rare parts

[hethelfan]

Someone asked me about how easy it was to get parts for my Elan.
I told them all parts were readily available from various specialists.

Am I right?

If not what are the parts that are impossible or difficult to find

[Dag-Henning]

- early oilfiller-cap and early outer/ inner doorhandles for a start........
DH

[trw99]

S4/Sprint dash rocker switches

Handbrake pads

Chrome window surrounds

Chrome heater intake grill

Chapman steering wheel!

Under dash trim (unless you are happy with the fibreglass replacement parts on offer now)

Correct interior mirror

S3 rear light units

[SADLOTUS]

interior mirror here

https://secure.visav.co.uk/avshop/produ ... witem=1195

[steveww]

Depends if you are in the US or UK

Most parts are available in the UK Including most of those listed above.

[chrishewett]

I have not found anything yet that I couldn't get after a bit of research. However, I have on a few occasions been told by various suppliers that parts are like hens teeth only to find that one of their competitors keeps the part on the shelf!
I have found chrisneils very helpful.
Just look about, everything is out there.
Chris

[Hamish Coutts]

Absolutely Chris,

I have also got some so called 'rare' bits easily from Susan Miller and Christopher Neil.

e.g. handbrake pads, rear brake pads.

Don't advise getting a new 'Lotus' throttle cable, though. The one I got was real 24 carat rubbish. Didn't fit properly, had a different adjuster thread than the one on the pedal box and was really jerky. In short unusable, unless you wanted to jerk your drive train out of existance.

STEVEWW advised me to go to a bike shop and get some nice brake cables (why the hell didn't I think of that - I used to be a racing cyclist )
Got shimaon parts and made my own - fab. Thanks Steve .

Hamish.

[Hamish Coutts]

To late at night. Sorry.

"shimaon" should have read Shimano.

Hamish.

[1964 S1]

I agree, basically everything is out there somehow, still, forty years later. I've sold and am selling numerous original components on eBay and am frequently surprised by the "overun by rampant apathy" response. I once put a right side undamaged door on for nine bucks and never got a bid. The only things that come to mind for "can't find" are those S1/early2 door handles, as mentioned. The +2 is another story...

[brassringfarm]

The only rare part I'm aware of is a functioning Headlight Vacuum Switch, the early crash pads for the dash, window pillar interior trim, and yes - the S1-2 door handles. I bought a car in boxes, and knew there were a lot of missing parts. All the stuff that I was missing ( and I also replaced every piece of rubber on the car) was readily available from Bean and Tingle - the two I dealt with the most in the US. Oh yes - I bought a body from Tony Thompson - -money WELL spent! All suppliers were great!
Paul Zimmerman
65 S2

[1964 S1]

Hello Paul, RARE PART SEARCH ALERT ! I saw a headlight switch on eBay today... first one I've seen...

[marcfuller]

Replacement parts for many parts are relatively easy to source. But new old stock, good original, and original reproduction are difficult for a few items if you want to keep your Elan correct. My experience is that the gas gauge, interior rear view mirrors, sun visors and windscreen side post trims for both FHC and DHC are virtually impossible to find, except as non-original spec and appearence replacements.

[marcfuller]

And S3 heater and choke pulls, cables and housings.

[Matt7c]

Haven't yet found a source for an early Elan sump plug, its almost twice the size of the later version. Mine certainly isn't hexagonal any more, but all the usual suspects tell me that the sump plug for the early 4 bolt crank engines (did I say that right?) is unavailable. Anybody out there disagree?

[mac5777]

Marc,
you just listed all of the items for my FHC that I had to deal with.

*New gas gauge,, was not the same
*The windscreen side post trim-- many promises of someone doing a new run of them??? not yet!!
*Sun Visors, has anyone found one that will work with the lotus hardware??
* Interior mirror-- used a windscreen glue on mirror with a little 2 inch convex for passenger side traffic. could not find a bullet, door mounted mirror to match the drivers side bullet that was functional.

If any of these pop up, please post the source.

Thanks