Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Hi All,
Just a quick first post on my new restoration project Elan S2 1965
This car has competed in two targa Florio races and several track races in Italy.
The car has been laid up in a garage in Tuscany since 1993 when the sicilian pilot, Diliberto, during a revival of the Targa Florio in Sicily was killed.
Three years before it won for three years consecutive years the "Monte Erica" Hillclimb in Sicily.

Will keep you updated on my progress.

Gino
Milano
Italy

A wonderful piece of Elan history.

I look forward to seeing it restored.

cheers
Rohan

Nice to know that you are keeping yourself busy Gino. Any S2 is nice, but one with racing provenance is special. My next project will be an early car, but it won't be until finances permit so unlikely for the next 2 or 3 years. I will look forward to seeing you progress with this one.

Hi All,
Just posting a few more pics of my restoration.
The rear cut out for a bigger bore exhaust duct that I made up and the n the car turned back and the new front winscreen frame fitted..
Will post new ones as i proceed.

Gino Milano
Italy

Update on the S2 restoration:
Chassis rebuild just to get the body on four wheels to cut out the corner sections to fit the 26R wheel arches.
Gino
Milano
Italy

Just completed bonding the 26R arches on and rather well pleased with myself

A couple of shots before and after. It wasn't all that difficult , just lots of calm and patience.

Gino
Milano
Italy

Hi All,

Some more pics to update my resto...
Some of you asked me how I went about the preparation, alignment and bonding so i've added some of those too.
Yesterday I did a bit more profiling and fitted the hard top to see how it looked

Gino
Milano
Italy

OOPs last one..

That looks to be another excellent project you have got going there Gino.

I have no doubt it will look fabulous when painted what ever the colour may be.

Are the Minilites the wheels you are using for it ? My personal favourite wheels for an Elan

Doug.

Hi Doug,

I thought I was convinced on the Gulf livery but now i'm not I'm thinking of silver and maroon bumpers and hard top but it's a difficult decision.
The wheels are Minilites and had them made for me by Pat Thomas who liked my new modified hubs
I think i'll be spending the rest of the month sanding filler down and getting the car ready for painting then cleaning the garage from all the dust
I'll get the car professionally painted at the local spray shop which should be around March.
Funds permitting, I really hope that the car will be on the road by this summer.

Gino
Milano
Italy

Gino,

You are kind of going down the same path I am. I haven't ordered the 26R arches yet, but will soon. Mine will also have a hardtop, and I was also thinking of the Gulf colo(u)rs, but not sure I want that long term. Minilites are on my list as well, but the Panasports look the part right now. Love the Panasports but would really like to switch to Minilites if I come accross a decent set.

Please keep us informed as to colo(u)r choice, and progress.

gino1 wrote:Hi Doug,

I thought I was convinced on the Gulf livery but now i'm not I'm thinking of silver and maroon bumpers and hard top but it's a difficult decision.
The wheels are Minilites and had them made for me by Pat Thomas who liked my new modified hubs
I think i'll be spending the rest of the month sanding filler down and getting the car ready for painting then cleaning the garage from all the dust
I'll get the car professionally painted at the local spray shop which should be around March.
Funds permitting, I really hope that the car will be on the road by this summer.

Gino
Milano
Italy

Gino,
Gulf colours hmmmm, I don't think I would be too sure either. I have seen the racer of David Holroyd, very very nice it is but I thought at the time just not my cup of tea. You see I have always been a huge fan of the GT40 / Porsche 917 they look right. May be I have said too much now. Zipped it.
Have we seen a close up photo of your "modified hubs" ?
Hope you reach your goal of summer motoring

By the way how far away from one of my favourite places on this earth, Lake Como ?

Regards,

Doug.

Gino

This looks like another of your excellent builds, I watched your White S3 thread which gave me great inspiration for my S3 which i will hopefully finish in a couple of months. I also have an S2 in many pieces which I hope to start later this year but I will be avidly watching this thread to further inspire me.

Jerry

Hi Doug and Jerry,

Thanks for your comments.
Actually I only live 40 minutes from Lake Como and regularly go for a buzz in my baby elan around the area in summer, there are also other great places i'm fond of like lake garda, only one and a half hours away. Italy is very beautiful but in summer the heat is so intense at times you have to be careful where you park as the car as I don't think 45? does any good for fibreglass
As far as the hub goes i've attached a photo of the machined hubs; the rear ones are identical to the actual knock-ons but with the new threaded part which will only fot the 26R spinners, instead the front hubs have these machined add-ons fitted and are bolted through the present bolt-on hub.
I made some new drive pegs and had Pat Thomas machine me some Minilites to fit... If you like these hubs you can now buy them as a complete machined part directly from Pat Thomas

Gino
Milano
Italy

Gino,

You lucky lucky man, living in that area, you really have me a . I would envy your every trip out around any of the lakes, fantastic.

The hubs also look fantastic. I must admit I do like the 26R look on an Elan. I look forward to seeing the latest project move forward.

Regards,

Doug.