Modifying an Elan in Australia
Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2020 10:12 pm
Some recent discussions with other owners in the thread about my old Elan Sprint XAM 80K have got me thinking about owning another.
35 years ago, I rolled my Elan after coming off the road and into an earth bank topped with a large rock. The impact pushed the front wheel back and into the footwell, breaking my foot. I was lucky that it was only that and concussion, not decapitation.
So, the Spyder chassis would certainly provide me some reassurance that I would be better protected in that sort of accident. However, that implies finding either a car with the Spyder chassis, or building up a project car. And the latter route opens the way to a full rolling chassis from Spyder, complete with a Zetec engine. Better safety, better reliability, and presumably, if the engine output is left as standard (around 130 bhp / 95 kw) similar performance to the original.
I’m in Sydney, Australia, and I’ve just spotted a local ad for a recently imported LHD S4 which is missing engine, steering column, gearbox internals and propshaft, though it’s got a Stromberg head and carbs and a VIN. Sounds like the ideal basis for a Spyder + Zetec transplant. Hey presto - modern reliable (RHD) running gear with improved safety and the classic Elan body and interior!
But I’ve just had a look at the Australian design rules which seem to prohibit or at least make it difficult to get road registration of a substantially modified car where, for example, it’s been converted from LHD to RHD, or converted to DHC, or had a different engine or gearbox not originally available, or had substantially more power than original or had a roll cage fitted.
Does anyone here have any experience of such a project in Australia? Can it be done? Is it legal and what would it take to get road registration? How would I start such a project? Would I be better just to find and import a nice original DHC Sprint? And can one of those have the roll bar fitted?
Price wise, Spyder could build up a complete Zetec rolling RHD chassis with engine, gearbox, wheels etc, for around £20k, or A$35k. The seller of the Elan wants $25k so it would end up as a practically new car for $60k plus assembly, electrics and trim. A nice UK Elan for, say, £35k is going to end up here at a similar price, allowing for import costs.
35 years ago, I rolled my Elan after coming off the road and into an earth bank topped with a large rock. The impact pushed the front wheel back and into the footwell, breaking my foot. I was lucky that it was only that and concussion, not decapitation.
So, the Spyder chassis would certainly provide me some reassurance that I would be better protected in that sort of accident. However, that implies finding either a car with the Spyder chassis, or building up a project car. And the latter route opens the way to a full rolling chassis from Spyder, complete with a Zetec engine. Better safety, better reliability, and presumably, if the engine output is left as standard (around 130 bhp / 95 kw) similar performance to the original.
I’m in Sydney, Australia, and I’ve just spotted a local ad for a recently imported LHD S4 which is missing engine, steering column, gearbox internals and propshaft, though it’s got a Stromberg head and carbs and a VIN. Sounds like the ideal basis for a Spyder + Zetec transplant. Hey presto - modern reliable (RHD) running gear with improved safety and the classic Elan body and interior!
But I’ve just had a look at the Australian design rules which seem to prohibit or at least make it difficult to get road registration of a substantially modified car where, for example, it’s been converted from LHD to RHD, or converted to DHC, or had a different engine or gearbox not originally available, or had substantially more power than original or had a roll cage fitted.
Does anyone here have any experience of such a project in Australia? Can it be done? Is it legal and what would it take to get road registration? How would I start such a project? Would I be better just to find and import a nice original DHC Sprint? And can one of those have the roll bar fitted?
Price wise, Spyder could build up a complete Zetec rolling RHD chassis with engine, gearbox, wheels etc, for around £20k, or A$35k. The seller of the Elan wants $25k so it would end up as a practically new car for $60k plus assembly, electrics and trim. A nice UK Elan for, say, £35k is going to end up here at a similar price, allowing for import costs.