Sprint? on U.K. Sportscars site

[rmd24]

This car was registered in August 1970. It started life as a FHC and none of the numbers tie up with any known sprint. Beware.

[theelanman]

any pics...link???
if its on an ad do we have a registration number??.....

[adigra]

Strange first post...

Adi

[rmd24]

Well maybe it is a strange post but it's a car I was interested in when it was for sale elsewhere and a little bit of research seemed to indicate that all was not as it seemed. The reg.no. is VOW 193J and pics can be seen on the U.K.Sportscars site .
I have now bought an S4 which I collect next week and look forwards to the depth of experience which undoubtedly exists on LotusElan.net.
Roger.

[trw99]

Roger and I corresponded about this car before he bought his S4. It has been on the market often recently and I am surprised that Mr Glugston has it again....

This is what I told Roger: ?I do not believe this car (VIN 7006 14 0141 E) to be one of the S4/Sprints. It was first registered in Portsmouth on the 1st August 1970, clearly predating the introduction of the Sprint for the road. Most S4/Sprints were road registered during the first three months of 1971.

The engine number (L23066) indicates that this was an SE Stromberg engine originally; the L should be N to indicate Big Valve. The number falls outside the range of early engines converted to Big Valve by the factory. It also has Dellorto carbs fitted by a previous owner, which indicates that it probably had a head change at some stage, to bring the engine to Big Valve spec. Dellortos were introduced on Sprints in mid 1972.

For these reasons I have to conclude that the car was originally a S4 and left the factory as such. It has clearly subsequently been converted to Sprint specification.'

You will also notice that it left the factory as a FHC and has subsequently been converted to DHC. If I was in the market for a Sprint and had a ?22k budget, I would be looking for a genuine Sprint and thus would not consider this car.

Tim

[adigra]

Roger, Tim, I certainly don't mind the warning, especially as I've had first hand experience with the dealer in question (and am still undoing the various "jobs" he's done on the car). All I mean is that a hello and a name to go with the first post would've been less abrupt. No offence meant.

Adi

[rmd24]

Adi,
Point taken. It was a knee-jerk reaction to the ad.

Sitting in sunny S.W. France waiting to collect my S4.

Roger.

[adigra]

Roger,

Congratulations on the purchase. Post some photos when you have them. I've just spent the afternoon on my car trying to get it ready for Le Mans Classic.

Adi

[alexblack13]

Go Adi....

Tell us how its going.. Pics ??

Alex...

[adigra]

Hi Alex!

I've run out of things to do... Everything left is waiting for parts from either Sue Miller (the door surround pieces which were originally in hardwood Sue is making for me in fibreglass) or the trimmer (the seats and doorcards). I just got the newly chromed bits yesterday so I was assembling them today, as well as sanding and repainting the rear view mirror. I was cutting down the instrument straps so they fit better... I mean really silly stuff just to keep the momentum going until the big parts arrive. I assembled the dash, which was a bit scary; drilling holes into that beautiful lacquer was pretty tense.

I have tons of pictures on my phone, as soon as I download them I'll make a post with all the work I've done.

Adi

[alexblack13]

Well done Adi.

Sounds very nerve wracking!! .. Looking forward to seeing the pics..

AB......

[Elanintheforest]

Adi...did you know that the mirror for the S3 Coupe is from a Ford Zephyr, and often come up on eBay?
There's one on now, but it's not quite correct as it's not chromed, but the chromed ones to appear from time to time.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FORD-ZEPHYR-MK3-I ... 5887ed3dbe

Mark

[adigra]

Mark, I didn't know that, thank you. I might bid on that one as it has better glass than mine. But my freshly re-chromed holder arm is perfect. I was painting the mirror case which seemed to be crackle black (it was quite rusty so hard to tell). Looks great, even if the black isn't exactly right. Another thing I did which might be heresy, but I like it, is to chrome the sun visor arms instead of paint them white. I figured with the mirror arm and the coat hooks being chrome it would look better.

Sorry for hijacking this thread!

Adi

[alexblack13]

Hey.. I helped with the hijack! Might even be my fault!!

Alex....

[GrUmPyBoDgEr]

Adi, it struck me as a bit odd that you've had to drill Holes in a new Dash.
Were some Missing?
Well anyway to the point I wanted to make:-
I had to drill some extra Holes in my shiny new Dash to accommodate some extra warning Lights & a hazard warning Switch.
I immediately painted the exposed bare Wood in an attempt to prevent any moisture entering at those areas & possibly lifting the Lacquer which you so often see.

Cheers
John