New purchase 1970 S4

[daleb]

Hi guys,
I thought I would post some pictures of my new S4,
This will be the 3rd Elan I'll have owned, the first was an S4 DHC in 1978, followed by a Sprint FHC in '98 and now in 2018 having regretted selling the other two I've bought this 1970 S4....

[Chrispy]

Looks lovely! Happy with it?

[MarkDa]

Very nice.
Will it be a keeper this time round?

[daleb]

Looks lovely! Happy with it?

Hi Chris, sadly I don't actually collect it until next week.
The only thing I'm not too keen on is the moto-lita steering wheel but It'll have to do for now. I'll keep a lookout
for an original Chapman signed one but i understand they are rare and very expensive so I'll have to wait and see.
Dale.

[daleb]

Very nice.
Will it be a keeper this time round?

Hi MarkDa, that is the plan, I'm 60 this year and it's kind off a birthday present to myself
Ironically I new this car back in the late 70' (different colour then) as it was own by a friend of mine when I had my first one.

[Stevie-Heathie]

Congrats on the new acquisition. My S3 had that same steering wheel when I bought it in 2015. After much umming and ahhing I decided ?2k for an original which was likely too big and too fragile was just too much cash.

Bought a 26R replica from TTR and found a NOS horn push. Couldn?t be happier. Looks the part, right size, and feels wonderful too.

Enjoy the new toy!

Steve

[daleb]

Congrats on the new acquisition. My S3 had that same steering wheel when I bought it in 2015. After much umming and ahhing I decided ?2k for an original which was likely too big and too fragile was just too much cash.

Bought a 26R replica from TTR and found a NOS horn push. Couldn?t be happier. Looks the part, right size, and feels wonderful too.

Enjoy the new toy!

Steve

Looks great Steve.

[Elanman68]

I've just fitted one of the S4 SE wheels from Jacobs Engineering to mine and am very pleased with it.

http://jacobengineering.co.uk/index.php ... -wheels-2/

This seemed to me to be a reasonable price if the cost of an original wheel in unknown condition which needed refurbishment is considered.

My car has never had the correct type of wheel in my ownership until now and whilst the skinny rim and larger diameter took some getting used to, it somehow feels 'right' and its possible to view the 2 outer gauges when driving, which I noticed were obscured by my previous smaller diameter wheel. I did consider a 26R wheel but decided as my car clearly isn't a 26R not to go down that route.

Len Chandler also makes a S4 'signature' wheel. So as they say, other wheels are available.

[MarkDa]

I'd say they represent very good value considering what people have been achieving for sometimes very tatty wheels.

I'm thinking about adding a stitch on leather cover to mine as the original rim is so thin compared to modern car wheels.
Does anyone know if the original cover will suffer inside one?

[The Veg]

I'm thinking about adding a stitch on leather cover to mine as the original rim is so thin compared to modern car wheels.
Does anyone know if the original cover will suffer inside one?

I don't know the answer to your question, but my wheel was missing it's covering when I got the car. I decided to spend the extra money for leather instead of vinyl, since my hands will be on it so much. The car isn't back on the road yet, but sometimes just to motivate myself to work on it I pick up the nice new-leather-covered wheel and luxuriate in how it feels.

[MarkDa]

Thanks for that thought.
Mine is already leather but very time-worn and past it's best.
I'm minded to follow your example and have something that feels nicer now.

[JonB]

The car isn't back on the road yet, but sometimes just to motivate myself to work on it I pick up the nice new-leather-covered wheel and luxuriate in how it feels.

I know what you mean...

Robin Hood kit car chassis, first test of driving position.

[Chancer]

We have all been there!!

Look at that chassis, all the torsional rigidity of a wet lettuce leaf

At one time they made a pressed steel monocoque, at the kit car show I lifted one corner 6" off the ground and the other 3 corners remained in contact with the floor

The salesman said that it was a lot stiffer when the front X member from the donor car was bolted in

[MarkDa]

I think your ride height is a tad excessive unless you're off-roading in which case bigger wheels are in order!!

[JonB]

Actually, the car had zero scuttle shake, although the lack of lateral braces in the floor was a bit worrying. So I added an extra subframe which allowed me to bolt the seats to the floor and use the seatbelt mounts on the seat frames. It failed SVA on some minor points which I put right, then it passed.

The best bit was driving to the SVA centre in Southampton with no number plates or tax. I kept thinking I was going to get pulled over by the Law, but it didn't happen.

Sorry, off topic.

@daleb, your S4 looks really lovely! Congrats!