DRA 571L Elan Sprint Randel's Lotus Jos,Joshua,Josh Randel.

[greg40green]

Randel's Lotus. Jos, Joshua,Josh Randel.
I'm looking to trace some information regards my 1973 Lotus Elan Sprint . Reg DRA 571L.
From what I already know my Elan was bought by its previous owner from a Lotus Dealer in Newcastle upon Tyne called Randels by Mr Colin Trotter and his wife Pauline.
I'm informed that Jos , Josh or Joshua Randel ( Christian name has caused some debate on certain sites) who had a successful racing carer bought my Elan Sprint for his son Tim or daughter Nee Randel ( I have also seen Nee Randel's name stated as Zoe Walker ).
I have also read that Nee Randel had some success in racing a quick Mini , racing cars seemed to be in the family.

If at all possible I was hoping to contact Nee / Zoe as I believe DRA 571L belonged to her plus I have just completed a ground up restoration of the car and would like to trace any previous history.
I have noted the Nee / Zoe does follow some racing car sites and is known as ZOE1949.
Does anyone know Nee or Tim Randel , if so could you direct them to this enquiry please.
Thanks . Greg.

[trw99]

I suspect that the nee is as in Zoe Walker nee Randells. In other words that was her family name before she married and became Mrs Walker.

You should consider asking your question on the TNF as they are a knowledgable lot regarding racers.

I have a notion that this question has been asked before on here, but the Italians don't have very good wifi where I am so I can't be especially helpful in that regard.

Finally, Josh Randell's was a well known Lotus dealer back in the day. See my web site for his contact details then.

Tim

[LotusArchives]

Randles became Tim & Zoe Randles in the early 80s

Send me a PM if you need more information about your car

Andy
Lotus Archives

[JimE]

The only Lotus dealer I was aware of in Newcastle upon Tyne during this period was Ellis Moor which is where my Elan Sprint came from. I think it unlikely that Newcastle was blessed with more than one Lotus Dealer. There was a Jos Randles Ltd who were based in Stoke-on-Trent. Jim

[greg40green]

Thank you all for the information you have given so far.
With regards to a Lotus dealer being based in Newcastle Upon Tyne ie Randels this is part of what I'm trying to find out , if correct Randels also used to trade in Suzuki, Peugeot etc and still trade today in Stoke but not under the Randels name ?
Hello Tim /TRW99 thanks for you input . Forgive my ignorance but what or who is TNF and how would I contact them?
PM sent to Andy .
Thanks again , Greg.

[487bmw]

Hello, I am Zoe Walker (Randles). In the 1970's and 1980's we held the Lotus dealership at Tim & Zoe Randles. in Stoke-on-Trent.
Prior to that the business belonged to my father Josh (Jos) Randles. He held the Lotus dealership from 1965 to the compulsory purchase of his garage and showrooms for road development in December 1974, also in Stoke-on-Trent.
I hope that clarifies the history.
Regarding a Lotus Elan Sprint DRA 571 L, I owned this car privately from approximately 1988 to 1971 (I think).
The car was very low mileage and from memory was factory built, one of the last few produced.
Best wisesh.
Zoe Walker

[greg40green]

Hello Zoe
Thanks you for your reply .
From owning your Elan Sprint I have met a few people who claim to know your old Elan, one informing me that he worked on the body work many years ago.
I bought the car from Colin and Pauline Trotter from the North East , up near Durham who bought the Elan Sprint 25 plus years ago.
Colin informed me that he bought it from the owner who stated that they 'Randels' had restored the Elan before it was stored , not used very much hence the sale.
I presume the seller was yourself?
Colin completed six thousand miles in 20 years with DIY servicing and the use of the local garage for MOT's etc.
Sadly Colin stored the Elan in a friends barn over the bad winter we had 6 years ago which resulted in all the panels micro blistering hence the sale to myself , I then spent 5 plus years going through everything inclusive of engine , box , diff , body work etc , etc .
Once finished it was stunning but sadly I had fallen out of love with it due to not expecting to have to complete a total restoration.
With it being nearly new again and having invested heavily in it I decided to sell firstly advertising it on Elan.net with only 2 enquiries from traders making low offers so I contacted Paul Matty Sports Cars who agreed a commission sale that result it being sold within 6 weeks to a person in London.

