Building an S2 from scratch

[Barty]

I have been offered the registration/title to a '65 Elan S2.

I am sure this topic has been covered before but what is the current thinking for building an S2 from scratch? Should I buy the spider chassis with suspension, diff, brakes and gearbox currently on ebay and add the painted S2 body shell being offered by the gentleman in Denmark and then trawl for parts offered on here and ebay to complete a car or.......

Do the full 26R replica with all the correct bits for road use, (I am a few quid/bucks behind Mr Leno so perhaps not as involved as his car.) A third option maybe is to do the full FIA racing/track day version.

This is a long term project for me and I would keep the car for ever, I am as interested in the work as the final result.

The final value is not a major consideration. Although a replica 26R seems to be worth double an S2



So, what's the verdict?

[bill308]

Hi Barty.

Tough one to call. I started off with a reasonably good S2, but I'm now committed to a Jay Leno like 26R clone for street use. I'd like to find a registration/title so I don't have to tear down my S2. Let me know if any body plates/registration/titles or basket cases are available.

To your point, I'd rather have a new body and chassis if I were going to keep it. But, there are a lot of odds and ends to be tracked down, like a heater assembly, rear lights, and other hard to find items detailed in Brian Buckland's book.

Many items are being remanufactured and offered by the type26register, TTR, Kelvedon, Fiberglass Services, and other suspects.

Bill

[Panda]

Hi Barty,
I have done what you are contemplating and built a pretty accurate 26R replica. I started by stripping most of the usable bits from my S4 race car, sold the rest, and bought a new 26R chassis and body from the usual sources. It was a very time consuming passion and I am very happy with the result. Having to find all the S2 bits and pieces was not easy, and without the basic car to start off with, would have been nigh on impossible.
Good luck
Alan P

[rgh0]

How hard it is really depends on what you are trying to build

If you want a car that is essentially a new S2 as it would have left the factory for a road / show car then it will be a long hard job sourcing all you need but i dont think impossible.

At the other end of the scale a full race 26R clone while more expensive due to all the competition bits, it is probably much easier to build as the competition bits are readily available and many of the hard to find trim bits are not really needed.

How you do it really depends on what you want to use the car for.

cheers
Rohan

[twincamman]

Well we will know where to get in touch with you for the next 5 years ....in the garage or at the parts suppliers ...and you will know where the next few thousand pounds will be spent , instead of. Strips joints and pubs

[Barty]

Thank you to everyone for your feedback. I am going to go for a 26R replica. No doubt I will be back with more questions and progress reports over the next few years.

[dunclentdr]

Sounds like a great plan.

Is it possible to build one with a new body and chassis that can obtain a UK registration for the road? I know the DVLA have a points sytem requiring various items to be original to the car.

David

[john.p.clegg]

This...

https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-registration ... d-vehicles

John

[dunclentdr]

Always been confused about these rules with respect to Elans - as what we call the chassis is treated by the DVLA as a sub-frame (and hence can keep the same VIN when replaced). On this scoring system that makes it very difficult to get 8 points as the 'chassis' counts for 5 and we can't really claim the points for 'axles' presumably as well?

David

[john.p.clegg]

Surely it's the bodyshell that counts as 5 ? The part with the Vin No.

John

[rgh0]

An Elan rebuilt should get maximum points no matter what the starting point provided original or replacement new components were used i would have thought even if just starting with an ID. i thought these rules were about what you had to keep to get an old number plate. If you build up a hot rod that does not get the needed points then you get a new number plate and I presume you have to jump though a lot more design compliance hoops and pay more to get it.

cheers
Rohan