Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

....mmm I think this one could be around for a while as well

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2460187.htm

It

If this Sprint this supposed to be perfect, why is the chassis cut to fit the exhaust header? Hubs are not colour coded and it looks as if grease was used in the trunnions.
Pretty car for the unknowing.

fotsyr wrote:looks as if grease was used in the trunnions.

Whats wrong with grease in your trunnions , I have grease in my trunnions!

Terry

I would forget the over-priced Sprints, what about this +2 listed for only ?1? Bargain.

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2836997.htm

Not all Sprints are expensive...I just bought one for not much more than the price of an S4 chassis.

It's certainly not as fast as the S4, and the handling isn't as good, but it's a lot of fun. One of the last made, it's a 1980 model, with the 4 speed overdrive box.

One thing the Sprint does that the S4 never could is carry 4 people in comfort...perhaps that's the appeal?

Mark

Mark - great buy.

I recall going to Barry Island in one of those driven by a friend who worked for City Motors in Cardiff (remember them) must have been 75 or 76 and the Port Road was absolutley chocka so he just pulled out over the centre white line and overtook about a mile of traffic going like the clappers - quick car in its day!

I think they are great cars. Still has lots of style too. Almost bought one once.

Very nice mark.

AB...

Nice one!

Had some claim to fame of being the first mass produced SOHC 16 valve engine if I recall correctly?

I always recall, as a boy, the large billboard adverts for the Dolly sprint with a yellow on taking off on the brow of a hill - wouldn't be allowed these days!

Ahh, I think that chaps of a certain age recognise the beast! It was indeed the first 'mass produced' 16 valve engine, and on song they can hop along very well.

I first noticed them whilst driving around Snowdonia in my Lotus Cortina in the 70s. Suddenly the mirror filled with Yellow (they were all yellow for the first year or so), flashed his lights and went past like I was standing still. We had a bit of fun for 40 or 50 miles, then we pulled in for a natter. He was a vicar, in dog collar, trying out his new toy! He had traded in his Lotus Cortina a few weeks earlier, and had been looking for a victim to compare how his new Sprint went...he was very pleased indeed. I was fed up, so needed somthing that was faster than the Sprint, and bought the old S3 Coupe Elan which I still have. There, the story is complete.

I had one in Australia in the 80s, and loved it, except that I had to put the heater on when the temperature got above 35 C to stop the engine from exploding. Very, VERY uncomfortable. In races around town and out in the bush, it was much the same performance as my mate's 2002 Tii BMW. They used to rust as well.

The 2nd hand parts sem to be incredibly cheap for them, and there are plenty as so many cars rotted away to nothing within 10 or 15 years. The main reason I fell for this one was the magic 'Ziebart' sticker in the back, which has protected the car very well and is still just about rust free, and it's never been restored. The engine sounds like a diesel, but that's easily fixed!!

Mark

Elanintheforest wrote:Not all Sprints are expensive...I just bought one for not much more than the price of an S4 chassis. Mark

Nice one, Mark. But whatever next?

One of these, p'raps?



Cheers - Richard

What's that? An Avenger?
When I covered motor-sports for a well-known rag the class act in production saloon racing was the 3-ltre Ford Crapi; then along came the Dolly Sprint- a whole litre less and guess what? With the right bloke (even if he did weigh 26 stones) pedalling it it romped away.

elansprint71 wrote:What's that? An Avenger?

Yep...a "Hillman Avenger Tiger BRM" (Developed for Rallying, I believe)

Cheers - Richard

Now that I've stopped reminiscing about Dolly Sprints (my mother had one, which I borrowed frequently) and stopped remembering those awful Avengers (I went off the road in one) back on topic!

I see the Sprint that started off this thread is now on Pistonheads at ?39,995. So having undergone it's restoration the 'value' to the dealer has dropped from ?45,000. Funny old marketplace, classic cars eh?

I have to say, for that money I would expect the correct steering wheel and horn push, correct airbox, correct washer bag, correct seat belts, correctly oriented VIN plate and better finishing to the seat retrim. But that's just me....

Tim

Agreed....

and just from a quick look:

for that money I'd also expect correct solenoid, washer pump, radiator, washer jets, side repeaters, the position of the stripe looks out and those mirrors are fugly...

no offence intended just my opinion.