Sad to see it go? No not really as I only drove it for 3-400 miles in 5 plus years.
We had holidays planned using the Elan which did not happen resulting in ourselves buying an MX5 to complete some of the trips and spending the rest of the holiday time working on the Elan.
I had promised Colin and Pauline on many occasions that I would drive the Elan to Durham for them to see the finished product.
I contacted Colin 12 months ago ,sadly he didn't sound to well , I did write to him just before Christmas this year but have not heard anything from them , fingers crossed they are both well and enjoying Christmas on one of the many cruises they go on each year.

I did read that you were a very good driver yourself , entering and winning a number of events along with your father and brother if the information I obtained was correct ?
I had hoped to add any information about the Elan , previous owners etc to the Elan Sprints history file but sadly I won't be doing that now.
The previous owner has not contacted me for any information since his purchase of DRA 571L.

May I take this opportunity to thank you for taking your time to answer my enquiry regards the history of the Elan Sprint.
All the very best to you and yours for the New Year ,
PS
I have not learned my lesson as I'm now restoring 2 Lotus Elans .
Regards . Greg .

[Elanman99]

I bought my S4 from Jos Randles of Wharf Garages, Stoke-on-Trent in December 1968. After building it up I took the car to them for it to be checked, the Test Certificate I received has Zoe's signature.

Interestingly the Jos Randles stamp shows that they were Vauxhall, Triumph and Jaguar dealers at that time, no mention of Lotus, but then the car is shown as an 'S1V' anyway

Ian

[JimE]

Greg. Reading your comments on your sold Elan I have a twin in London somewhere. Wonder what the chances are of coming across it! Photo attached of my original Sprint. Jim

[greg40green]

Hello Jim
Can't be many tawny brown 1973 FHC Sprints on an 'L' plate in London surely.
Even if I say so myself , stunning 70's colour.

[Invader]

Hello, I am Zoe Walker (Randles). In the 1970's and 1980's we held the Lotus dealership at Tim & Zoe Randles. in Stoke-on-Trent.
Prior to that the business belonged to my father Josh (Jos) Randles. He held the Lotus dealership from 1965 to the compulsory purchase of his garage and showrooms for road development in December 1974, also in Stoke-on-Trent.
I hope that clarifies the history.
Regarding a Lotus Elan Sprint DRA 571 L, I owned this car privately from approximately 1988 to 1971 (I think).
The car was very low mileage and from memory was factory built, one of the last few produced.
Best wisesh.
Zoe Walker

That is very interesting background information as I have recently purchased a 1973 Gilbern Invader MkIII, currently being recommissioned, which shows Tim & Zoe Randles as a previous owner, around 1975/1976.

If Zoe picks up this post, I would be very interested to know if you can recall if the car was owned personally or if it was passing through the dealership being sold alongside the Lotus cars. I would imagine that the odd Gilbern 'sporting saloon' in stock would complement rather than compete with the sports cars.

The car was quite a distinctive colour, Electric Blue, in case that jogs the memory!

[Hawksfield]

Hi Greg

Its nice to here about Colin Trotters car and that its been restored and back to good again

I was at our local Lotus club (NELOC) xmas meal on Monday and I spoke to both Colin and Pauline who are both well and planning their next hols after a years hiatus.

provenance is nice to have on a classic car

[Marcus030]

Hi Zoe (487bmw)

I'm Mark I worked for you at the Campbell /Fletcher rd showroom in the late 70s I believe, I'm trying to find out if you can recall me and when I worked at Tim & Zoe Randles sports cars? I was a car valeter , Phil Taylor trained me as I recall. Eric used to work in the filling station across the road.
Any information would much appreciated.
Thank you .

Mark