Building A Kit Elan In The 60s

[Elanintheforest]

I've often wondered about the building of a kit Elan back in the day. How was it delivered? How much of a kit was it? How long did it take to do?

I've just come along this ditty from Motor magazine, April 30th 1966, and I'm chuffed to bits that it answers most of my questions!

I've cleaned up the pages as far as possible, but it's a bit wonky on the page because that's how it was printed.
Mark

[ardee_selby]

Mark,

We "spoke" about this elsewhere...

Many thanks for sharing that....my curiosity has also been satisfied

Cheers - Richard

[alexblack13]

Brilliant. I think I can remember drooling over that article ..???????????? years ago.. Still a great read too..

Thanks Mark...

Alex.

[rgh0]

so what was the copper washer in the plastic bag for?

Another challenge that only this forum could solve

cheers
Rohan

[trw99]

Thanks for posting that Mark, a wonderful read.

Tim

[garyeanderson]

Nice piece Mark, Kind of sweet that the engine number is written on the front of the engine. LP5467 was installed in unit number 5467, invoices 24 March 1966, matching numbers! How likely is that? one more Coupe Identified.

Thanks

[Sea Ranch]

Simply awesome!!!!!!!!!

Many thanks for sharing.

[reb53]

so what was the copper washer in the plastic bag for?

Another challenge that only this forum could solve

cheers
Rohan

Th only one that comes to mind about that size is on the sump plug.
Which they wouldn't have removed, so the mystery remains.

Ralph.

[Elanintheforest]

In tens of years of asking I've never been able to find out as much about building a kit as I have from this article. Even the guys I've come across who had one couldn't remember!

It's all due to the generosity of a guy called Jeff Fenton, who is a complete Lotus nut, and who has amassed a fantastic collection of lotus material over the past 40 years. I have been to see him three times now, and the last time was on Thursday last week to return a boot full of Lotus items after scanning them. He had another cubic yard of magazines ready for me, and this article was in one of those.

In amongst the stuff was a bunch of old Club Elite newsletters, when Miles Wilkins was running the show, and one of those has a reprint on building an Elite from a kit! Unfortunately it's poor copy, as a lot of club mags were in those days, but at least now I know the reference for it....I'll put it up here if anybody is interested, but as I said, it's poor copy.

I'll be sorting it all out over the coming months and will put items of interest up here. Most of the stuff is Lotus Cortina though, which will be going on my website....so you can still see it!!

Mark

[ebc699]

Like Alex, I quite clearly remember reading (and drooling) over this article.
Odd comments have stuck in my mind, namely the "oilest oil" and "four people can't think as cheaply as one". The "Motor" staff were very entertaining writers back then.
The next instalment mentioned at the end appears in the "Lotus Elan Gold Portfolio" as the 12,000 mile report, with the headline:"probably the most reliable car I have ever owned and certainly the most enjoyable to drive"
Thanks for the posting Mark
Cheers,
Wylie

[69S4]

Great read even if it did take them a bit longer than Dr Hammerton

He started on Saturday morning and was driving it to the pub by Sunday lunchtime.

[DavidLB]

I did an Elite in 1961 and would be very interested in in any Elite stuff, still got one and a +2, these old mags are very interisting

[stugilmour]

Great read even if it did take them a bit longer than Dr Hammerton

He started on Saturday morning and was driving it to the pub by Sunday lunchtime.

Quite so Stuart. At least the good doctor wore a tie while doing the work.

Thanks for posting Mark. Excellent article.

http://www.lotuselan.net/publish/a_d_s.shtml

You and a few friends could create your own Lotus Elan in less than a week-end of simple constructive pleasure. I did." says Dr. Hammond.

The body-chassis unit arrived fully trimmed and painted with all electrical components, wiring, steering, brake pipes, etc. already assembled...

Placing the car on trestles we found that the assembly of the front and rear suspension was quite simple. In went the propeller shaft and drive shafts and it was time for lunch....

We fitted the engine and gearbox with the aid of a light-weight pulley and chain. Then in went the radiator, exhaust system and all the main connections were checked. Then it was time for dinner...

On Sunday morning we fitted the number plate, checked the tyre pressures, filled up with oil, petrol and water and were driving down to the local by opening time.

Lotus Cars (Sales) Limited, Norwich, Norfolk, NOR92W. Tel: Wymondham 3411.

[69S4]

That's the one! OK it was Dr Hammond, not Hammerton; perhaps my memories could do with a bit of a pre-delivery inspection as well.

[billwill]

He forgot to mention connecting the steering column.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As I understand the UK Purchase Tax laws of that period, a car was only exempt from purchase tax if the purchaser obtained parts from various suppliers i.e was a true self build.

So, officially, you bought the body unit from Lotus cars and the engine from a separate firm (Racing Engines Ltd ??) so it is an amazing Chapman co-incidence if they both had the same serial number, heh,heh.

Full assembly instructions for a kit car would have made it liable for purchase tax, so they were not supplied, but by another curious coincidence the last chapter of the service manual describes how to do a complete body change if you were unlucky enough to break yours.

I did hear a rumour that once you had built your car you took it to a Lotus agent to have it checked, which some of them did by dismantling it and re-assembling it to be absolutely sure.