Elite, and a few Espris? I never ever look at, was all I saw.
I commented to a friend that the Federal Europa was so bad it would have to be given away to make any sort of restoration worth while.

I bought a spring to hold down the dipstick - 50p. Perhaps my expectations were set too high.

However, by removing the ?one-eyed? Lotus stance - what caught my eye the most were the reproductions of GT40, E-Types and SS100.

[alexblack13]

Aw man. Some of the cars were just wonderfull. That Elite ... oh so nice. The Europa on the ldc stand also just heaven.

Mrs B took a shine to the Merc' 55 'AMG' being sold for 22.995K which looked astonishing value for money.But on closer inspection was just an AMG badge and wheels ..Still very cheap though. They had also an Aston DB7 (52 plate) which was V nice with history etc and 1 owner for......
.......... 19.995K !!!!! very buyable cars at that money and worth just hanging onto.. Never noticed the yank 'ropa though. Must have been distracted. Probably by a fine pair of legs or t*ts... A few of those around!!

I spent 2k+ gbp on the day. Bought the 4 post lift by intern BV Holland (Did you see it) A clip on mirror for the sprint, One tool only this year... A rivet nut applicator tool with a selection of rivnuts, and 3 complete rear lights from my mate Curly, the best of which I will use on my car with my new lenses and I will offer the rest for sale on Epay or this site..They are quite good so I will not 'hoard' them.


Great weekend. Great Chinese food on the Sat night and a few nice beers
Brill.. Roll on next year..

Alex B....

[Barney]

Alex,

IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET THE BIG SPOON AWARD

you shouldn't expect CL to be there, they would have to pay for the stand!!! That goes against their philosophy

Remember, CL is a private company working for their profit - since 1958 or whatever it was . . . .

Which is one reason I was so disapointed with Donnington this year. It deserves to be more profesional.

LDC seems to be dominated by Elise these days

[JJDraper]

Good day out (apart from ?8 parking charge), mindless wandering among the hordes gawping at everything. I was also fascinated at the prices of some of the cars on show - ?16k Maserati or ?10k Jag XK8 anyone? Slightly depressing thought that ?16k is the budget cost of the +2 rebuild I have planned....

Totally agree about the Elite on the Options stand - stunning.

Cheered myself up by buying a ?10 remote controlled helicopter and terrifying the cat!

Jeremy

[tdafforn]

Certainly plenty of eye candy (cars of course!)
Low on lotus's..
Had a good chat to the guys on the Austin 7 stand.
Thought it was well worth the money. However very strange that they put us in the car park furthest from the hall!
Also, probably marked the last +2 drive of the winter before I attempt to put FI on it!
Tim

[Elanintheforest]

Any pictures of the Option 1 stand / Elite, chaps?

Mark

[jono]

Mmm, never tried this before but here goes...

[jono]

Surprised myself there so here's another now that I'm an expert

I too was very disappointed with the lack of classic Loti but thought it was good value notwithstanding

[Elanintheforest]

Great pics, Jono...thanks for putting them up. What an unusual colour for an Elite...or for anything else come to that! Works though.

Mark

[jono]

It's a gorgeous car Mark and, yes, it really does work! It looks much, much better in the flesh.

I think it's a Jaguar pearlescent paint.

Jono

[CBUEB1771]

Great pics, Jono...thanks for putting them up. What an unusual colour for an Elite...or for anything else come to that! Works though.

Mark

The Elite pricelist included an option for painting to the buyer's color of choice. This is one case where there is little point in arguing for authenticity.

[Chris-72-Sprint]

The only elan I saw was a white S3 FHC for sale on Sussex Sportscar stand.

Agree there were some nice cars there at sensible prices.

Didnt buy anything at NEC but bought a nice Messerschmitt KR200 bubblecar over the weekend to go with the one I have had since 1974. A nice 1959 one owner, 18000 miles - sound but scruffy.

Most finish the sprint before I start on this one

cheers
Chris

[elansprint]

Alex i went with the intention of buying the Intern lift also but despite there adverts they now want VAT & delivry on top. I had a search around & found that Strongman tools do the same lift although not on display foe ?1750 based in Leamington Spa.
Ian