Two 50 Year Anniversaries

[1owner69Elan]

Fifty years ago today, with my brand new Elan parked outside, I awoke in a B&B outside of Salisbury, England to: "Well done Yank! You folks did it!". I had no idea what was being said until the inn keeper explained "You landed on the Moon!". One of those moments in place and time you don't forget.

I had 11 days earlier picked up my Elan at the factory and was motoring around the English countryside.

The night before the Moon landing I learned for the first time what a "lock in" was at the local pub. The doors were locked and I, along with the locals, carried on drinking into the night. Thus, a little slow on the uptake the next morning.

All part of the education of a young man.

[StressCraxx]

James,

That's very, very cool. I thought I was doing well when we celebrated our 40th year of Elan enjoyment on May 11. You purchased from a great dealer too. Mr. Qvale was a true gent in the business.

Hope you enjoy your Elan another 40.

Regards,
Dan Wise

[seniorchristo]

That?s a high serial number for a Super Safety. Mine is 457594, I think that number falls into S4 territory.

[1owner69Elan]

It?s definitely an S4. I think the Lotus office saw a US export model and mistakenly used the older Super Safety name on my invoice.

Badges, everything else says S4 SE.

[SENC]

2 great anniversaries and a good story - thanks for sharing, James.

[skelteanema]

Love that signature by Mr Duckworth. Looks like my cursive writing practice when I was at primary school, practicing circles.

[1owner69Elan]

As I piece my memory together of fifty years ago I also remember getting my car serviced for the first time (500 mile checkup) at Rob Walker's garage (IIRC) on a Friday. They took all day and into the evening to service it going through every nut and bolt. This seems to be like the service they performed on the kit cars to assure they were assembled properly. Though mine was factory built.

The next day, Saturday, July 19, 1969, was the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Instead of bedding down for the night I set off into the dark to drive to Silverstone arriving in the wee hours. I parked the Elan and then tried to sleep in the drivers seat. I awoke to people strolling by and overhearing them remark: "It's for export". A LHD drive car and a yellow rimmed UK number plate.

The F1 Grand Prix was quite a battle with the Lotus (Jochen Rindt) losing out after some bad luck to the eventual winner Jackie Stewart (Matra Ford).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZQyqbXb6fw

It was the following day, Sunday/Monday, that the moon landing and moon walk occurred.

[69S4]

The next day, Saturday, July 19, 1969, was the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Instead of bedding down for the night I set off into the dark to drive to Silverstone arriving in the wee hours. I parked the Elan and then tried to sleep in the drivers seat. .

Yes, sleeping in the Elan . I spent one of the most uncomfortable nights of my life trying to sleep in my Elan when, due to water pump problems, I was stuck on the quayside at Dunkirk ferry port overnight. I?m not sure some of my joints have ever recovered.

[Geoffers71]

On the 12 July we celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary and here's a picture of the event in 1969 with my '65 S2.

We used the Elan on our honeymoon to drive from Liverpool and tour around the coast of Devon and Cornwall. Never did manage to remove the "just married", written in lipstick, from the rear plastic of the hood

[trw99]

Nice memories all.

I have never really been able to sleep in a car, or a plane come to that. My solution, at least for the car, was to kip on the ground alongside the drivers door. Strangely I never tried that option on a plane...

Tim

[Certified Lotus]

Great history and Memories! I?m smiling at the entire story and the fact that you still have the car and your wife!

[Mazzini]

Tim and on sailing boats?

[trw99]

Not a problem Rob! But then they do have berths for that!

Tim

[richardcox_lotus]

Many years ago my wife & I went to Le Mans with the Elan & stayed in the campsite by the circuit

All was fine except for one evening when we were disturbed in the early hours by something under the groundsheet of the tent.

Memsab then insisted she wasn?t going to stay in the tent and decamped to the Elan (it?s a DHC by the way).

I felt duty bound to join her.

It was more comfortable than I expected!

The field mouse that caused the trouble was never caught.