Mission (restoration) completed !
Posted: Fri May 27, 2016 9:52 amTwo 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 ...
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
. 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
Some pics of several stages
Peter
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 ...
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
. 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
Some pics of several stages
Peter