Should I continue S3 project - off road since '76?

[dunclentdr]

I have reached the point of crisis in my S3 project and need thoughts and advice!!

The car has been off the road since 1976 and is a matching numbers white S3. It is currently a running chassis - Spyder non-galvanised chassis, all new suspension and braking, with rebuilt diff, gearbox and original engine (?4k rebuild bill for engine) and has uprated hand made radiator and swirl pot. It runs!! All of the work has been done by professionals, not by me. New loom is in and the underside and engine bay painted - it looks fantastic.

The body has been taken back to gelcoat and is in primer, chrome needs to be done and interior, I have lots of NOS parts and have reused originals where ever possible.

I now need to decide whether to finish the car, wait or sell. I think finishing would be great and live close to Option1 who could do a great job, would appreciate advice on other painters and also trimmers (have original seat frames but need a full re-do).

I could wait but that seems a pity and I guess there would be buyers who would like a chance to finish what will be an A1 and very standard Elan that has only run for 10 or its 48 years.

Would welcome thoughts and inspiration.

David

[dunclentdr]

Should have labelled the pictures - the last one is the car before the work started, there are lots more if anyone interested - it was fitted with plain vinyl seats, guess that was what the factory had to hand.

Let me know if you would like posts of any more of the 'barn find' pics which show how it was before work started...

[JonnyPlus2]

Hi David,

Dunno why you wouldn't want to finish it unless there are reasons you haven't mentioned. Cars tend to deteriorate when they sit around so waiting any significant length of time has its drawbacks.

Best,
Jon

[dunclentdr]

Thanks Jon - main reason is that I have done some maths on cost of a great repaint and finishing costs - have a running S3 and a Plus 2 here as well!

[JonnyPlus2]

Hi David,

I guess your middle name is not Jay Leno !

I'm doing all my own work (including straightening and welding my chassis) due to co$t considerations. If you don't want to do some of the work yourself then you could talk to someone who can advise you on the value of the car now, vs. the value if it were finished. Then you can do the numbers. Good luck. BTW, I envy you the Plus 2.

Best,
Jon

[gherlt]

Question is, when you decide to continue, will you use it or sell it anyway ?

[el-saturn]

............is this car a lhd and is this the white elan I was told about (colin n.)???? if so, i may have a serious buyer for ya! hope to hear from you. cheers sandy

[dunclentdr]

The car is RHD.

Like the comment about whether it will be used - one of the joys of an older S3 I have is being able to jump in it, winter or summer, and not have to worry about it not being perfect!

[Elanintheforest]

Hi David
You have a dilemma that I understand well, for two reasons.

I have recently sold off several Elan projects as I just didn't have the time or focus to get them done. The last one I sold was an S2 that Geoff is now restoring in Plymouth, (documented on this forum) and he's made more progress in 6 weeks than I did in 6 years.

I have found that the more I have sold, the more enthused I have become with what's left (which is still too much, but plans afoot to reduce the non-Lotus fleet a bit) and now I'm keen to get on with my S4 project.

I have also restored a couple of cars to perfection over the past 15 years or so, and haven't had a lot of fun with them since they have been completed. They are just too perfect, and the thought of leaving them in a pub car park or unattended at a show doesn't thrill me at all, so one of those, an S1 E Type, is also going.

My plans for the S4, which has been off the road for 30 years, is to restore the mechanical side thoroughly, but leave the bodywork as it is. There are a few gel coat cracks and a few chips here and there, but that's fine. Sounds like your other Elan, and it won't worry me to get another bit of damage on the paintwork.

From a value point of view, I doubt that you will get any more for the car when it's complete than what you would get for it now....plus what you would have to put in to complete it. I would imagine that it will cost ?10k to 15k to complete (and do some re-work) and it will then be worth ?30k - ?35k, depending on the standard of finish. As it is I'm sure it will fetch mid to late teens, and you will have a bigger market due to the price, and the ability for the new owner to finish the car to their requirements

It's hard to let go, but as you have other cars to enjoy, it may just re-focus your interest to do so.

The bottom line though is....what will you do with the car if you do finish it? If you've always craved the perfect Elan, then completing the project is obviously the right thing to do.

Good luck making the decision!!

Mark Kempson

[dunclentdr]

Thanks Mark.

If it does go it will be fantastic for someone as the quality of the work to date is first rate - I would need to recover costs to date (more than late teens!) but as you say, someone would have the opportunity to finish in exactly the way required.

It has always been white and I think that would be the best path too.

David