Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

skelteanema wrote:I assume the Denis Jenkinson mentioned as part of the "build team" was the "Jenks" famous for his Motorsport journalism. If its him, then I read recently in our NZ classic car mag that he navigated for Stirling Moss in a Works Mercedes cars at the Mille Miglia in mid 50's (a bit before my time). And to think he found the time and enthusiasm to help build a Lotus Elan Kit.

Yes, sure it was. Jenks was another of my father's friends, and one tha tI remember from the late 1940s, when he used to go trialing with Holly Birkett. He was a real enthusiast.

RogerFrench wrote:

skelteanema wrote:I assume the Denis Jenkinson mentioned as part of the "build team" was the "Jenks" famous for his Motorsport journalism. If its him, then I read recently in our NZ classic car mag that he navigated for Stirling Moss in a Works Mercedes cars at the Mille Miglia in mid 50's (a bit before my time). And to think he found the time and enthusiasm to help build a Lotus Elan Kit.

Yes, sure it was. Jenks was another of my father's friends, and one tha tI remember from the late 1940s, when he used to go trialing with Holly Birkett. He was a real enthusiast.

Nice short read on Wikipedia about 'Jenks'. Sounds like building the elan was right up his street...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denis_Jenkinson

Great fun.

Hi, I'm new to the site.

Does anybody have an idea how much a Lotus Elan kit is worth untouched still in its shipping crates?

I know of one near me and am considering buying it. I haven't seen it, don't know the condition, if any parts are missing or its age. I'm just trying to get educated before approaching the seller.

I have always loved the Elans since my high schools days when one of my friends father and a street as well as a GT2 SCCA race version.

thanks,

Richard

I don't think anyone here could put a price on it; must be unique.

What is a GT2 Elan? I thought that GT2 racing only started after 2000, maybe I'm mistaken.

Richard

Welcome to the site.

I guess there is only one correct answer to your question - how much are you prepared to offer for it? How much will the seller accept? You have to find that level. If true and complete, this is a great find. If it was mine, I would keep it in pretty much the condition as found, out of the crate.

We would certainly be really grateful for a load of good digital images of the the car, inside and out, since that would be a great reference for factory originality.

Good luck

Tim

Well that's always the golden question. I don't want to insult him by offering a low number and I don't want to overpay. He's a friend that I see around town occasionally. If you look at the prices of Elans some can be big money (to me) over $20k. If this is original I would think it's got some value. He approached me as he knew I was interested in it but since I really had no idea on it's value I didn't pursue the deal.

Next time I see him I'll ask if I can see it and take some photos. That may help to determine a fair value. From what he told me it's in the basement of his mother's house and has been there for years. He used to be a personal mechanic for a big time CEO's car collection but I don't know how he acquired it.

As to the other post's question, SCCA (sports car club of America) GT2 is a class of racing in the US in which my friends father's elan was classed. Its not a type of Elan. His race car was a full tube frame chassis all out racecar with slicks (tires). Totally not street legal. I'll look back in my old photos to see if can find any shots of it.

Cheers

Richard,

It sounds like a great find. If you may be located in the US, there are members here with expertise who would likely be willing to assist in any aspect of your potential purchase.

I join with the posters above in looking forward to photos and/or more info. Good luck!

Richard, what a fantastic find.

A perfect restored Elan here in the UK goes for anything between ?30,000 and ?45,000. To restore an Elan to the highest standards by one of the few who know how to do it....?50,000 (plus buying the car in the first place). Multiply those figures by 1.5 for dollars, and you have a pretty expensive car!

If the car in the crate is still in 'as new' condition, then it has to be worth that sort of money...even more as it must be unique. Elans tend not to fetch as much in the USA as they do in the UK, but it doesn't cost much to ship a crate around the world these days.

Mark

rwhperry wrote:
Does anybody have an idea how much a Lotus Elan kit is worth untouched still in its shipping crates?

Wow, I'd like to know the story behind this one.

Greg Z

Well that's always the golden question. I don't want to insult him by offering a low number and I don't want to overpay. He's a friend that I see around town occasionally. If you look at the prices of Elans some can be big money (to me) over $20k. If this is original I would think it's got some value. He approached me as he knew I was interested in it but since I really had no idea on it's value I didn't pursue the deal.

Next time I see him I'll ask if I can see it and take some photos. That may help to determine a fair value. From what he told me it's in the basement of his mother's house and has been there for years. He used to be a personal mechanic for a big time CEO's car collection but I don't know how he acquired it.

As to the other post's question, SCCA (sports car club of America) GT2 is a class of racing in the US in which my friends father's elan was classed. Its not a type of Elan. His race car was a full tube frame chassis all out racecar with slicks (tires). Totally not street legal. I'll look back in my old photos to see if can find any shots of it.

Cheers

I would get a look at the Elan with an experienced Elan owner first off, If its a S1 then things change a lot, if a later S2 or S3 or S4, not sure if or how many Sprints were kits I think all would be great, but different values range for each. You have to have a figure in your own mind as to what you would be willing to pay so don't offer. Ask in a way that says to the owner, "I don't want to insult you, you have to have a figure in mind" if that doesn't work then start someplace if you want it. Basket cases are $5k to $10k on ebay (premium prices in my mind), a bit less on craigslist if you ever see one, so figure that into your ideas as to what things "are worth" to you. I am 25 miles south of Boston. Nick (Elanner) just bought a nice driving S4 for $18k so that is another thing to think of, do you want to own some part of Lotus history and be the keeper of it or do you want to drive it, these are all questions you need to answer.

p-a

p.s. - If it were an S1 Elan, it would be great if the Barber museum had it displayed and set it up as Lotus did the show car.

I've been giving this some thought; if it really is an unbuilt Elan kit in the box surely it must be worth ten-times more in that box, than if it were to be assembled. That's how it is with the Gunze-Sangyo models and I feel this must be even more true of the real thing. Build it up and it becomes just another Elan.

Look forward to seeing the photos.

Your probably right as a collectors investment its worth 10 times more in the box. Just like old wines probably no good to drink but worth a fortune if still in the bottle rather than in your glass.

The joy of the relatively low cost of Lotus ownership is that it is about using the car how you want, not investing in it to suit some future market value. So i say, buy but it, build it and use it. And see if you can assemble it over a weekend and be down the pub by Sunday lunch.

Maybe an engine and other parts dry stored for 40 years will need a little work?

Maybe sacriledge I know but .........

cheers
Rohan

If it is truely in it's original packaging as I was told it was from the current owner from what I read in the most recent posts then game has changed. It has been a couple years since I had talked to him [about the car] so now I'm re-energized to get in and see it.

On the downside to all you Elan lovers, it may be a Super 7. Anybody know if that car was also sold in kit form.

rwhperry wrote: it may be a Super 7. Anybody know if that car was also sold in kit form.

Yes the Seven was also sold as a kit and even if it is a Seven thats also a great find there are a lot of people who would love to find a untouched kit of any Lotus.....we NEED pictures

I wonder if this is a kit, as such. I have it in my mind that the Federal Elans were sold 'complete' in North America, never as a kit.

If that was the case, then could this Elan - if that is what it is - be in it's shipping condition, ready for the dealer to complete before sale? And if so, what is that condition? Engine in/out, suspension on/off etc?

Tim