A Pleasant Discovery

[richard sprint]

I purchased my dhc Elan Sprint three years ago and is now roughly 40% through the nut and bolt rebuild - I had not been looking for such a car but discovered it by chance and the prospect appealed.

During the purchasing process the vendor rang me (although the deal was all but done) to see if I was solid on going through as he had another interested purchaser. I cynically thought this was just a hurry up call but by chance I recently met the 'interested purchaser' and indeed he had offered more than the deal we had negotiated!

The vendor was honourable and a rare thing and we concluded the purchase.

The car was registered in 1972 and the vendor purchased the car in 1981 with the intent of rebuilding so between 1981 and 2006 the car had been stored in a shed, the mileage on the clock shows 27,000miles. Due to the rusty nature of the chassis I had assumed this was 127,000 miles.

During a conversation today with Lesley (512BB) he asked me whether I had noted the marks on the piston (as the engine is being disassembled) and these are STD so the reality seemed to suggest that the engine was original and the mileage of 27,000 miles might be original.

I rang the vendor and although he could not confirm either way as it could possibly have been clocked - a rife practise in years gone by (the log book also states previous owners). It does seem likely that the car is low mileage - it still has the original windscreen with running in instructions and the interior is in very good condition.

The vendor did say that it had been stored along time in not the best conditions and why the chassis was in poor condition - however it gave me quite a buzz to realise that this has been a quite fabulous find...

Richard

[1964 S1]

Hello Richard,
I'd say there's a very good chance the mileage is just 27K. A lot of two seat convertibles are second or third cars for their owners. There are a lot of very low mileage Miatas on the market.
If I owned your car, I'd carefully contact the previous owners, let them know I had their old Lotus and inquire about any interesting stories they may have about the car. The mileage question can be addressed as you speak to them one by one. Either way the mileage turns out, it sounds like a fun detective job to me.
Good Luck,
Eric

[richard sprint]

1964S1

Funny you should mention some sleuthing work as I'm trying to contact the former owners - some early photos and history would be nice for the file - as yet contact has been elusive but hopeful!

[alexblack13]

How many former keepers Richard?

Looks a super buy to me..

Alex B....

[Elanintheforest]

I thought you were on about LandRovers for a moment, Richard (Discovery, that is).
That is a great find, and pretty rare in the UK. It may have been a 2nd or third car in the USA in the 60s or 70s, but over here, they were more often used as the only car.

Do you have any pics of the car before restoration, Richard? Always interesting to see them as they were made!

Mark

[richard sprint]

Alex

The details I have seem to suggest two who used it while on the road (for 9 years, a further one being the vendor who just stored it for 25 years and now myself.

Mark

I don't know how to load up photos lol, I could send some to an email address if you did'nt mind loading them onto the site?

Regards

Richard

[Elanintheforest]

No problems, I'll send a PM
Mark

[richard sprint]

Will try to down load...

At time of purchase Sept 2006

[alexblack13]

Awww man. I am starting to get withdrawall symptoms. That looks just great.
You say you are about 40% done Richard? Was the chassis a write off or is it usable.How are the bolt on bits etc.Dampers etc? Discs?

Wish you were closer. You could not get rid of me!! If there is anything I can do to help? I would enjoy that... Turning? Welding? Wee bits making?? Tip... One of the most usefull tools I have bought lately is a rivnut applicator. Carefull selective use of this can be a big help. Amazing where you can use them completely invisibly. Have you tried getting the nuts onto the bolts holding the coil clamp for E.G.? I put a couple of M6 rivnuts into the body in the right place. Coil clamp now secured with 2 off m6 s/s dome headed allen setscrews. Polished the heads.They come up like chrome! And you don't need three hand to fit. Much easier. I also put them into the brackets in the vac pods. Fixed with polished s/s domed screws. Very neat!And easy to do. Its a great thing.

Let me know if you are stuck for anything. I might be able to assist.

Cheers all.

