Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Does anyone know if there are any period magazine articles articles on building an Elan up from a kit - I've got the three Brooklands Elan books, none in them; but their Elite book has a couple of articles on building up an Elite, so I'd imagine that the magazines of the day would have done at leaset one article on the Elan.

Can't help with articles but if it's of interest I was talking to a nice chap the other day who was the lucky recipient of a S3 in kit form for his 17th birthday.

I asked the inevitable question ...... How long did it take you? and he said about 6 weeks but did admit he was not a great mechanic at that age.

Thanks for the quick reply - I suspect it would have taken most people a good few weeks to build them up; I've got a copy of the Lotus advert about building an Elan in one of my Lotus books but can't find it at the moment.....

Ah Ha - its in Robinshaw and Ross (yellow one) page 21 -
'You and a few friends could create your own Lotus Elan in less than a week-end of simple constructive pleasure. I did' says Dr Hammerton......

Started on Saturday morning, and were off down the pub on Sunday Lunchtime....

If you had a couple of handy chums and a decent workshop it could be done in a couple of days apparently. I bought my Plus 2 from the original owner who built it...started on Friday morning when it was delivered, and really was down the pub in it on Sunday ! He did run a Lotus engine building and tuning firm though, so had all the right tools and chums!

It wasn't really a kit as we currently know them. The body was complete, painted and trimmed with everything wired up, tested and working, and the glass fitted. The only things you had to fit were the suspension, diriveshafts, propshaft, wheels, engine and gearbox, exhaust, seats and petrol tank....and a few other bits and pieces. Then add oil, water and bleed the brakes, allign the steering and nip on down to the watering hole.

Here's an article from 1966....
Mark

Brilliant - thanks for posting!
Matt

Hi Mark

Could you pm me the pictures - I can read the first two but not the last 2?
Thanks
Matt

Mark - don't worry; saving them as a bitmap gives decent resolution...Thanks again.

Two of us built my S4 on a Sat & Sun. & had it running by early evening. We figured that after building it we could have built another one in a long day.
Taken me a lot longer to do my restoration on the same car but almost complete now so the light is at the end of the tunnel.

Keith "light is at the end of the tunnel"
or....... a train coming in your direction.

James