Soon to be joining your ranks...

[trw99]

Steve
I would say the car advertised is an S4 - it has the "airflow" grills on the B Pillar.

Richard

The S3 did have the grills on the coupe roof, less the very early - and now much sought after - versions. Mark will be able to say but not many S3s were produced without the grills. Besides, the S4 was introduced after the F registration plate year, as I recall.

Tim

[robcall]

interior door handles,dash switches,non- flared wheel arches-definately an S3.

[richardcox_lotus]

Yep - stand corrected. I'll go back to my soft-top world

[Steve G]

Thanks for all the responses, very useful info. I haven't ruled out a Plus Two, or even decided whether I want a fixed or drop head coupe, the FHC would obviously be better for track days as I would need a proper roll cage otherwise. I also slightly prefer the looks of the FHC, even though open top motoring is great.

I've always loved the Elans and known them to be great driver's cars, I love them for their simplicity, light weight and beautiful proportions and lines, but I had no idea just how many variations there were, S1-S4 and that they made them for 11 years in various guises. I have a lot to learn!

[atthelimit]

Hi Steve

Assuming that you get a car at some point S3, S4 +2 or what, I noted that from your first post that you might want to do some trackdays.

Just to let you know we do a Lotus scheme insurance and can provide cover for up to 4 track days a year included in the policy. So as and when you enter the Lotus world give me a call if you need any help sorting the insurance out. They need to be organised by recognised clubs or circuits but places like Goodwoood are on the list. After watching fabulous racing at the Revival wouldn't it be great to do a Goodwood track day!

I will be at the Revival all three days as a friend is racing there so I might bump into you and Paddy on the Friday with any luck.

Good luck hunting.

Kim
Abbot Insurance
See the vendors page for more information.

[memnon]

Don't forget that these cars are fibreglass / GRP

A roll in a FHC without a cage is going to be as bad as DHC! Also see steveww's thread, I think its called "good bye" the cage stops the wheels from snapping your legs off at the knees!

I wouldn't drive an elan properly quick without a cage - certainly not on a track

[Steve G]

Hi Steve

Assuming that you get a car at some point S3, S4 +2 or what, I noted that from your first post that you might want to do some trackdays.

Just to let you know we do a Lotus scheme insurance and can provide cover for up to 4 track days a year included in the policy. So as and when you enter the Lotus world give me a call if you need any help sorting the insurance out. They need to be organised by recognised clubs or circuits but places like Goodwoood are on the list. After watching fabulous racing at the Revival wouldn't it be great to do a Goodwood track day!

I will be at the Revival all three days as a friend is racing there so I might bump into you and Paddy on the Friday with any luck.

Good luck hunting.

Kim
Abbot Insurance
See the vendors page for more information.

Hi Kim

Thank you for that very useful information. I have heard that insurance on an Elan can be very reasonable with Classic Car insurance, are you able to tell me roughly what the premium would be if I gave you some details, obviously you can PM if you'd rather not quote on a public forum. My details are;

Age: 30
Convictions in last five years: 0 : )
Occupation: Architect
Postcode: BN1
Licence held: 5 years
Car will be kept in a secure garage and not used for commuting.
Estimated Annual mileage < 4,000 miles.

Great news about the trackday cover, I have done a Trackday at Goodwood in my Clio Trophy and absolutely loved it, the touring car driver Anthony Reid drove my car around and then sat as a passenger as I made a tit of myself!
I have also done ones at Brands Hatch Indy, Bedford Autodrome and the Nurburgring (I know you won't be able to cover that!)

Hopefully see you on the Friday.

Thanks

Steve

[Steve G]

Don't forget that these cars are fibreglass / GRP

A roll in a FHC without a cage is going to be as bad as DHC! Also see steveww's thread, I think its called "good bye" the cage stops the wheels from snapping your legs off at the knees!

I wouldn't drive an elan properly quick without a cage - certainly not on a track

That is also very useful information and you were right to inform me, I hadn't even considered the safety implications, I would rather not put a roll cage in and I would still track the car as It's no less safe than tracking a motorbike, you just have to be careful. I don't think I would take an unmodified Elan to the Nurburgring though, they are bloody nutters there and a poorly driven 997 Porsche (of which there were a few, usually UK plates!) would probably pass right through an Elan with just a flick of the wipers.

[atthelimit]

Steve, Re Insurance.

There are two schemes one insured on a classic car policy excluding track days. Depends on exact car and value etc and details but as a ball park figure I have gone for a value of ?12k as i saw that mentioned limited to 5000 miles.

The premium for you would be ?101.00 appx from the information you gave but obviously we would need to do the quote thoroughly nearer the time. Flat rated no bonus required.