Alex B...

[richard sprint]

Alex

The original chassis is in advanced stages of being returned to its origins the car came with an unused/new chassis now 25 years old. I shot blast and painted with two coats POR 15. Also carried out some chassis strengthening mods and fitted the Spyder brace below the engine.

All functional parts have/will be replaced - dampers/springs from TTR, wheel spinners, discs, really everything except for the core components like wishbones and uprights, disc shields.

All bearings, rubber bushes, all fixings/washers are new, refurbed the steering rack, calipers refurbished, new brakes lines, diff fitted with new bearings/oil seals, new wheel bearings front and rear, lotocones, rubber doughnuts this time around but will go for the nice Aussie units from Elanbits next time! track rod ends, handbrake cable, engine and gearbox mounts, Brian sold me some good headlamp actuators, steering rack clamps and has been very generous with mods and pictures.

So the rolling chassis is pretty well complete if not yet fully assembled.

I'm a bit lost on the fixing bit you mentioned any pics to help understand?

Regards

Richard

[Elanintheforest]

Here it is, and looking very good. What a superb basis for restoration...I love it!

Mark

[richard sprint]

Mark

Many thanks for downloading these must practise the art...

I'm very enthused as you can imagine, its now moving into the nice clean phase of the work!

Thanks again much appreciated...

Regards

Richard

[alexblack13]

Sounds like the same as me! I got away with bu***r All. EVERYTHING had to be replaced. I know how you feel. Good fun though eh? I really enjoyed. As Mark said should take time. Enjoy it to the max, as it's poss' a 1 off. Although I am looking at a Mk 2 escort rs2000. Not bad body, rest is c**p...

I will see if I can take a pic or two to let you see the rivnut tool.. Its V good. Looks a bit like a pop rivet gun but isnt. Bit meatier. The nuts (rivetnuts) are screwed onto an adaptor on the nose of the tool and inseted into the correct dia hole, just a slight clearance required 0.1 mm approx. in the body or whatever. You then pull on the rivet tool as you would for a pop rivet. This compresses the nut flange and kinda creates a 'washer' from the compressable part. Captures itself into the hole. Almost like a pop rivet with internal thread. Can you picture that? Sizes are various. Metric are norm' about 3mm dia up to about 10 - 12mm dia. In either aluminium ally or stainless. They come in imperial sizes also. I used metric as I have loads of metric stainless A2 fastners that I usually polish the heads on. Great for the lammies.They do polish up like chrome.

I'll see if I can picture a demo bit for you. Great for blind holes also by the way. I put the window frames back in and forgot the pull handles inside. You need to fit the trim and handle and secure with small nut and bolt & you can't get to the inside to fit the nuts with the frame in place. That was the main reason I bought the tool... Two rivet nuts 5mm dia (I think) in each door, trim it up and fit the handles. Braw!!

Hope this is helpfull. I will try for a couple of pics for you asap...

Alex.

[alexblack13]

Looks superb Richard! Wish my Mrs would let me work in the front room!!

Where are the original covers that came off the Lotus front suspension units? Got them? Fit them to your TTR new ones & protect those damper rods, or they will not last long.

Alex.

[richard sprint]

Alex

The RS 2000 resto sounds good - a great friend of mine is presently 5 years through his resto (Mk1) he's doing an amazing job.

The tool sounds interesting starting to understand - comes with the age I think!

I do still have the original Armstrong dampers and not even considered your sensible suggestion - what price this forum? - I'll try to dismantle them and while doing so see if I can direct them toward a couple of noisy pidgeons! I understand they can be a bit lethal - the dismantling process I mean...

The workshop actually sits in the corner of my works warehouse which can be a little damp - it took me six months to construct with sheet plastic lined walls and foil backed plaster board with the intention of having a dry damp free space as these resto's as we know can take sometime however the secret I believe to working in the front room would probably work providing fresh flowers are delivered weekly!

Regards

Richard