S1 found...what to do next...
Posted: Thu Dec 05, 2013 4:01 am
Hello all,
I have always wanted a "round tailight" Elan and I have stumbled across one and bought it. It is my first Lotus: an early 1964 S1 Unit # 3342 ; Engine # LP 1029 ; Chassis # 260391. It has not been licensed since 1978 and I know history currently back to the early 1970's, and am working on the rest..
The car does not appear to have been wrecked or ever had the body removed from frame. I have looked for rust on the frame at all the places the forum threads have indicated and it is virtually perfect!! The driveline is totally original in appearance-but the engine won't turn over.
The car was parked for repaint in 1979 and was not driven since. I have removed some of the tape and paper from the repaint now some 34 years later. It appears to be an original light blue, then painted British Racing green and then painted black in 1979 by the guy I got it from (or the estate you might say as he is no longer with us)
I think the car is a cross between a survivor and a great warehouse/barn find!! In my opinion it is worthy of an all out concours restoration. I would like to ask the forum how do I go about restoring and getting all the details right? Are there specific shops that specialize in restoring elans? I am located in Louisville KY USA and would love to see some restored cars...I like cars that are kind of "over restored" where the chrome is a bit nicer, and frame and suspension are concours quality,but in period colors and finish. I know these cars are far from perfect ,but would like to make it kind of what Lotus wished they could of done if you know what I mean.
It appears to be a post "Bourne" body car as I have no Bourne body tag and my chassis # is 391 and I've read that they ended around the 350 mark. I have the original key for the car, wooden shift knob, and original steering wheel although I have not seen any with "holed" steering wheel spokes. I am including pictures showing car as it came out of an old industrial storage warehouse!!
Give me your thoughts of where to go next...
Thanks
Mike Winebrenner
email [email protected]
cell 502 303 6836
I have always wanted a "round tailight" Elan and I have stumbled across one and bought it. It is my first Lotus: an early 1964 S1 Unit # 3342 ; Engine # LP 1029 ; Chassis # 260391. It has not been licensed since 1978 and I know history currently back to the early 1970's, and am working on the rest..
The car does not appear to have been wrecked or ever had the body removed from frame. I have looked for rust on the frame at all the places the forum threads have indicated and it is virtually perfect!! The driveline is totally original in appearance-but the engine won't turn over.
The car was parked for repaint in 1979 and was not driven since. I have removed some of the tape and paper from the repaint now some 34 years later. It appears to be an original light blue, then painted British Racing green and then painted black in 1979 by the guy I got it from (or the estate you might say as he is no longer with us)
I think the car is a cross between a survivor and a great warehouse/barn find!! In my opinion it is worthy of an all out concours restoration. I would like to ask the forum how do I go about restoring and getting all the details right? Are there specific shops that specialize in restoring elans? I am located in Louisville KY USA and would love to see some restored cars...I like cars that are kind of "over restored" where the chrome is a bit nicer, and frame and suspension are concours quality,but in period colors and finish. I know these cars are far from perfect ,but would like to make it kind of what Lotus wished they could of done if you know what I mean.
It appears to be a post "Bourne" body car as I have no Bourne body tag and my chassis # is 391 and I've read that they ended around the 350 mark. I have the original key for the car, wooden shift knob, and original steering wheel although I have not seen any with "holed" steering wheel spokes. I am including pictures showing car as it came out of an old industrial storage warehouse!!
Give me your thoughts of where to go next...
Thanks
Mike Winebrenner
email [email protected]
cell 502 303 6836