Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Managed to get to see the S3 today for the first time in many months - for anyone thing about a body restoration and paint, SMS are fantastic, service and quality.

The photos don't quite do justice to the French Blue, for anyone thinking about colour choice it looks great (I think!) particularly with silver hardtop.

Photos of finished article in about 2 weeks.

David

French Blue looks great- I too have been contemplating respraying to blue from red, I was thinking of either Wedgewood or Medici blue both of which are lighter colors, I believe.

May I ask how much is the body work and respray going to cost? I've gotten two estimates in the US$10,000-12,000 range (6-7,000 UK pounds). This would include stripping to the gelcoat and one minor repair to the front right which has a small crack due to the car bottoming out in my driveway as I turn in.


Cheers,

Steve

Thanks Steve - the price you have been quoted seems about the same price as a high quality job in the UK - I was lucky to have lots of advice from the forum about who to use and views some years on from a body refurb of who is good, you may want to try similar. my car has been a long way from home and I have been relying on photos and emails from the team at SMS, it has worked very well - good luck!!

David

That looks gorgeous, David, and the colour really suits the car. Love the silver roof as well.

I spent some time with my S3 over the weekend, still wondering if I should get her painted or not. The car was repainted in 1971, and I painted the roof in 1977 (back to the original white from a garish metalic blue) and that's how new the paint is........ but it looks good from 10 foot or so!!

Mark

44 year old paint, come on Mark you know you want to!

That car looks gorgeous, lovely colour.
I'm pleased you've had a good job from SMS, sadly my story was slightly different.

David,

Thanks for your reply, very useful information.

A question on the French Blue, how did you decide on that particular colour? Although I have seen it before in photos I've never seen it in person. Brian Buckland's book mentions it as an early standard colour, mine being an S2 it might be more appropriate than the later blues Medici, Wedgewood, and Royal. I'd like to stay as authentic as possible within reason, as almost everything else on the car is original Lotus other than the obvious things like tyres and battery...


Steve

Hi Steve

I was looking for (1) a colour I loved and (2) something authentic even though my car is not from the blueprints (originally FHC and running Strombergs but dated before original fit).

It came down to this colour or Carmen Red (darker than Carnival and original I think for earlier cars). I did a poll amongst friends and most men chose red and women the blue!!

Seeing the French Blue 'in the flesh' it looks fantastic and great with the silver of wheels and bumpers (plus hard top) - interestingly SMS told me that with combined experience of 30 years of painting Lotus they have on done 3 in any shade of blue, they love the colour too.

I also saw an Ian Walker special in this colour and liked the echo of the colour from GP cars (though not Lotus nor British!).

David

...I also saw the car in this colour that Jay Leno owns..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWWzTf3q800

David

661 wrote:That car looks gorgeous, lovely colour.
I'm pleased you've had a good job from SMS, sadly my story was slightly different.

Have been through all your posts and nothing...is it worth starting a new thread or just a PM?

John

David,

Isn't Jay's Elan French Blue as well?


Steve

Steve - yes, that's what I was trying to say in the earlier post! Have added the Youtube link too.

David

Can't believe the S3 has been away for a whole year - back on Friday, can't wait, silver hardtop too!

Hello David

Your blue S3 really does look great and as you say goes well with the sliver bumpers and hardtop ! Can I ask you who supplied the hardtop ???

Have a great day tomorrow.

Paul

Hi Paul

Thanks - I bought the original hardtop from Vincent Hayden, via ebay. He did sell 2 at about the same time and do not know whether he has any others. Lenham are making them new I think, there have been postings about it on the forum.

I'll post some pics of the car at home in the next few days and make sure some have hardtop fitted. Are you thinking about getting one?

David