My Elan - 26/4177

Post by: **Rozzer** » Mon Dec 09, 2013 1:55 am

Hi all,

Apologies from a newby if something I post is inaccurate, but to follow is my best understanding of my car....bearing in mind I have just bought it!

It's an early S2, finished in white, and recently rebuilt by Alan Pate here in Sydney. Prior to Alan owning it, it belonged variously to father and son duo Owen and Adrian Wuillemin and Rex Hodder, and prior to that it lived in South Australia.
Alan has done a lovely job to bring this car up to a "fast road" spec, without removing any of the feel of the original car. So it still has plenty of the "character" - like headlights which don't really, and indicators which only do so when they feel like it

But the heart is a lovingly restored twinky sat in a reinforced chassis, with a long list of "adjustments" to the original running gear, so it goes and handles beautifully.

I have no immediate plans to do anything more than remove the hard top and enjoy a summer of motoring, but I have no doubt I will have to do something in due course! Watch this space as they say....

Reposted below is a shot of the garage after shoe-horning three cars into a two car garage

Post by: **rgh0** » Mon Dec 09, 2013 10:15 am

It has a good pedigree of people who know about Elans and Twin Cams, it should be a great car to enjoy

cheers
Rohan

Post by: **trw99** » Mon Dec 09, 2013 10:29 am

It's coming up to your Elan's birthday! It left the production line at Lotus on 23rd December 1964

Tim

Post by: **Rozzer** » Tue Dec 10, 2013 12:44 am

Thanks Tim - I will make sure a suitable present is provided

Handy that it's that close to Christmas, so one present covers two events (don't ever try this with a loved one, it hurts!)

Post by: **Rozzer** » Mon Dec 23, 2013 10:00 pm

Happy Birthday to 26/4177, or Ellie as she is (predictably) now known in this household. 49 years young, and going stronger than ever. Today we are off to pick up the turkey from Barry the Butcher (I kid you not)

Happy Christmas everyone - I hope you and your families have a lovely break.

Ashton

Post by: **RedS4** » Sat Dec 28, 2013 12:22 am

A removable hard top - the best of both worlds!! :wink:

Welcome Ashton to the world of Elan ownership!

Post by: **Rozzer** » Mon Jan 06, 2014 12:31 am

Thanks Evan - she is a lovely car, to be sure!

Here seen out and about sans roof on Oxford Street a few days ago....

Post by: **robertverhey** » Mon Jan 06, 2014 1:47 am

Hi Ashton. How fitting to be photographed in Oxford st, probably the closest thing we've got to carnaby st. Looks great and I look forward to you dropping by again. Your last visit got me working on the ?lan again after a bit of a lull. Robert

Post by: **gordont** » Mon Jan 06, 2014 10:33 am

Well done Ashton, looking forward to seeing you out and about.

Post by: **normanjsmith** » Mon Jan 06, 2014 11:54 am

Ashton

I was at Owen's soon after he brought this Elan home about 40 years ago. He hardly used it before removing the body to carry out some improvements to the chassis. I clearly remember spending a couple of days with him sanding the yellow paint back to the gel coat. It now looks good in white.

Norm

Post by: **Rozzer** » Wed Jan 08, 2014 1:30 am

Rob, glad to be of service in getting some progress towards the finished product - I need you to have her up and running for some extra company on the next run (which I must organise!)

Gordon, let me know if you are around town and have time for a coffee!

Norm, many thanks for your reminiscences - I am slowly collating similar stories from various involved parties; I spoke yesterday to Rex Hodder, who bought the "work in progress" project from Owen, owned it ten years, and passed it back to Adrian (Owen's son) still as a parts-bin project, in the meantime getting the chassis strengthened, dipped, galvanised and repainted in epoxy two pack (which is still there). I'm hoping to catch Adrian for a coffee next week for the next chapter of the story, and some photos from when Owen had it too.

Next big decision is whether to keep it on histerics or go full registration....

Post by: **gordont** » Wed Jan 08, 2014 1:37 am

Full rego - easy answer!

Where are you based for work and will drop by? I am based in Artarmon and live Balmain. Coffee whenever suits you especially if there is parking.

Post by: **Rozzer** » Wed Jan 08, 2014 1:39 am

Gordon,

I'm working in Crows Nest, so could hardly be more convenient! Call me on oh for oh ate, too oh too, too oh ate and we'll organise

Post by: **Rozzer** » Mon Feb 17, 2014 2:38 am

Just had my first successful foray (it was raining most of the weekend) into the art of leak prevention on a twink....two of the d-shaped stoppers in the head that prevent (or supposedly prevent)oil spewing down the front and back of the engine, weren't. So after a very gingerly removal of the cam cover, I have run a bead of Loctite Blue Maxx along the four of them, replaced the cam cover, and took it out for a drive with Dan (Karter7 on here) - end result - no more leaks YAY

And just for good measure here are a couple of shots of the car to prove to Gordon that it does get out and about!
At La Perouse:

Post by: **robertverhey** » Mon Feb 17, 2014 3:15 am

Great photos Ashton. I reckon it needs to be seen in the streets around Five Dock. Being a largely Italian Community, we tend to see far too many Lambos, Maseratis and Ferraris cruising our streets. Real sports cars needed!

Yep blue Loctite, magic stuff!

Robert

My Elan - 26/4177

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