Lotus Elan Shapecraft

[RIB]

Vaughan
I think that it has a vinyl roof and a trim strip to cover the edges of the vinyl.
The boot lid seems to be the same as the first Shapecraft.

[vstibbard]

I agree I also managed to see two pictures in earlier attachments.
The car in your last post, what’s it’s story?
Cheers
Vaughan

[RIB]

Vaughan
It is the first Shapecraft, chassis 260033, Bourne body 24. It was raced by Barry Wood in 1963, but was a bit of a wreck when I bought it in the late 1970s.
After decades with other priorities the original chassis has now been repaired and the body has been repaired by Dave Hughes, including removing the roof and refitted with much stronger aluminium mounting plates. It is now awaiting the final coats in the original colour, Cirrus White.

[nmauduit]

It is the first Shapecraft, chassis 260033, Bourne body 24. It was raced by Barry Wood in 1963, but was a bit of a wreck when I bought it in the late 1970s.

looking superb! please post more when you get a chance, before and after restoration...

[elansprint71]

Vaughan
It is the first Shapecraft, chassis 260033, Bourne body 24. It was raced by Barry Wood in 1963, but was a bit of a wreck when I bought it in the late 1970s.
After decades with other priorities the original chassis has now been repaired and the body has been repaired by Dave Hughes, including removing the roof and refitted with much stronger aluminium mounting plates. It is now awaiting the final coats in the original colour, Cirrus White.

RIB, will it be restored with the "unusual nose" which the first Shapecraft car appeared with? I see that the registration number 39PG is not allocated at the moment; was that with the car when you bought it?

[h20hamelan]

Lotus Elan "re-bodied" in cut by Italian designer Pietro Frua, (chassis #26/0341) presented at the Geneva Show 1964

sorry, hope to not be in trouble

[vstibbard]

Thanks for the rundown on your car RIB, please keep the restoration pictures and update coming.
Cheers
Vaughan

[TBG]

That Frua bodied jobbie is quite stunning. D

[h20hamelan]

I like the front 1/4 and the rear 1/4 windows, would add some nice air. And weight, not as nice unless its raining. There are colour pictures around from the show etc.

[RIB]

The original Shapecraft front was not on the car when I bought it, presumably because of accident damage. The whole front was in a mess with bodged repairs, see photo. I think that the Shapecraft front is ugly in comparison with the normal Elan front and it would be expensive to reproduce in aluminium as original. It has been repaired with a 26R type front, and fixed lights with perspex covers as it had originally. I think that it was the first Elan to have the perspex covers.
It lost the 39 PG registration number in 1963/64

[The Veg]

That Frua bodied jobbie is quite stunning. D

I agree!

[trw99]

For those of you admiring the Frua, I have started a new thread, 'The Frua Elan', rather than hijack this interesting thread.

Tim

[Mazzini]

Here are a couple of Shapely Craft showing quite a few differences to each other. Taken at Castle Coombe and Donnington in 1986 (ish).
Mark

I always thought that 863 EJU was the nicest looking Shapecraft Elan. I guess it's in japan now.

[trw99]

Rob,

It is reported to be the same as APJ 2B, the Britt Ekland car. It is the car with the wire wheels in Surbiton brochure. Was at auction in UK 2014 and was still racing in 2017.

Tim