Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

I am lucky to have been able to buy a lovely Bourne bodied S1 from fellow forum member Jeff Rowse. Details of the rebuild undertaken by Jeff are covered in detail in forum postings.

I have never seen the car and it has spent two months at see, covering over 13000 miles and has landed in the UK, although I won't get to see it for a few days.

Here are a couple of pictures of the car and looking forwards to getting it to its new home. The B&W pictures are from its time racing in Queensland during 1964 and 1965.

I wonder whether others have stories of long Elan sea journeys...

David

What a fabulous car David, and that has to be one of the most important Elans left.

I'm really surprised that the Aussies let this one go given such an incredible Australian racing provenance. And such an early car!! But hey, it's back home after 52 years.

Well done, and I'm really looking forward to seeing the car when it settles into the Worcestershire countryside.

Mark Kempson

Thanks Mark - exciting, especially as I haven't set eyes on it yet!!!!

David

Nice car and provenance. ..looks entirely original from the instruments to the trim which is rare for an ex racecar.
Congrats. .great purchase.
Gino
Milano Italy

Thanks - it is a great credit to the person who restored it over 11 years.

David

gino1 wrote:Nice car and provenance. ..looks entirely original from the instruments to the trim which is rare for an ex racecar.
Congrats. .great purchase.
Gino
Milano Italy

Gino, the photos are from when the car WAS a racecar so almost new! Reserve judgement but hope that not a lot has changed.

...the photos are from 50 years after the car raced and post-restoration!!!

I have seen this car in person and it is in incredible condition now. I'm sure you'll be happy.

dunclentdr wrote:...the photos are from 50 years after the car raced and post-restoration!!!

My apologies Gino!

I've just read the original post again and see it's just the B&W pictures that are original so I agree with you!

I'll post pictures of the Elan back in the UK at the end of the week, here is one racing at Surfers Paradise in 1966, almost 50 years ago...

S1 currently in transit and witinh about 100 miles of completing its epic journey (to Australia 1963, back in 2015, 26000 miles).

Hoping it is not now a big box of bits after the ocean voyage, will post pictures at some point.

Nervous...

David

...it didn't arrive as a box of bits - unharmed! A bit dusty after 2 months at sea.

Thank you to all those who gave advice and encouragement and what an incredible labour this must have been for the hero, Jeff, who brought it back to life after 36 years off the road.

David

Congratulations indeed!

That really is special, almost unique I would imagine.

Vince

Thanks Vince

Great to have one with such a deep history, plan to give it a run up Shelsey at the Driving School to keep the 'racing spirit' going.

This one raced on the undercard of 1966 Australian GP, have some great pics on CD including of Graham Hill and Jim Clark in the main race.

David

I have changed my mind, I want it back

As luck would have it, the replacement arrived the same day as the Elan left.