Jim Clark's first Elan 997 NUR could be yours!

[h20hamelan]

Some of us are like, others minded. Some both.

[SENC]

Some of us are like, others minded. Some both.

Brilliant!

As I see it there are generally 2 groups of people who might purchase this car- those who are enthusiasts and appreciate the car itself, and those who are collectors and who either specifically want something Jim Clark or who are simply betting on future value. It seems to me the former group would value this car well south of $100k, and the latter group (MAY) value this car well north of $100k, due to their differing interests.

I have no problem with that difference of opinion on value, nor do I see any real risk to a person in either group getting fleeced. In this case, the car is well above the range of the under $100k group, but even if it dropped to the right level I suspect an enthusiasts would research and know what they're buying and what risk they're willing to take. I don't have any reason to believe the well-over $100k group, or over $400k club for that matter, have any less ability to do their own due diligence as it applies to authenticity and/or future valuation estimates. Indeed, they likely have access to more and better information. I don't think there is any real (excusable) risk of anyone getting snookered into paying more for this car than they believe it is worth.

[billwill]

Another thing, assuming the car was insured when it was written off the remains of the car belong to the insurers who you can be sure would have put a write off marker on the car meaning it shouldn’t be rebuilt and would not have entertained selling any of it except for parts ONLY! Would be interesting if the insurers turned up and laid claim to it.

We all know elans are ultimately rebuildable but when I tried to purchase what was left of a car that burned out on me from the insurers they would not entertain it (even though I was working for them at the time!). The remains were categorised for destruction/dismantling and the DVLA nor insurers would reconsider the category.

I gather that it was 'found' in a scrap yard, so presumably the insurance company sold the wreck to the scrapyard so that part of your message would not apply.

[waterglade]

Hi.
My brother owned Jim Clarkes 997NUR Lotus and had an accident in 1969 in it that put his partner in Coventry hospital. That may be why it was found in a scrapyard years later. He is no longer with us to confirm this but it is mentioned in the Coventry evening telegraph. As a lad I also helped replace the chassis with a new one which was supplied from the Lotus factory on th A45. I dont know if this information is of any use to anybody.
Cheers Garry

[512BB]

Steve Loader wrote 'when I tried to purchase what was left of a car that burned out on me from the insurers they would not entertain it (even though I was working for them at the time!)'

Do not go near Aviva for ANYTHING good people, the 'company' Steve worked for. I am still waiting to be paid out on a life insurance policy that I started in 1978 and ended in Sept. this year. Aviva are trying to verify who I am, even though the premiums have been paid from the same bank account for 50 years and I have lived at my current address for 30 years. They are still taking the monthly payments for the policy that ended 3 months ago. This will end up in court, no doubt. AVIVA, crap company, steer clear.

Rest in peace Steve.

Leslie

[tonyabacus]

A late response to this item, but I have had the opportunitu to sit in 997 NUR as I managed to secure its prescence at a show at a couple of big motorsport days at Brooklands. This was when Brian Buckland was given sole charge of working and maintaining the car for its then owner.

Brian is and has been a long time Elan man as many of you will know, but he has also been a long time supporter of the Jim Clark Museum at Duns, where he has attended different celebration there over the years, giving talks about the Elan and Jim Clark being a long time fan of the man. This has included him taking NUR up for different reasons to Duns.

Knowing Brian, he was always happy to come along to a couple of shows, where I interviewed him before the public, about the background to both the car and the man. But he never commented on the car's value.
Tony