Lurker reveals himself

[skelteanema]

Hi everyone,

Well I have been lurking around, reading posts and following threads on this forum for the best part of 10 years, but this is the first time I have posted a message . I live in the antipodes, down here in the Manawatu in New Zealand and I am the proud owner of a 1967 Elan S3 DHC which I have owned for about 10 years. Its not concourse by any stretch of the imagination, and its not totally original, for example it is painted in Sprint colours, metallic blue over white with gold bumpers and rims. We don't have a great selection of classic Lotus cars down here in New Zealand (I believe there are less than 20 Elans, all models S1 through to Sprints in NZ). I think I have a reasonably good car, at least compared to the other one I looked at, which needed extensive work (interestingly it was shipped off to Japan, which was happening to a lot of NZ classic British cars (Lotus, MG, Triumph)at that time). It is a reasonably reliable car, although I don't use it that often these days (weather conditions are not often suited open top driving, and our new and first baby took away any other spare time I used to have).

So far I have found this site useful, as any problems I have encountered have usually been experienced by someone else and a search of the archives have usually led to a solution. I have many of the required books: the factory workshop manual, the factory parts lists, the Brian Buckland bible, the Wilkins twin cam engine book, Robinshaw and Ross Elan book, and a few others.

Anyway, I don't know how often I will post as work and family commitments don't leave much spare time, but I will continue to follow threads of interest, and use the archives when needed.

Skittle

[GrUmPyBoDgEr]

Congratulations on your "Coming out" Skittle.
The first Post is always hard.
You'll probably find more Elan enthusiast in NZ now.

Cheers
John

[elansprint]

Skittle welcome to the forum now lets have some pictures then
Ian

[reb53]

Hi Skittle,

Welcome to the fold, as they say in church, ( apparently...).
Don't forget you're only a few hours from me in Napier if you need the excuse for a drive.

"weather conditions are not often suited for open top driving".
You need to move over to the Bay. Have put the roof up 3 times in the last 18 years.

Cheers
Ralph.

[skelteanema]

Hi Ralph,

yes I should try and move to the Bay--actually I am originally from the other Bay (of Plently), and would prefer moving back there at some stage. Unfortunately we have good jobs here, and wouldn't have a hope of finding similar ones in either Bay.

Will try and post some photos of my beast soon, but going on holiday with the family for a few days.

[skelteanema]

Hi Guys,
Back from my holidays, so have posted a few photos of my car. The car was imported to New Zealand from the UK by the previous owner and still has the UK numbers on the front grill. It is NYL 304E, I don't know if anyone knows nay history of this car.

I have had to do very little on the car in the 10 years of owning it. I added the fire extinguisher, and do routine maintenance (oil changes, cooling changes, lubing the trunnions and steering). It usually flies through our warrant of fitness testing (similar to MOT, required every six months).

Insurance is NZ$130 per year for full cover (about GBP60) Now that the car is over 40 years old, it is considered "vintage" and annual road user charges are less than NZ$100 (about GBP45). The car is therefore relatively cheap to keep on the road .

Interested in any comments you may have.

[reb53]

Hi Skittle,
Your insurance sounds better than mine.
Who are you with ?

I'm looking forward to my Sprint becoming 40 and I can get the cheap rego also.

Cheers
Ralph.

[skelteanema]

Hi Ralph,

I'm with AMI. I have all my insurance with them, and found them to be pretty good.

[ebc699]

Hi Ralph / Skittle,
Like Skittle, I have the Plus 2 (as well as 3 other classics) with AMI "Classic & Vintage" Policy
Plus 2 costs $138.00 P.A.
If either of you coming across to the Mainland, let me know.
Cheers, Wylie

[Emma-Knight]

Nice car. In the eighties, my S2 was run with that sort of blue over white with small gold trim strip - and hubcaps.
Like the interior design.

Anna

[skelteanema]

The cream leather interior was done by the previous owner. It is hard wearing, but doesn't half show the greasy fingerprints when I have been working on the car! At some stage, I would like to get the centre console and the under dash trims back to the black plastic, and get a genuine gear stick gaiter. The problem is getting these items sent out to NZ without damage and at a reasonable cost! I personally like the colour scheme, even though I know it is not correct for an S3. I probably would repaint in a similar scheme if I was doing a restoration.

[redskatejbf]

Hi Skittle, Believe this or believe it not this is my old car, I purchased it when I was about 22 / 23 from Mike Spence in Maidenhead (South African F1 driver for Lotus) it was being used by his wife. I traded it in 1969 for a S4 FHC from Rob Walkers garage in Parkstone Poole Dorset, I was allowed ?944 for it against a brand new S4.
I still have the original invoice, it was originaly white with bolt on wheels, many years later I saw it at a Castle Combe Lotus day with `knock ons` so it now gone back to bolt ons, it was then blue all over and owned by a couple from London. I have looked for it at every Castle Combe and Donnington meet that I have been to since.
I have some photos that I took before I sold it, if I can find them I will send them to you but that is a mighty big if.
I was so impressed with this Lotus that I ignored the E type Jag. that I was keen on and bought the S4 that I still have and use today.
At the bottom of my posts I have the notation `The lines fall unto me in pleasant places etc. this `heritage`now also applies to you.

Kind Regards John.

[gerrym]

Hi Skelter, could you do us a favour and add a few details in the profile?

Makes it a bit easier to post a reply!!

Regards

Gerry (from ChCh)

[skelteanema]

Hi John,

thanks for the interesting background on the car. I know very little history of the car other than it was first registered in New Zealand in 1998. It was brought over to around that time by the previous owners when they immigrated to NZ, and it was put up for sale when the previous owner passed away. I bought the car in 2001 via a chap called Ken Woodburn, who is a New Zealand Lotus car service, repair and parts support/supplier. As Lotii are rather thin on the ground in NZ, and as this was in much better condition than the previous one I had been looking at, I bought it rather hastily without doing much research. I have not regretted the purchase as the car has been sound and reliable, although it is not totally original.

A few years later, Ken forwarded me a stack of photos of the car that he had received in the mail. Tey had been taken in the UK at some Lotus enthusiasts gathering (based on all the other Lotii in the background). At that stage the car was in a similar state as it is now (blue over white, bolt-on wheels, etc).

At least now I have a bit of information on the early years of the car, including the first owners!

Gerry, I have added a few details to my profile as suggested. Sorry that this was not done earlier, I am a little new to this game!