Restoration of S2 Elan - EOK

[Geoffers71]

Hi All, I joined this group only a few weeks ago as "Newbie from Devon" looking for a project Elan. I've had 5 Elans in the past, the first, a 1965 S2 in Silver with red interior (is that unique?), bought in 1968. I've also owned 2 Europas and currently have an S2 Elise. Well thanks to this forum and in particular Mark, Elanintheforest, I now have my project, a 1965 S2 that was last on the road in about 1976. It's in what one would call "component form" in that no component is in any way joined to any other The body is placed, but not bolted, to the "new" Spyder chassis (sorry sub-frame !), "new " that is about 25 years ago when a restoration was started but subsequently abandoned, and everything else is in boxes, lots of them I have to give great credit to Mark, who has systematically tracked down and replaced any missing or decrepit parts, including many rare and difficult to find ones, so that everything is there (somewhere ) I picked up the car on Sunday and packing the car up for it's 3 hour trip to it's new home was a test of determination (some would say obstinancy) to get everything in. Mark was sure I'd have to make another trip !.........he obviously didn't know me well enough
Here's a few pics:

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I know it looks as if it's been sat on by an elephant, but it was the best way of stowing the hardtop !!
So...I have quite a challenging project, but I'm really looking forward to getting stuck in. It's so nice to be back in Elan ownership and to being on this forum. Expect loads of stupid questions and examples of idiotic mistakes I'll keep you updated on progress (If you want )

[pharriso]

Welcome & that will buff right out!

I look forward to hearing updates as you restore your car.

[Tahoe]

Congratulations and there no dumb, stupid, etc. questions. We all learn from each other, because no one has all the correct answers.

I'm intrigued with your Silver with red interior. Was it original?

[Mazzini]

I'm glad to see that the car has gone to a good home

Lotus, for a fee, would paint an Elan any colour the customer requested, assuming that the colour was readily available from the local paint supplier. There seems to be a trend in believing that Elan's were only painted in the colours listed in the sales material, but I believe any colour available at the time is good on an Elan.

My very first Elan was originally silver and there is a thread on the forum about red interiors, I think it's quite likely the car left the factory that way, it sounds like a great combination.

[Elanconvert]

hi geoffers
congratulations on your purchase......I knew about the project mark was offering, and I was tempted, but don't think I could have got it in the garage, or past SWMBO
As another newbie from devon, I can't offer you much in the way of elan knowledge or experience, but I'm only up the road from you with a s4 dhc [which may have some things in common with a s2], so feel free to contact me if you want to have a look!
good luck!
fred

[Geoffers71]

Yes, my first S2 was less than 3years old when I bought it and left the factory finished in silver with a red interior. IIRC it was built for an American chap who was in the USAF and stationed in England. He sold it after returning to the US to the chap that I bought it off. The silver finish became very tarnished and I repainted it White. I kept the car for nearly 5 years before selling it to buy a Plus 2. It's not in existence in England according to the DVLA, wonder where it went? America? Japan? The great scrap yard in the sky? Would love to know, great memories

edit: yes Fred would love to have a natter about Elans sometime, where are you?

[rcombs]

S2 with hardtop, very nice. It looks like the hard work is done, just a little finish up work! Good luck and have fun!

Rick

[RotoFlexible]

I know it looks as if it's been sat on by an elephant, but it was the best way of stowing the hardtop !!

Actually, in the front quarter view, it looks like a radically chopped coupe - windshield about 6" high. I kinda like it!

Good luck, and enjoy the journey.

[Elanintheforest]

I really, really don't like selling off my projects, which are as much about a dream and a plan and an ambition as anything else. But I couldn't have wished for a better new owner than Geoff. At last the car will be completed, rather than sit in a barn waiting it's turn.

Now Geoff has a couple of dilemmas, which you guys may be able to help with. It's all about options.

Firstly, the chassis. It has a new Spyder chassis fitted, and the option is to swap that out for a new Lotus chassis if originality is important. No cost, as the new Lotus chassis is here, and either it will be sold on, or the Spyder chassis will be sold on. Engineers tend to prefer the Spyder chassis, and Geoff is an Aeronautical engineer...the most disciplined of all engineering practice!

Secondly, the wheels. The car is on knock-ons, which were an option for the S2. Available are a set of bolt-on wheels, hubs and hubcaps, again, as a no-cost swap. Well, there would be a cost as the uprights and stub axles are different, which would amount to ?150 or so. So the question is....does the S2 look better with bolt-on wheels with hub-caps, or knock-ons with spinners?

By the way Geoff, I have found a good spare knock-on wheel.

I'm looking forward to following the restoration Geoff, like a father watching the progress of his favorite adopted son!!

Mark

[Geoffers71]

Righto Dad

[Elanconvert]

hi geoff
I'm on dartmoor, a couple of miles from okehampton........but don't get to plymouth very often.......
looks like mark is a good guy to have bought a project from!!!
fred

[Mazzini]

hi geoff
I'm on dartmoor, a couple of miles from okehampton........but don't get to plymouth very often.......
looks like mark is a good guy to have bought a project from!!!
fred

A terrible fellow to buy a project from that's why I bought two And as soon as my S2 is finished (if I ever get home again), I'll be starting on the Mk 14

Geoff I'm ex-aviation and now in power gen, if it were my call I'd go for the Lotus chassis with a few mods and I'd stick to the KO wheels.

[Geoffers71]

Any more views about whether I should keep the Spyder sub-frame or swap it for the Lotus one? I change my mind according to the weather, or whether the day of the week has a 'T' in it The engineer in me is screaming to keep the Spyder, stronger , stiffer and more dimensionally accurate. My S3 was rebuilt on a new galvanized Lotus chassis nearly 30 years ago and it never felt right. The chassis was the main suspect being, I think, one of those early ones that proved to be distorted by the process. On the other hand my heart, such as it is , says for the sake of originality it should be the Lotus one, ( though it's still not 'original' is it?). Apart from the above, is there really much of a final value difference between the two? .....and does it matter? Club Lotus always used to say that Spyder subframe was as equally acceptable as a Lotus one, especially as at one time Spyder was the only option. Anyway my final decision will depend on if it's a Tuesday or not .......and then there's the matter of knock-on or bolt-on wheels. Decisions, decisions
In the meantime I've already made a start on EOK's restoration by glassing in the large holes cut in the bulkhead made by a PO to fit a non-standard heater. Body off next to have a closer look at that chassis,( sorry sub-frame).

[mbell]

What do you want to do with the car?

Restore keeping it fairly standard, use it for afternoon drives, show it at shows, own it for a few years and possibly sell it to fund the next project. Then I'd go with the Lotus chassis as it is up to the job and original. Generally the earlier the car the more likely it is to become of interest to collectors rather than as pure driving machine. In this case original features start to matter and it might be better (>$) with the Lotus chassis.

If you want to restore it for driving and the odd track day, and keep it forever, then what is important is the driving experience, durability and easy maintenance. In this case I'd go for the Spyder .

On the knock on, if the pieces are in good condition and you have a good set of wheels then why change? Sourcing wheels and new parts can be expensive for knock ons, so if this isn't the case it is probably more cost effective to swap to the bolt on's.

[Rozzer]

My 2 pence worth Geoff...I'd keep both the Spyder frame and the KO's - the Lotus chassis would need 26Ring (strengthening and so on) and would probably not be as bomb-proof as the Spyder (from what I have read!). And personally I think KOs look the part! But as the previous poster notes very sagely, it really depends on what you intend to do with it!
Good luck either way - looks like a quick job to slap it all back together and give it a good buff