Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

I was 23 years old and surprised my Lotus salesman in Surrey, UK when I ordered and paid cash for my new '72 Elan Sprint (Drophead Coupe) Convertible. After assembling the car we hit the road in August '72 with the license plate OUC 560L.

This Red/White Elan Sprint with Gold markings has to be somewhere (unless somebody wrecked it) and I would just like to know that it's still running around. Does anyone here own this car? How could I find out if it's still "alive"? All I have is a description and the UK plate number. I don't necessarily want to buy it back if somebody else loves it but I do dream of owning it if it's abandoned needing parts.

My current car is a 2003 track prepared MINI Cooper S (Red/White) and it needs a stablemate and I can think of no other more appropriate car than my Elan. Any help appreciated.

Graham
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Graham
Last changed hands on 8 august 1994,having had 5 previous owners.
If this helps
RAC.co.uk vehicle search

John

Hi Graham
Here's what the DVLA have on it:

Date of Liability 01 07 2006
Date of First Registration 01 08 1972
Date of Last V5 Issue 03 07 2004
Year of Manufacture Not Available
Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1558CC
CO2 Emissions Not Available
Fuel Type Petrol
Export Marker Not Applicable
Vehicle Status SORN Not Due
Vehicle Colour RED

So it's still alive, and it's still red! I don't think that DVLA will give out current owner details though. You can't tell if it's taxed and on the road or SORN'd (statement of offroad notification) and tucked away...someone on the forum may recognise it or spot it at a Lotus event. You must have been made up having a new Sprint at that age! In '75 at the tender age of 21 I was scraping together the ?400 needed to buy my S3...which I still have. An Elan is not just a fleeting affair you know!!!
Mark

Just to let you all know things dont change, I recently scraped together enough pennies to get my little monocolour black 72 sprint dhc and I'm only 24!

Hi All

The RAC search is a bit depressing ......... I just searched two of my previous Elans and they aren't on there.

I suppose it could mean they are enjoying sunnier climes or alternatively being lovingly restored somewhere and are not on the DVLA computer .......... that's what I'm telling myself anyway

One was the first Elan I ever owned, it was a '72 Sprint (Gold Leaf colours) in the glorious summer of '76. I raised the money doing mindless shift work in a sugar beet factory and the car was worth every minute of it

I miss my Elan too. I know exactly where it is though. It is in my garage awaiting the summer but it does not stop me missing driving it

Can someone post a link to the correct bit of the DVLA website- I can't find it!

Cheers,
Pete
'72 Sprint, looking for '68 S4 74JOH

http://www.vehiclelicence.gov.uk/EvlPortalApp/index.jsp

Then "Vehicle Enquiry"

My 73 Elan had 5 previous owners and I have owned the car since 83! !Thc car has also changed registration number twice and colour three times so I pity any previous owners trying to track the car down. The DVLA sent me a whole pile of photocopies of previous registrations (they used to offer this service once upon a time) but most of these were only just readable....I know the original owner came from Essex...
Carl

Only just picked up on this post but I can confirm my dad owns this car now. He bought it in the mid 90's and it has been fully restored to the origonal colours. Bodywork and spraying by Maranello's engine rebuild by Eagle Racing. Fantastic car lovingly looked after!!

Kerrygoodyer wrote:Only just picked up on this post but I can confirm my dad owns this car now. He bought it in the mid 90's and it has been fully restored to the origonal colours. Bodywork and spraying by Maranello's engine rebuild by Eagle Racing. Fantastic car lovingly looked after!!

Unfortunately this was "Tracktoy"'s one & only posting; He has not been here since Fri Jan 13, 2006

Kerrygoodyer wrote:Only just picked up on this post but I can confirm my dad owns this car now. He bought it in the mid 90's and it has been fully restored to the origonal colours. Bodywork and spraying by Maranello's engine rebuild by Eagle Racing. Fantastic car lovingly looked after!!

It sounds like it's in the right hands now!