Sprint Numbers

[trw99]

I am donning my anorak here!

I first started to keep an annual total of Sprints on my register back in 2007. Each December I have a re-count to see how many more I have come across. In the last two years I have also kept a tally of how many of those Sprints I know of are still alive, whether on or off the road, in a garage or undergoing restoration.

I thought that it might be of passing interest to one or two on here to know the numbers over the years. It could also give some indication of the overall number of Elans that might still be around, though I know that statistically it is a rough measure.

2007 - 307 Sprints
2008 - 469 Sprints
2009 - 627 Sprints
2010 - 661 Sprints
2011 - 734 Sprints; 601 extant
2012 - 803 Sprints; 651 extant

This is out of a total production of 1408 Sprints. So I have details on 57% of Sprint production and am aware of 46% still being alive in one form or another.

I'll try to remember to update this on an annual basis via this thread.

Tim

[Mazzini]

Dear Tim,

Interesting stuff. I imagine the majority of the Sprints are still in the UK.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,

[pharriso]

In the last two years I have also kept a tally of how many of those Sprints I know of are still alive, whether on or off the road, in a garage or undergoing restoration.

2011 - 734 Sprints; 601 extant
2012 - 803 Sprints; 651 extant

Tim

So Tim, you know that at least 152 have been destroyed in some way or other?

[trw99]

So Tim, you know that at least 152 have been destroyed in some way or other?

Well no, not quite that simple! I do have records of some cars from various sources going back to the day. For example, details of other Sprints which were all listed on a sales sheet sent to an owner by previous Lotus archivists. I have also got details of cars which were owned in the past by someone who has been in touch with me. I do have one or two notes on cars that were destroyed by fire or in a crash, but not many. In all cases I am unable to verify they still exist - or have arisen from the ashes, phoenix-like!

The cars that are extant are all cars that I have either seen, seen current photos of or where the current owner has been in touch with me. In other words, I know they are still around, even if they are not drivable!

And yep, the majority are still in the UK. Of course, there was only a small number that were produced for export, 21% of production.

Tim

[Spyder fan]

Tim,
That's a large number of cars, why have I only ever seen one on the road apart from in the car parks and routes to the annual events of course?

I'm pretty convinced most of them must be in the under 250 miles per year club. A number of adverts for Elans I have seen recently mention things like, "Fully Restored in 1992 and only 3000 miles covered since then".

I don't wish to drift your topic too far, the Elan seems to have a remarkable survival record of way over 50% of production, even though some of them have been "Got At"

[elansprint71]

Interesting data Tim, thanks for your hard work and excellent website.


As an aside I can't understand why the survival rate of 26/Rs is running at over 100%, especially when they are so expensive.

[trw99]

Thanks chaps. I suspect that the reason you don't see many Sprints Alan is because they recognise an imposter when they see one!

In fact the numbers record the cars, whatever the state they are in. To me the important thing is that the car is still around, however the current guardian decides to use it - or not!

Tim

[Spyder fan]

Thanks chaps. I suspect that the reason you don't see many Sprints Alan is because they recognise an imposter when they see one!

In fact the numbers record the cars, whatever the state they are in. To me the important thing is that the car is still around, however the current guardian decides to use it - or not!

Tim

Can't see how they know Tim, I don't give them many clues