If you want a policy to cover 4 track days that would be about ?240 ish, again we would need to check again at the time you get the car. This uses the no claim bonus you have already built up and I have assumed 5 years.

I suppose it depends on how often you might do track days, we can do stand alone cover which is about ?75.00 per event so as you can see if you are going to do more than 2 it starts to become worthwhile. If you do more than 4 and want further cover you can then take out cover as and when you neede it.
There is normally a high excess on track day cover, typically say ?2k but if you wrote a car off and were "only" ?2k down you might think that was a bit of a result!

I think it depends on how you view track days, personally with all the cars going the same way, no tractors or old ladies to pull out on you, I think they are reasonably safe. You sometimes have to be careful about who else is out on track and wether they are a lunatic or as is the case most of the time out for a blast but want to take their car home in one piece. But as the saying goes sh*t happens so you have to make up your own mind on that one.

Hope this helps.
Give us a proper go when you get the car or have found one.

Kim

[Rob_LaMoreaux]

Oh come on I'd love to drive my Elan on the Ring, although my '02 Corvette would be better Suited for it. Either would be more fun than the Fiat Mara Station wagon I drove on the ring with my father, sister and our luggage. It was a blast, and yes I did watch my mirrors and stay out of the way of the crazies.

As people have said 6' 7" is not neccessarily a limitation, but the Just 2 Elan will be more of a shorehorn fit than the Plus 2. The extra width of the Plus 2 may make the difference between too cramped to move and comfortable. I find my Elan in many ways roomier than my father-in-laws MX5 even though it makes his MX5 look huge. His Alfa GTA Jr. and Spider make are roomier still, but the MX5 is his commuter. My 6' 7" friend doesn't fit in my Corvette let alone my Elan, but that is about width as much as length. The Elan has very narrow seats and pedal spacing, so shoe width is a concern. The Plus 2 less so.

Enjoy,

Rob

[seaandmoor]

Hi and welcome. Yes - I'm tall too and had the same questions as yourself.

Having tried this and that I ended up my quest with a very nice plus 2 and have had some happy and interesting 4 years tinkering with all sorts of things.

I don't track it but having said that a number of Plus 2's are tracked and with the longer wheelbase are great fun. They are also good for going fairly long distances as they absorb the road in the way that larger cars just do.

I'm not sure about purists and those who are either for or against the zetec transplant. In the S1-S4 Elan I think you would be shedding a bucket load of money if you ditched the twincam. However, I think zetec's have almost become an accepted option for the plus 2 but then you might as well just buy the MX5. Me - I'm keeping the big valve - there is just something about it.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

[richgilb]

I don't think I would take an unmodified Elan to the Nurburgring though, they are bloody nutters there and a poorly driven 997 Porsche (of which there were a few, usually UK plates!) would probably pass right through an Elan with just a flick of the wipers.

I've just booked a weekend at the Ring for October 22nd.

[Steve G]

Next Saturday I am going to buy an Elan!

I have sold my car yesterday and arranged the rest of my finances and I will be going to view an Elan for the second time with a view to purchasing it. I'm so excited I can't think about anything else!

It is a 1970 S4 in Gold Leaf colours and Sprint livery. I don't think it is a genuine Sprint although seems to have all the important bits including Big Valve engine. It is of little importance to me as it will eventually get a respray and if not a factory Sprint I will probably go for a solid colour such as Yellow or even the less popular Pistachio.

It has quite a few modifications such as Spyder roll over bar and side impact protection system, and an alloy fuel tank and associated plumbing but is otherwise in good, original spec with the correct wheels, mechanicals and interior.

This will seem like the most ridiculous thing to do, but I can't actually drive the car home! Because of the roll cage the seats are moved forward quite a bit and as such I can't drive the car safely. I will be unbolting the roll over bar once home so I can move the seats back, with the intention to modify and re-fit the roll bar and seat rails to provide more space. I know I can fit without the cage but would like to get it back in eventually.

I have a few more questions;

Does anyone know any history of or previously owned GRB 352H ?

Has anyone modified a Spyder roll over bar ( http://www.spydercars.co.uk/pg2_spy_rollbar.htm ) to allow the seats to go all the way back?

Have you ever heard of someone be insane enough to buy a car they can't fit into?

I'm hopefully going to the Pre-Tax Goodwood Breakfast Club on Sunday the 7th March, so if any of you are going I would love to meet up and get as much advice and information as possible, in return you can enjoy laughing at me trying to get out of a car that was designed by someone half my size!

[curly type 26]

Welcome Steve, you seem to be displaying some of the required qualities nescessary to be an elan owner including the urge to spend even more cash. Curly 1964 26Rr

[gino1]

Hi all,
Talking of S3 Coup? pre air flows, does anyone know how many were made ?
Thanks
Gino
Milano
Italy