Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

I picked up a free "Classic Motoring" magazine at the NEC Classic Car Show, November issue. On page 56 there`s quite a decent article called; "Giving the Elan more M-appeal", whatever that is. It`s quite informative and one of the main thrusts is that, for road use, why bother?
They certainly advise against wider tyres and harder suspension for road use and their sub-title includes the phrase: "Modifying one needs to be done with care and consideration or you`ll spoil it".
Jim

Is that the November 1968 copy?

M-appeal would be a higher diff or a 5th gear....

John

jimj wrote:I picked up a free "Classic Motoring" magazine at the NEC Classic Car Show, November issue. On page 56 there`s quite a decent article called; "Giving the Elan more M-appeal", whatever that is.

I expect it's a reference to the 1960's Avengers. The name Emma Peel was a play on "man appeal" or M-appeal.

i'd say MATCHO appeal - just an evident explanation BOYS!! sandy --- ................even wider wheels?!!!

You can get the Classic Motoring article (Nov 2016) on-line at http://www.classiccars4sale.net/classic ... lotus-elan at no charge. The magazine is not readily available otherwise in the US to my knowledge. A good read though mostly a recap of what most people on this forum already know.

I agreed with most of what was said but the levels of bhp that are possible now and usable, even for the street and with 40 DCOE's, are greater than indicated.

For example the article says: "The stock 40?s designs are fine for road use and they only need to be replaced by larger 45s for in excess of 150bhp"

Use of high lift, short duration cams with the newer replica heads (street ported) can yield substantially more bhp, even in tractable form (not just racing, high revving, horsepower "bombs"). With 40 DCOE's, SAS head (street ports), my twink is producing 181bhp in tractable form at less than 7000rpm.

Of course, with this bhp other considerations then enter: strength of all other components (only as strong as your weakest link), ability to transfer power to the road through relatively skinny tires, etc.

It all depends on your personal definition of road usability. By the time I broke my Elan at the Street Racer Championships in 1985 it was running 168bhp at the wheels and I found it perfectly driveable on the road. It was fitted with 205s on the front and 225s at the rear and it handled, IMO. better than a standard version. However, anyone used to a standard Elan would have great difficulty in even pulling away