Lotus Elan S2 1965 26/4360
Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 10:42 am
Hello all,
Since Wednesday 24th Oct 7pm Paris Time, I am the lucky owner of this Lotus Elan. My plan was to drive the car from the French Alps up to my parents in Tours and do a one night stop on the way, approx half-way. Then I was supposed to drive to the "Club Lotus France" festival on the Autodrome of Montlh?ry. Then I would have driven to Bristol, UK where I live.
However, this plan failed terribly when after driving the car for half an hour, the bonnet flew away while driving at 110km/h (70mph). Luckily, it did not damage anyone or anything. I collected a few bits but it was dark, and on the motorway, you don't tend to spend to much time walking around. Lorries and cars were driving past, so there was not much left of my bonnet.
I slept in a hotel back to where I bought the car and after advice from my mechanics, chose to drive without bonnet for the whole trip (640km/400miles). The car slept at the recovery company under its cover.
The car is equipped with a 1600 Alfa TC engine and a 5 speed 'box, that allowed me to drive at 110km/h / 70mph at 3000rpm in 5th. Nothing else worked: no fuel gauge, no engine temp, no oil pressure. I drove hoping that everything would go well.
I stopped every 150-200km to fill up the car and to look at it to check that nothing looked wrong.
.... And it did go well. I arrived at my parents with dusk.
I drove the next day to a good garage to have the car worked on. It will stay there up to Christmas. I'll then drive it to its birth country. I can't wait! I'm very happy with it but look forward to driving it a lot!
Cheers,
Since Wednesday 24th Oct 7pm Paris Time, I am the lucky owner of this Lotus Elan. My plan was to drive the car from the French Alps up to my parents in Tours and do a one night stop on the way, approx half-way. Then I was supposed to drive to the "Club Lotus France" festival on the Autodrome of Montlh?ry. Then I would have driven to Bristol, UK where I live.
However, this plan failed terribly when after driving the car for half an hour, the bonnet flew away while driving at 110km/h (70mph). Luckily, it did not damage anyone or anything. I collected a few bits but it was dark, and on the motorway, you don't tend to spend to much time walking around. Lorries and cars were driving past, so there was not much left of my bonnet.
I slept in a hotel back to where I bought the car and after advice from my mechanics, chose to drive without bonnet for the whole trip (640km/400miles). The car slept at the recovery company under its cover.
The car is equipped with a 1600 Alfa TC engine and a 5 speed 'box, that allowed me to drive at 110km/h / 70mph at 3000rpm in 5th. Nothing else worked: no fuel gauge, no engine temp, no oil pressure. I drove hoping that everything would go well.
I stopped every 150-200km to fill up the car and to look at it to check that nothing looked wrong.
.... And it did go well. I arrived at my parents with dusk.
I drove the next day to a good garage to have the car worked on. It will stay there up to Christmas. I'll then drive it to its birth country. I can't wait! I'm very happy with it but look forward to driving it a lot!
Cheers,