Early Elan

[Frogelan]

This is a very nice looking car. Well done indeed.

Andrew

[Mazzini]

+ 1 to that!

[Quart Meg Miles]

Well done! That looks as original as anything I've ever seen, apart from the gear knob, and you seem to have rather a lot of capillary!

There should be some insulation under the hood (bonnet) which was something like horsehair with a woven surface. Mine is ruined but I'll try to take a photo.

[GLB]

Thanks. The capillary is from a new guage. I guess I could wad some of it up under the cowl. How many turns should I have? I thought the early Elans had a dished gear knob. It does have a small enameled LOTUS badge in the center. Don't know if I could bring myself to cover the underside of the bonnet or where to get originalish matting. I would appreciate a picture of the original if you can provide some. Gary

[Mazzini]

Have a look at the Brooklands books, they're a collection of period road tests, the photographs show precisely how the cars left the factory.

I recently bought an old Motor magazine with a road test of an S2 S/E, the photos showed a surprising mixture of S2 and S3 parts had been fitted.

The capillary is looped back to the water heater valve where it is secured by a P clip attached to the valve, then the capillary is coiled before going through the bulkhead. Surprisingly this is listed in one of the owners handbooks. I'll dig it out and photograph it if you're interested.

The dished gear knob is correct for an early Elan and Mk1 Lotus Cortina. Originals are rare and expensive. Count yourself lucky to still have it.

The sound deadening material under the bonnet had cut outs for the radiator cap. I left mine off as the bonnet was heavy enough and it's a fire risk.

[vstibbard]

Terrific job, now it's time to enjoy it as it was meant to be. I really like S1/2's in white and pale colours.

+1 Rob, on all the elamns I've bought tat had not been pulled apart the capillary was coiled and connected to the heater valve with a p clip as you describe, the idea was to stop it cracking where it leaves the bulb.

Cheers

V

[Quart Meg Miles]

I withdraw my objection to the gear knob, with apologies.

My bonnet (hood) insulation had no cut outs, again a slightly later car, and I cut the edge off 45 years ago to repair the bonnet edge. The material seems to be elephant hide on top with horse hair (edit: more likely hessian, coir or hemp now I think about it) 1/8 - 1/4 inches (3 - 6 mm) thick on the glued side. Mine has frayed out and the photo of it is from the top left of the main shot.

[GLB]

could that be the same material used as the boot "carpet"? Any idea where to get it in bulk? Gary

[Quart Meg Miles]

could that be the same material used as the boot "carpet"? Any idea where to get it in bulk? Gary

I wouldn't think so, Gary, the surface of the boot carpet was more domestic than the underside of the bonnet insulation which is rather industrial though I wouldn't attempt to describe one after a long absence of seeing an original one. I don't know where anything comes from nowadays though St Wilkins might know in the UK. Finding anything identical after sixty years is unlikely.

[Frogelan]

Gary

In the 60s, many boot finishes (even on flashy cars like Jaguars) were finished in Hardura rather than "carpet".

According to Newton Commercial (fim in Suffolk who produce Elan interiors the correct boot finish part is CK5558A in Hardura. https://newtoncomm.co.uk/pages/catalogues

I hope this is helpful. Please keep up the good efforts in publishing tips and tweeks !


Andrew

[Mazzini]

Attached is a photo of a one owner from new '65 S2. The under bonnet matting is the same as was used under the rubber matting inside the car, the only difference being fifty years worth of oil which gives the surface a certain sheen.

[elans3]

Well done, lovely early car, very envious, and you should be very proud !

[au-yt]

Loved the coverage of the restoration and a job well done! I find I always learn something following the stories of restoration of cars and in this case Hardura (felt?).

I owned an S2 Elan, 33 years ago and have very fond memories about the car, and now after owning a Sprint, a few years ago, the thing that I really liked about the S2 is the shoulder space. The trim for Electric windows on the later cars may look nice but I recon the 1 1/2” in an S2 makes big a difference.

Reading all this makes me want the S2 back, The person I sold it to still has it! Where’s my phone...