The Lotus Elan Auction of the Century

[ajwheels]

Elans are slipping into historic territory................

That's my take.....I feel I am preserving an important bit of automotive history.....and I get to drive it too!!.....

[baileyman]

Perhaps someone has already linked this:

https://sportscardigest.com/the-magnifi ... ollection/

Says Deryck Norville, a former Cosworth engineer was the seller. John

[trw99]

The Duckworth Elan is back on the market, already!

https://www.classiccarauctions.co.uk/19 ... 226&pp=100

Tim

[512BB]

Hardly surprising. From the auctioneers 'Shortly after its arrival with us, we became aware that one or two aspects of the restoration were incomplete and the car has recently returned from Lotus specialists, Rickets Racing who have fitted a new wiring loom, however, we believe that there maybe one or two more jobs to complete although it is running and driving.

Yes, like fitting the rear inner A frame bolts round the correct way for starters. Just the small task of lifting the body to do that job. This car was defineately not one of the Myers best restorations, to say the very least. Can you imagine paying the big bucks that was the reserve at the original auction to then find the mess that this car was / is in.

I will never buy another car at auction, or car sight unseen, no matter who owns it or is selling it. Just far to risky in my opinion.

Leslie

[JonB]

It caught fire when they started the engine… now Cat B after Myers decided to claim on insurance. Errrr…? Do I care if Lotus gifted it to Keith Duckworth? “Provenance” seems to me a seller’s trick to gull you into paying more.

Remember: you get what you inspect, not what you expect.

[trw99]

Jon, someone cared enough to pay £164,250 (incl commission) for the Emma Peel S3 (not even a SE!), so provenance may not be important to you, but many folk in the market think otherwise.

The Peter Sellers S3 had enough provenance to get someone to part with £74,250 (incl commission). We all have a fair idea of what a good, restored S3 is worth, so clearly a famous owner has a bearing on value.

Even back in our own real world, an Elan with full provenance will be valued just that little bit more than one without.

Tim

[alan.barker]

The problem is what has been replaced, Body, Chassis, +++++ maybe the only thing original is the Reg N° and the Old Style Logbook.
We then come back to the old subject
"Trigger's Broom" lol
Alan

[JonB]

Jon, someone cared enough to pay £164,250 (incl commission) for the Emma Peel S3 (not even a SE!), so provenance may not be important to you, but many folk in the market think otherwise.

The Peter Sellers S3 had enough provenance to get someone to part with £74,250 (incl commission). We all have a fair idea of what a good, restored S3 is worth, so clearly a famous owner has a bearing on value.

Even back in our own real world, an Elan with full provenance will be valued just that little bit more than one without.

Tim

I suppose so. Those two cars are outliers, though. Question is, would they be worth as much in unrestored condition? And does a seller’s assertions count for more than the condition?

Oops, sorry, getting philosophical…

[ROADRUNNER]

Hardly surprising. From the auctioneers 'Shortly after its arrival with us, we became aware that one or two aspects of the restoration were incomplete and the car has recently returned from Lotus specialists, Rickets Racing who have fitted a new wiring loom, however, we believe that there maybe one or two more jobs to complete although it is running and driving.

Yes, like fitting the rear inner A frame bolts round the correct way for starters. Just the small task of lifting the body to do that job. This car was defineately not one of the Myers best restorations, to say the very least. Can you imagine paying the big bucks that was the reserve at the original auction to then find the mess that this car was / is in.

I will never buy another car at auction, or car sight unseen, no matter who owns it or is selling it. Just far to risky in my opinion.

Leslie

The days of quality Myers restorations are a very distant memory I'm afraid. I had a shocking experience with him.

[Donels]

I was at PJS Sportscars yesterday. They had 4 Elan Sprints and a Europa. They had restored 2 of the sprints and the Europa, and there were beautifully finished. You can still get good restoration work.

[elanfan1]

The days of quality Myers restorations are a very distant memory I'm afraid. I had a shocking experience with him.[/


Me too. We are not alone.

[DamianB]

The ex Keith Duckworth S4 FHC sold this time around
https://www.classiccarauctions.co.uk/1968-lotus-elan-s4-recc31883-1-warwick-1223?pn=1&el=6226&pp=100

£25,313 = £29,110 when you add auction fees.

Hopefully any concerns discussed here are easily fixed and the new owner has bought a beautiful car with an interesting history.