Type 26 registry pdf - what a quandry

[69S4]

Mark[/quote]

When I had an S4SE in the mid 70's there was a guy from Bledlow Ridge advertising in Motoring News every week selling off parts from early Elans that he was breaking. I chatted to him once and he was breaking one every two to three weeks at that time. I guess he was not the only one doing it. Some parts went in the skip because there was just no market for them. [/quote]


In the mid 70's I used to drive through Bledlow Ridge every day to and from work. Pity I didn't know about him then, I could have bought a long lusted after Elan one piece at a time - the only way I could have afforded one then having just sold my 7 to buy a house.

Stuart

[curly type 26]

The chap in Bledlow Ridge was Richard Milner, great chap & real prices helped me no end with parts for my old s2 which i am busy restoring now Curly

[rodbean]

I have favored the Type 26 Elans from the beginning of my Elan enthusiasm, which is as old as the cars themselves. Although I like the other Elans too, the early cars are in a class of their own, to me, at least. This is for the reasons already stated, their lightness, their simplicity, their purity and their beauty.

Also, for many of us Britcar-ophiles in the colonies, "Lotus" means small, cottage industry, limited market, close to its racing heritage, accessible ... not unlike a sports car club itself... personal. That's probably why so many Lotus enthusiasts also find themselves drawn to Ginettas, TVRs, Marcos, Elvas, etc.

So from that perspective, I hate to see these unique cars, with so few having been produced, being used for parts cars or made into race cars.

Speaking as one who has raced a fully prepared Elan (26) in both SCCA and vintage, and who currently has a close relationship to racing as an instructor, I can't claim innocence. But I have bought my race cars as already-prepared cars. Work done on the cars from then on was further development. I have bought heavily damaged Elans that would never be complete cars again that I then used for parts but I've preserved complete cars whenever possible. But these days, I would be much more reluctant to break up any (especially Type 26) Elan.

There are several advantages available to a racer or potential racer who finds a car that is already modified rather than breaking up a perfectly good stock car. It may not work for everyone but I've found it preferable to start with a sanitary but slightly underprepared car for a number of reasons.

Please give it a thought.

Rod Bean

[Bill]

Rod n All

I have had my 1600 since early 64, I bought a wrecked S2 in 66 for a parts car ( the body was f'd from a high speed rear ender into a car ahead - looked like an accordion and the main body was unsalvagable. I salvaged every other bit and piece down to the interior fitment screws. For over 30 years I kept my eyes open for a replacement car or body - by then tho the only new body parts were for S 3/4 cars.

7 years ago I found an S2 body in Los Almos New mexico, trucked on down from Vancouver Island Canada, stuffed in the back of my pick me up truck and hauled it back (body / frame only). Altho bruised and battered it is salvageable - AND - I have the whole car to work with.

For 7 years i've been saying - maybe next year. But I do have 1/2000 of the roadster production.

My thoughts are simillar to the others - a more beautifull or nimble sports car was never since produced, I wanted to save it.

Besides, can you ever imagine Emma Peel jumping over the door of an S3!

Bill (26/0538) - 26/4614 waiting resto

[Elanintheforest]

Hi Bill, this picture just for you. After you've taken a cold shower, could you have a think if there are any photos of your car you could share with the rest of us? If you're unsure how to post photos, I can always put them up for you.

Mark

[GrUmPyBoDgEr]

Hi Bill, this picture just for you. After you've taken a cold shower, could you have a think if there are any photos of your car you could share with the rest of us? If you're unsure how to post photos, I can always put them up for you.

Mark

Oh dear, can Saliva do much damage to a keyboard

[trw99]

OK Mark, now I am convinced, your Elan enthusiasm knows no bounds!

It was The Avengers that got me into Elans in the first place. And Diana Rigg and Julie Christie were my pin ups.

Didn't Rigg drive a S3 Elan later on?

Tim

[Bill]

Mark

No cold showers, Dianna was best in her leathers!!

I will attempt to send photos to this site - if I fail to make it work (old fart syndrom) would you please email me direct at< [email protected] > and I will foreword / replyto you direct with Picaso so you can post.

Tim

If Ms Rigg used an S3 she sureley would have damaged her tush on the window frames on her jump in entry to the vehicle.

Keep your stick on the ice Gents

Bill

[Bill]

Mark / Tim

PS

I just noticed, she is wearing some sort of body suit.

NO NAVEL !!

Whale oil beef hooked!

B

[twincamman]

that picture was before velcro so how did the oak leaf stay on ?????---ed

[GrUmPyBoDgEr]

that picture was before velcro so how did the oak leaf stay on ?????---ed

Still on the branch

[twincamman]

oh ---a sticky situation ----ed

[Bill]

Mark and all,
Here are the photos of my 63 elan...
Bill

[CBUEB1771]

that picture was before velcro so how did the oak leaf stay on ?????---ed

I am stunned that you did not regard my earlier postings re Velcro suggesting that it was around as early as 1948. Could you have been distracted? It is also pretty well accepted that S1 26Rs did not have a navel.

[twincamman]

oh --that explains the one on my s2 [just behind the steering wheel ]---must tear my self away from this tread as other material matters are pressing ---ed