Elan sprint restoration

[richard sprint]

Last year I taxed minds with many questions (many thanks to Brian and Leslie) as I got to grips with restoring my 1972 elan sprint dhc.

As time has passed now 1 year into the project I pondered on many options but significantly the car had been in storage since 1982 and the speedometer registered 27,000 miles which I assumed was once round the clock.

Once the engine had been stripped it became clear that this mileage was genuine as the pistons were original. Still 27 years of damp storage had done no favours to the running gear which had corroded, seized and disintegrated.

I heavily questioned the cost of shell refurbishment - while the shell was accident damage free apart from a few star cracks the quotes were more than I expected for such a diminutive model. However after questioning and visiting various workshops I decided that expertise was essential.

So now with all work completed to the chassis (new lotus) all suspension components either shot blasted/painted or replaced. Brakes refurbished, supply lines, diff and gearbox refurbished all joints/bushes/trunions/bearings replaced, engine stripped out and made good still with original pistons. I await the return of the body from SMS in Lincolnshire.

So shortly I will start on the interior, new carpets/dash and all the fitting out.

I seem to keep setting myself unrealistic targets first it was to complete within the year and now I hope by the summer - still why work up into a lather?

The front screen is still original with the running in instructions sticker in place so have to decide whether to replace.

After boring everyone in radius senseless I have decided to keep to the original Lotus LO7 yellow over white - even though I have been much taken with the idea of first Pistachio over white and Black over white which Leslie has - this adds to my mind a high degree of sophistication but there you go!

So still plenty to do and the cost so far in parts has been over 6K!

It has been a project of fascination while learning and of course were I doing this again would do many things differently - still I feel lucky in having found such an original vehicle and now await DVLA info on the previous owners as it would be good to aquire some past history and photos...

[Elanintheforest]

I don?t think that you?ll regret the decision to keep the car the original yellow over white, Richard. You may see a couple of others at the Lotus shows, but you won?t see another on the road?or at least, I haven?t, for about 20 years! The colour scheme looks just right on the Sprint, and I guess that Lotus thought so as well with it appearing on a couple of the brochures. I?ve only seen one black over white Sprint which looked very good?.a dhc with a bulge in the bonnet, so a very early Sprint I guess.

I don?t worry about deadlines now despite being constantly asked ?when will it be finished??. With three full restorations on the go, and a couple of refurbishments besides, I?d only be setting myself up for not enjoying the process. Progress is slow but the journey is fun!

How are you going to tackle the next phase Richard? The last body-off Elan I did I found that building the shell up whilst still off the chassis was so much easier, with the shell high up on stands giving great access for putting in the looms, the wipers, heater and dash, and all the bits in the engine bay?..especially in the nose! This is assuming you?ve previously done the drilling / tapping for the chassis bolts of course. I left the doors off until the body was re-united with the chassis and had settled down, but you may well get the doors fitted back on by SMS I guess.

Hopefully my Elite shell is off to Option1 this year for its painting session and I?ll be spending next winter in the garage putting that all back together. A fair bit easier that an Elan I think!

Have fun.

Mark

[512BB]

Good morning Mark,

Was the black over white Elan that you mention, at Castle Combe by any chance? I went there 7-8 years ago with a mate of mine in such an Elan. It was a bit embarassing, as no sooner had we turned up, before getting out, there were a swarm of people around the car taking photos. I thought to myself, what on earth are they all doing, bothering with my car. And knowing what a keen snapper you are, I am sure you have a picture in your archive. And again, you are correct, it is an early Sprint with a bulge, that was an S4, that was Sprinted by the factory.

I would like to travel down to CC this year in it if poss. Just a minor job that needs doing to it at the mo that requires the body lifting 6" off the chassis!

Post a pic if you have one, Im a modest chap. It would be good to recall how much hair I had in those days, if Im in shot!

Leslie

[trw99]

I don?t think that you?ll regret the decision to keep the car the original yellow over white, Richard. You may see a couple of others at the Lotus shows, but you won?t see another on the road?or at least, I haven?t, for about 20 years! The colour scheme looks just right on the Sprint, and I guess that Lotus thought so as well with it appearing on a couple of the brochures. I?ve only seen one black over white Sprint which looked very good?.a dhc with a bulge in the bonnet, so a very early Sprint I guess.
Mark

Mark

From my records yellow was the most popular original colour for a Sprint, even more so than the now predominant red. That should please you as I know of your propensity for yellow Loti!

As for black, I know of only one Sprint which has that as an original factory finish.

Tim

[richardcox_lotus]

Only issue with yellow is the flies it attracts on a Summer Day !

Bzzzzz Bzzzzz

Regards

Richard
'72 Sprint (blue)

[richard sprint]

richard

BB512 will testify to this at Silverstone last year!!!

[richardcox_lotus]

By the way, at the risk of hijacking this thread, I've just ordered my tickets for Sliverstone this year - anyone else going ? (Daily Telegraph are doing a 25% discount)

Regards

Richard

[richard sprint]

Richard

I will be going and hopefully in the Lotus just depends on progress...

Richard