new to me!! elan s4

[Elanconvert]

Good grief!
Was it only ten weeks ago that I joined elan..net and posted about looking for an elan project?
So why an elan? Well, firstly, having recently joined the retired 'cloth cap brigade' [or are baseball caps the recognised badge of over 60's now?] I wanted a dhc sports car in which to enjoy the leafy, and fairly empty, lanes of Devon.
Secondly, I am a classic car fan, so, although a Mazda mx5 would do the job, it wouldn't cut the mustard - also, I blithely told a friend at the golf club that buying one of those was a sure sign of age
Thirdly, having owned quite a few rust buckets over the years [ and even teaching myself to weld, I still found thin panels a challenge and a half], I am a fan of plastic cars.
Fourthly, I was overtaken by an elan on the way back from the Silverstone Classic last year, and I liked the look and sound of it.
Fifthly, having been around Ginettas for many years, a racing pedigree or heritage is an added attraction.
Sixthly, [am I going on a bit?] having started my motorsport "career" with Austin 7's, I have something in common with Mr Chapman...[Okay, a little story you may not have heard...I was involved with 750mc racing Austin 7's back in the sixties, with my good buddy Mike Peck, who still participates. Mike's dad, also called Colin, was club secretary and told me that Colin Chapman achieved great success by reversing the ports on A7 engine [2 inlet, 4 exhaust normally] There was no rule against it, because no one had thought of it...I was impressed then...and now
Back to elans....Therefore, it was 'toe in the water' time, i.e. a bit of research needed, hence my initial post on here.
I was highly impressed by the help and enthusiasm of the guys on here, and as luck would have it, I received a pm from an elan owner who was thinking of selling. It's an S4 SE, upgraded to sprint spec. with big valves and Dellortos [know nothing about these, so some fun, or some swearing, coming...] and importantly, a dhc. However, it is not a project, but an up-and-running driver, so finances would be stretched......but, hey, you only live once, and then only for a short time, so the open air and open roads beckon..!
I have now bought the car...
Does anyone recgnise it?
I bought it from a chap who was/is a regular contributor on here, a proper gentleman, and if he is typical of elan owners, then I am in excellent company.
I drove it back yesterday from Surrey with no major issues [however, I might be about to bore and annoy people with silly questions on here, so apologies in advance].
Regretfully, I have no stories [yet] about elans to compete with jimj, but my claim to fame is that I'm the newest elan owner at the moment.....unless somene bought one today!!!
fred

[StressCraxx]

Hello Fred,

Welcome to the fold! Enjoy your new Elan.

Regards,
Dan Wise

[GrUmPyBoDgEr]

Congrats! Looks great

John

[pharriso]

Congrats Fred, welcome to the Elan world!

[oldchieft]

Nice car, and the other cars around it are impressive.

That looks like the used car lot in heaven! Where is it?

Jon the Chief

[peterexpart]

The Car looks good Fred its the same year and colour as my S4SE was when I got it.
What a good choice !!

[Stratosboy]

What a great looking Elan, hope you enjoy ownership Fred.
Best wishes
Dave

[Elanconvert]

many thanks for the comments and welcome guys!!!
hope you don't get fed up of me asking questions!
jon the chief....I believe the photo was taken at brooklands, near where the elan used to live...
fred

[Steve G]

Hi Fred

Congratulations on your new purchase and welcome to Elan.net, your car looks beautiful. I entered Elan ownership when I was 30 (nearly 4 years ago now) so you needn't think that buying one is a sign of age or a mid life crisis of any sort (unless I just had mine a bit early?).

I too bought an S4 upgraded to Sprint Spec (affectionately known as a Sprint-a-like) and although it is a bit of a sham and not something I would do, I don't think it's any worse than converting a FHC to a DHC or dropping a Zetec in. I think I will take the car back to its original solid yellow if I ever respray it although I would never consider backdating the engine mods as it was a very late (1970) non SE 105bhp car, apparently!

Enjoy the car, and hopefully you will require the use of this forum less than I did in my first few weeks of ownership (I blew up my engine on the day of purchase) but if you do you will not find a better group of highly knowledgeable, generous and friendly enthusiasts anywhere on the internet.

Best regards

Steve

[Elanconvert]

thanks steve....
transcript of conversation with my other [better] half when I arrived home with the elan;
Q. Are you going to enter it in hillclimbs, track days? A. unlikely
Q. Are you going to do lots of modifications? A. maybe one or two
Q. But you are going to tinker with it? A. probably
Q. You'll just go out to look at it sometimes then? A. maybe
Q. Are you going to polish it every week then? A. no
Q. What ARE you going to do with it then? A. DRIVE it!!

[Steve G]

thanks steve....
transcript of conversation with my other [better] half when I arrived home with the elan;
Q. Are you going to enter it in hillclimbs, track days? A. unlikely
Q. Are you going to do lots of modifications? A. maybe one or two
Q. But you are going to tinker with it? A. probably
Q. You'll just go out to look at it sometimes then? A. maybe
Q. Are you going to polish it every week then? A. no
Q. What ARE you going to do with it then? A. DRIVE it!!

Exactly, they're for driving. Mine still has the mud on it from ploughing the Goodwood Revival car park two months ago. Went through a big puddle last night that seemed to clean it off pretty well. I don't understand wintering a plastic car, they're most fun when the roads are a bit damp and the air's nice and cold, tips the power/chassis balance even more in the right direction!

[Spyder fan]

I too bought an S4 upgraded to Sprint Spec (affectionately known as a Sprint-a-like) and although it is a bit of a sham and not something I would do, I don't think it's any worse than converting a FHC to a DHC or dropping a Zetec in.
Steve

There's no hope for me then Steve!

Welcome Fred, enjoy your car