1969 S4 DHC, s/n 8439

[abstamaria]

Just a short note to see if I can upload a photo of my Elan, which I haven't started in a while.

Andy

[gino1]

Hi Andy,
Very nice indeed....it's a bit like mine but with a yellow bib..
Gino
Milano
Italy

[abstamaria]

What a nice car, Gino. That is a coupe, yes? They have a lovely shape. A Lotus in Milan!

Andy
1969 S4 DHC
Manila

[gino1]

Hi Andy,
Yes this is a pre airflow 1965 I also have a S3 coup? 1967 an S2 1965 and a plus two 1968 in Milan.
You would be amazed how many elans there are in Milan let alone in Italy.

Ciao
Gino

[abstamaria]

Here is the Elan with a then new Elise in a photo taken over a decade ago.



The Elan was in "softer" race mode here, with a hoop replacing the full Tony Thompson Racing roll bar. However, the aluminum bulkhead separating the cockpit from the boot (and the fuel tank) was still in place, along with the racing harness. The local sports car club, which oversees historic racing, agreed to let me have "45" as my racing number, appropriate of course for a Series 4 Elan.

[gino1]

Hi Andy,
I think I can just see the 26R hubs peeking through. The car is stunningly beautiful.
Are you in Manila Utah US or Manila phillipines ?

Gino

[abstamaria]

Thanks, Gino. I am in Manila, Philippines. I bought the Elan in New Jersey, U.S.A., in 1977. It has been here in Manila since 1978. There 2 other DHCs here, one disassembled and the other not running, and one +2, disassembles as well.

The lines of the FHC have become more and more appealing to me over the years. You obviously like them a lot.

Yes, those are 26R hubs and KO spinners (so light compared to the standard KOs), and 6" 26R magnesium wheels. I posted a few pictures that show the wheels in the "demarcation line" thread in the Elan forum, if you have time.

Ciao, Gino.

Andy

[gino1]

Hi Andy,

I thought the wheels and hubs looked familiar.
You too have quite a few loti, will you ever get around to restoring them ?
I bought some Minilite wheels last week 6 x 13 to fit on my S2 they have the same fit as the original 26R ones but cost a lot less !!
This winter I'll be stitching new 26R wheel arches and preparing the body work. I bought a new hard top, windscreen frame, windscreens front and rear etc..$$$$. The chassis is underway and should be ready for assembly by spring, and hope that the car ready very soon after. Will keep you posted.
Gino
Milano
italy

[abstamaria]

Oh, those aren't my Loti, Gino; I meant they are the only other Elans in the Philippines. I just have the Elan and the Elise. I did have a Lotus 23 for about ten years, but sold this 3 or so years ago.

The Minilites should look good and are period also. I am surprised you found a set to fit the 26R hubs and KOs. You seem to be having fun with the 26R parts; are you modifying the chassis to 26R spec? I will see if I have a picture of my chassis.

Open a thread and post pictures of your project, Gino. That will be very interesting.

Andy

[gino1]

Hi Andy,
If you look at a "Gallery post" on "Elan coup? 1967 restoration" you will see one of my cars.

Pat Thomas has made some 26R direct fit minilites to fit the 26R hubs at a fraction of the price which can be seen on his website.

I'll open another thread now on my S2 racer resto.
I'm modifying some of the chassis to 26 R spec especially under the differential mount areas, webbing around the rear turrets, engine mounts and front.
I think you would need to set the frame in a proper jig to do the rest to avoid distortion.

Gino
Milano
Italy

[abstamaria]

During the 1st restoration of my Elan in 1980-82, I added gussets and stiffening tabs to the frame as was suggested in Lotus ReMarque, the newsletter of the U.S. club Lotus Ltd. That worked very well. In 1996, I restored the car again and repainted the frame, professionally this time, in light gray; I sprayed it myself in 1980 in a very, very dark gray.

However, at a race in 1998, I spun and bent the front left corner of the frame. I wrote about this incident in this forum then and received much encouragement to rebuild. I picked up quickly and restored the car a 3rd time. I had the frame straightened on a computerized jig, which probably resulted in a frame of closer tolerances than the original. However, to ease the pain of the unscheduled restoration, I took the opportunity to "upgrade" and install a 26R-style frame from Tony Thompson Racing. The chassis looked to me as if it were on steroids.

[abstamaria]

In rebuilding the suspension of my Elan in the late 1990s, I veered more strongly toward racing. I previously replaced the metalastic bushings with nylon equivalents, but, in this restoration, replaced the standard suspension arms with lowered versions, using rod ends. I had stiffer, shorter springs on dampers supplied by Lee Chapman. Most everything else came from Tony Thompson, who was extremely helpful and supportive, considering I was several thousands of miles away. The steering arm had to be bent a bit, so I retained the original ones and had Tony Thompson provide arms bent to suit.

Not too evident in the picture is the large aluminum brake caliper, as installed I think on the 26R. The large stainless-steel braided hose is the fuel line from the electric pump I would install in the boot.

When I retired the car from competition, I replaced the dampers and springs, dialed up the ride height, and, on advice of many on this forum, retained the rod ends.

[gino1]

Hi Andy,
Very impressive !
Gorgeous car and perfect in very detail.
The S3 Retoration i've nearly completed is more or less the same but less expensive bits used !!
The S2 restoration i'm now undertaking has more or less the same parts as you have fitted. I've purchase 275 LB fornt springs and 180 rears.
I see you also have new tyres 4.50M x 13; I've never tried these and have always used Yoko A48's. How do these perform in comparison ??
Gino

[abstamaria]

Hello, Gino. Thank you. S/N 8438 has been my baby for 33 years now and has been the focus of my attention. I have been searching for your thread without success; perhaps you could post in it so it will appear on the current page?

Those are Dunlop vintage racing tires on the car, one of the few sanctioned for historic events when I was racing. I have never tried Yokohamas. except on my Elise. The Dunlops I suspect are less grippy, but they do allow a more "vintage" driving style, with some occasional drift, and I think are kinder on the suspension.

Regards,

Andres

[abstamaria]

Now, the rear suspension. The Rotoflex joints were replaced with U-joints, which at the time were (and may still be) the only permitted vintage-racing modification. The strut housing is magnesium; I fitted Konis and small-diameter springs. Heim or rose joints replaced metalastic bushings. Note the beefy, gusseted chassis arms.