Treasure Trove of 1980s Elan Related Catalogs...

[pharriso]

My wife has been clearing out the Attic, she discovered a file folder of mine from 1984 which is full of catalogs & info from the period.

I have found period catalogs from:
* AKS Front covers with installation Instructions
* Spyder, full catalog & price list, installation instructions
* Chris Neil, full catalog, drop head Plus 2 Conversion, Price List
* Paul Matty, full Catalog
* Performance Unlimited, Drive shaft description, Engines, Price list
* QED Catalog & Price List
* Vegantune, full catalog & Pricelist

As time permits I will scan them all & post here. Also found a load of pictures of my 130/5, pre- & post "modification

[pharriso]

First up is the AKS Engineering Flyer with installation instructions & price list

AKS_Catalog_1984_FittingInstructions_Pricelist_Reduced.pdf

(606.2 KiB) Downloaded 1231 times

[Certified Lotus]

Great find Mrs. Phil!

[Mazzini]

First up is the AKS Engineering Flyer with installation instructions & price list

AKS_Catalog_1984_FittingInstructions_Pricelist_Reduced.pdf

I vaguely remember visiting Bert in the early 90's, he was working out of an old converted mill workshop. I guess he's long retired by now.

[pharriso]

Here's the catalog from Chris Neil, with price list.

Chris Neil Catalog 1984 http://www.lionheartsolutions.com/oldlotusdocs/ChrisNeilCatalog_1984Reduced.pdf

Chris Neil Price list - February 1984 http://www.lionheartsolutions.com/oldlotusdocs/ChrisNeil_PriceList_1984Reduced.pdf

Anyone have a time machine?

[Certified Lotus]

Fantastic reading Phil. I like the part where they talk about having 50 cars on site for sale. And at prices ranging from 1 to 3 thousand pounds sterling for a car. At those prices I'll take a hand full

[pereirac]

I remember visiting CN in the mid 1980's. The quality of their 'pattern' parts was not always the best but they were a lot more affordable than some of the main Lotus dealers...

Carl

[UAB807F]

Wow, that catalogue triggered a few memories. I remember thinking how flash it was and their move to Northwich at the time. It's true, they did get bad press over some parts and it seemed to be a constant war with the Lotus factory, but I think you've got to put it all in context.

It was a couple of blokes who liked old Lotus and saw how to turn a hobby into a business. Generally speaking around the late 70s/early 80s Lotus weren't bothered about the previous generation of cars and often you'd get the "oh no mate, that will be a special order" so you'd be waiting for the dealer to order and then Lotus to deliver.

With CN you could usually just turn up and walk away with the bits, and if they didn't have new they'd often have secondhand parts. I remember getting a s/h rear disc when I urgently needed one and they weren't available. Chris actually gave me the complete rear hub carrier assembly and told me to "bring it back when you've got the disc off"..... times have changed !

Brian