Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

I have been in the process of starting a project to create a 26R style car based on a S2 that spent many years in America. By chance I have been lucky enough to pick up an early Bourne bodied S1 that turns out to have been stored in the same US barn for many years - it has modded arches and the S2 was bought by the PO for spares and replacement engine!! There is a pic attached and the strory has been in previous threads.

Here is my dilemma - I can only restore one car -

- the S2 would be a good basis for a full 26R style car (I have chassis and have started the build)
- the right thing to do seems to be to get the very early car back on the road again.
- to turn the Bourne S1 into a 26R clone would seem wrong
- I would like a 26R style car!

Having looked into things I have discovered that early S1 based 26R cars had standard wheel arches, standard headlamp pods and bumpers, running 51/2 inch bespoke wheels and lots of engine, chassis mods etc.

So here is my thinking (on which I would appreciate feedback and advice):-

- rebuild the S1 on a 26R chassis with suitable engine, braking and suspension mods as per 26R in period
- fit standard arches, light pods plus 51/2 inch 26R solid wheels (if I can source them)
- have engine bay etc painted in Bourne grey, interior too and have the interior in 'stripped out' style

The picture of the blue car attached captures it.

That way, I get an upgraded car, in the spirit of very early 26R cars but all of the modifications are reversible and an early Bourne car stays true to its origins.

Best of both worlds or should I do the S2 as a 26R and leave the S1 in storage?!!!

David

I know you already have a really nice S1 but to me it seems wrong not to restore to original a Bourne bodied car. Why not sell on the project to someone who will do just that and you can concentrate on your 26R lookee likee.

I do know a member on here who would almost certainly buy it from you to restore to similar standards as your other car. Let me know and I'll put you in touch.

Thanks Steve - picking up another Bourne body car was too much to resist!

Have sent you a PM, still open to ideas from others too!!

David

Hi David,
I like your idea. I would do the same. Go for it.
I believe TTR has the wheels your after.
When your finished we could do that trade!
Regards Daniel

Hi Daniel

Yes - Lotus 51FF - super cool - it's tempting!

David

I think that your original idea is spot on David. The S1 isn't original now, but putting it back to a period-modified condition that could, in turn, be put back to original condition, seems the right thing to do.

Mind you, I would be tempted to put the 26R arches on it, as it already has arches! Yes, it's too early, but period mods weren't only done in week one of the car's life!!

Whatever you do, keep the early car. I'm sure that they will be THE Elans to have in the future.

Mark

Thanks Mark - the arches are wild - fitted over the top of the originals - the original owner auto crossed it in the 1960s and must have loved a home done modification...I think a rub down and paint should do it - let the car tell its story as they say!

David

Looks like a great project. I bought one a few years back where the bumpers had been 'molded' into the bodywork. A quick rubdown revealed that they were just bolted on with a thin skim of filler; hopefully yours are the same. Knock-ons on an S1 as well! I have a set of bolt-on hubs if you want them, unless you're going the TTR route with all new suspension.
Mark

I like your idea of an early Bourne bodied elan with reversible 26R mods. The purist in me says restore it exactly to its own original condition, but really, if it was mine, I would probably be doing the early style 26R mods on it. I have an early S1 that has race history, and I am in the process of reversing the later mods, to put it back to what it looked like in 1963, with its own early mods still in place...

Thanks for all the ideas and suggestions - currently edging towards doing the S2 as a 'proper' 26R style car and saving the Bourne S1 for later and doing it as standard, trouble is that will need lots of bits and interior that I don't have!!!

David