Two at Once!

[Quart Meg Miles]

Great pair of projects, Tom!

The S2 is just a little earlier than mine and looks pretty standard (though the gear shift knob looks like a later version) so I hope you intend to keep it original. There will be some unusual parts as it is a transitional S1/2 car: transmission bolt spacings and possibly front brakes etc. I can't believe it started up in a few hours after 40 years!

The S3 seems to have lost its virginity so might as well be modified further! But that's your call (or Brian's).

Best of luck with both of them.

[seniorchristo]

Hi Tom
I also have a Super Safety #7594. Your car has many of the SS features but the gauges are black (not chrome) and are not recessed. The dashboard with bonnet pulls and the wheel hubs with Nader nuts appear to be from a 1968 model year. My car is a 1967 although the number is later than yours.

[Woody M]

Tom,

I too am a neophyte Lotus Elan restorer. If you get anywhere near Hershey PA, come see my 1965 Elan S2 project. You might come for one, or more of the Hershey/Carlisle events, or simply come to see Dutch Fenical? I any case, welcome to a fun, expensive and interesting project, (or two). I am buying stuff from Tony Thompson Racing. His son, Eddie is good to work with, as is Stuart, their parts guru.

Regards,
Woody Menear
1215 Upton Court
Hummelstown PA
17036
(717) 566-8687 home
(717) 602-3043 mobile
[email protected]

[Certified Lotus]

Glad to see more Elan?s being restored and saved! Although my first Elan restoration was an S1 and most of the work was mechanical, you guys might enjoy reading about the entire process in my post: lotus-elan-f19/elan-rebuild-story-t34178.html

[Tom Cotter]

Thank you for forwarding your previous story. It answered some questions: that there are 18 bolts holding the body (including two behind the dash), and that you can pull the body off the chassis with the engine still in place. Eight plus hours to remove the body means I have 16+ hours of work ahead of me. I may contact you from time-to-time. Thank you.

[Tom Cotter]

Welcome indeed Tom. As the custodian of your last Elan (I assume you haven't had any more in the mean time), I'll be trying to keep pace with your twins as you work on them. As you can perhaps tell, I have not been making huge progress with the S3 SE FHC though the 'History' has come together nicely in no small part due to this forum and Mark 'Elan in Forest' in particular. I need to join the dots between it going back to Lotus and arriving with you, perhaps starting with Christopher, the woodworking guy you bought the car from who thus far I've not been able to track down.
All the best and good luck!
Rob
S3 SE FHC
S2 7
22
S1 Elise

Rob, Thanks for the update and encouragement. If you want to sell that coupe back to me, I might be interested. Tom

[Tom Cotter]

Welcome Tom! Sounds like you and your son are in for plenty of adventure!

Where in NC are you? I get up there for business a bit- in fact I'll be near Fayetteville this week.

Hello, Veg. I live in Davidson , near Charlotte. Let me know if you are traveling nearby. Tom

[Tom Cotter]

Tom,

I too am a neophyte Lotus Elan restorer. If you get anywhere near Hershey PA, come see my 1965 Elan S2 project. You might come for one, or more of the Hershey/Carlisle events, or simply come to see Dutch Fenical? I any case, welcome to a fun, expensive and interesting project, (or two). I am buying stuff from Tony Thompson Racing. His son, Eddie is good to work with, as is Stuart, their parts guru.

Regards,
Woody Menear
1215 Upton Court
Hummelstown PA
17036
(717) 566-8687 home
(717) 602-3043 mobile
[email protected]" target="_blank

Woody, (one of my favorite cars...),
Thanks for the invite. I am at Hershey at least once each year, and every time I visit my friend Posie. Plus I need to tour the RD shops, which I assume are nearby. I'll be in touch, Tom

[Woody M]

Tom,

Please do stay in touch! Marjorie and I have 4-bedrooms and the kids have kids of their own....you would be a welcome guest; bring car stories and I'll swap you some antique/aerobatic airplane tales. Posie and the crowd will be there for my (if I must say so) - world famous Martinis. See you in the New Year.

Regards,
Woody Menear

[elaninfuture]

That Tom Cotter? Cobras in the Barn? Hagerty? If so, keep up the good work. I've been enjoying your writing for years.

[Certified Lotus]

Tom, happy to provide any insights I may have. I?ve done two complete Elan restorations and one ?fix the details? preparation along with a Europa frame off restoration I?m in the midst of. Have learned a few things along the way but depend on the expertise of the people on this forum for the vast knowledge of the details of these cars.

It?s a journey that I find totally enjoyable and having ?friends along the way? really helps.

[Tom Cotter]

Tom,

Please do stay in touch! Marjorie and I have 4-bedrooms and the kids have kids of their own....you would be a welcome guest; bring car stories and I'll swap you some antique/aerobatic airplane tales. Posie and the crowd will be there for my (if I must say so) - world famous Martinis. See you in the New Year.

Regards,
Woody Menear

Thank you, Woody.

[Tom Cotter]

That Tom Cotter? Cobras in the Barn? Hagerty? If so, keep up the good work. I've been enjoying your writing for years.

I love doing those episodes. I do them all for you!

[Tom Cotter]

Tom, happy to provide any insights I may have. I?ve done two complete Elan restorations and one ?fix the details? preparation along with a Europa frame off restoration I?m in the midst of. Have learned a few things along the way but depend on the expertise of the people on this forum for the vast knowledge of the details of these cars.

It?s a journey that I find totally enjoyable and having ?friends along the way? really helps.

Thank you, Glen.

Here's a question: is it possible to remove the Elan body with the engine still mounted on the chassis?

[Certified Lotus]

Tom, Just remove the Weber carbs, water hoses, radiator, all connecting cables from the wiring harness to the engine, coil to distributor cable, ground straps, throttle cable and exhaust manifold. Hoist body away.

I have found reinstalling the body to the chassis with the drive line components all installed is also the easiest.

Good luck!