Mission (restoration) completed !

PostPost by: crypto » Fri May 27, 2016 9:52 am

Two years ago I had enough searching for my "ever wished" classic car. They where either to expensive or in a condition I would not be able to restore her within a few years. So I changed my mind and started looking for Elan's. As I live in Switzerland, they not very often show up in local adverts, so I traveled to the UK and to Germany to view some of them. It had to be a coupe preferably with good bodywork and the mechanics as good as possible, as I intended to restore this part anyway. My limit was about 16000? (around 25000 USD)

None of those I had seen matched my criteria and after continued search without success I decided to go for a red one I had checked in Germany. The owner had the car imported from the UK, so it was RHD. Somehow the car was the opposite what I wanted. The bodywork was bad but mechanically she was in a very good condition. This is when I got her ...
01.jpg and


After disassembly the body was stripped down to the gel coat/fiberglass (what a mess, glad it's over). Repair of over a dozen fiberglass cracks. Once everything was apart I decided to do some modifications:
- change from RHD to LHD meant
- making new pedal assembly (a little wider apart than the originals)
- making a new dashboard (with a clock now)
- change of speedometer from miles to km
- making a glove box (built of fiberglass with light inside)
- rewiring the electrics using multi-plug connectors
- relocating the steering lock/ignition key
- buying a new steering rack, then limiting it so it doesn't touch the anti roll bar
- relocating handbrake
- drilling holes in the bulkhead for brake, clutch, steering, handbrake, etc.
What else:
- modified radiator with new modern electrical fan
- Air filter replaced with K&N filters
- Generator replaced by alternator
- modified electrics with additional relays and fuses
- Heater & fan system modified with new silent/long life motor (I know it doesn't really matter ;-)
- new door handles & locks
- new carpets
- making of new seat belt attachment frame with new inertia seat belts
- new headlining
- doughnuts replaced by solid drive shafts
- all screws replaced by stainless types

Apart from above a lot of smaller parts where either replaced or renewed. Well, it doesn't seem much but all in all it took me two years of work. By far the most work went into the repair and preparation of the bodywork. I enjoyed (almost) every minute and now I know all the things I could do better next time :roll: . And know what, a week after I bought the Elan, the car I always wanted came up in an advert ...

Now the Elan is ready for its first Swiss MOT and then she will become an everyday car as I need her to go work. And I will enjoy to go to work :D
Some pics of several stages
02.jpg and

03.jpg and

04.jpg and

05.jpg and

06.jpg and


Peter 8)
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PostPost by: rgh0 » Fri May 27, 2016 10:29 am

looks really good. It will be a fun drive to work !

cheers
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PostPost by: Certified Lotus » Fri May 27, 2016 11:01 am

Nicely done! I'm a big fan of careful restorations done by the person who owns the car. I find myself having a silent big smile every time I drive one of the cars I have rebuilt. It's a feeling of satisfaction and pride that is difficult to replicate.
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PostPost by: john.p.clegg » Fri May 27, 2016 11:30 am

Peter

O.K. I'll ask , my "ever wished" classic car. ?

E Type?

John :wink:
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PostPost by: rcombs » Fri May 27, 2016 11:53 am

Congrats! Very nice, love the color.

Rick
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PostPost by: crypto » Fri May 27, 2016 12:30 pm

john.p.clegg wrote:Peter

O.K. I'll ask , my "ever wished" classic car. ?
E Type?
John :wink:


Good guess, the E is number 2, but I would like to own a Peerless GT. Not because of its performance but I like the shape and it's really a special car. It has some similarities with the Aston DB4 but these are way out of my budget. With only about 300 made and maybe half of them left, they appear maybe twice a year in the adverts.

Peter
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PostPost by: Nickm » Fri May 27, 2016 12:56 pm

Love the colour. Is it Lagoon blue?
Nick
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PostPost by: el-saturn » Fri May 27, 2016 1:04 pm

welcome to the CLUB: lovely car i must say!! i'm in st. gallen and have a dhc: 36/4982 (cam here as OPEN with hardtop) so it's actually a FHC! sandy
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PostPost by: crypto » Fri May 27, 2016 1:22 pm

Nickm wrote:Love the colour. Is it Lagoon blue?
Nick


This is Alfa Romeo Azzurro blue, a light blue (metallic paint). Lagoon blue is a lot darker

el-saturn wrote:welcome to the CLUB: lovely car i must say!! i'm in st. gallen and have a dhc: 36/4982 (cam here as OPEN with hardtop) so it's actually a FHC! sandy


Hi Sandy
Thanks for the welcome :D , I'm near Zug.
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PostPost by: pharriso » Fri May 27, 2016 9:39 pm

Stunning, congratulations!
Phil Harrison
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PostPost by: Europatc » Fri May 27, 2016 9:42 pm

good job done
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PostPost by: CG901 » Sat May 28, 2016 11:52 pm

Beautiful restoration! you have inspired me to finish mine!
Current: 1965 S1.5 26/4004, 1966 S3 FHC 36/5192, 1958 Fiat Abarth 750GT Zagato, 1967 Brabham BT21B, 1988 Arrows A10B-04, 1991 Brun C91-001.
Past: 1971 Elan S4/SE DHC, 1972 Europa Special, 1980 Esprit Turbo, 1988 March 881-05, 1990 Leyton House CG90105
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PostPost by: SF69Elan » Sun May 29, 2016 6:45 pm

Wow, well done - a beautiful outcome. Thanks for sharing - I am also a fan of the final color.
"What kind of a man are you? Don't you even like dolphins!?" - Zorba the Greek

69 Elan S4/SE DHC
66 Ford Mustang Conv. (289ci)
71 Cadillac Eldorado Conv. (8.2L)
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PostPost by: gino1 » Fri Jun 03, 2016 9:53 pm

Lovely job. .
1964 Elan S2 Roadster
1965 Elan S2 Roadster
1965 Elan S3 Coupe
1968 Elan S4 Coupe
1969 Elan +2
1968 Lotus Seven S3
1982 Lotus Esprit S3
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