26/0538 - 60 year anniversary with one owner
41 posts
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As of May 10th I am celebrating my 60 years of driving my Elan 1600 (early S1).
I ordered my car from the factory in early December of 1963 (no dealers in Canada at that time) - The car was built and delivered in March 64 to the London docks and shipped by sea to Vancouver where, on May 10th, I watched it being lifted from the ships hold and thence drove it home to Vancouver Island (The Rock).
I am still enjoying driving it briskly at age 83. As the saying goes "It doesn't drive me".
Any other long time (older) owners out there???
Bill Rathlef
I ordered my car from the factory in early December of 1963 (no dealers in Canada at that time) - The car was built and delivered in March 64 to the London docks and shipped by sea to Vancouver where, on May 10th, I watched it being lifted from the ships hold and thence drove it home to Vancouver Island (The Rock).
I am still enjoying driving it briskly at age 83. As the saying goes "It doesn't drive me".
Any other long time (older) owners out there???
Bill Rathlef
Bill Rathlef
Vancouver Island, Canada
"Keep your stick on the ice, boys."
Vancouver Island, Canada
"Keep your stick on the ice, boys."
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Bill - Third Gear
- Posts: 371
- Joined: 05 Oct 2003
keep them sticks on the ice!
Born, and brought home from the hospital (no seat belt (wtf)) in a baby!
Find out where the limits are, and start from there
Love your Mother
Earth
Find out where the limits are, and start from there
Love your Mother
Earth
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h20hamelan - Coveted Fifth Gear
- Posts: 1961
- Joined: 25 Sep 2010
Hi Bill, Same age but haven't keep my Elan as long. Saw an Elise in Australia in 1964 on leave from Viet Nam. Wanted one. Back to the States in "65 and off to England where at the "65 Earls Court show they introduced the Elan Coupe vice the no longer Elise.Had it shipped to the Port of New York, picked it up, I think in February of "66, #5192 It was my daily driver till I unfortunately sold it and acquired a 2005 Elise, then a Tony Thompson Elan GTS which I and now negotiating to get back in exchange for a Sprint. You were smart, I wasn't, too many trades. Nothing like an Elan & good health.
- woodcock
- First Gear
- Posts: 25
- Joined: 08 Aug 2012
Nice one, Bill and happy Elan birthday!
Tim
Tim
Visit www.lotuselansprint.com
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trw99 - Coveted Fifth Gear
- Posts: 2604
- Joined: 31 Dec 2003
Congratulations Bill, would be surprised if anyone can beat your record!
Bought my Sprint second hand in 1982 at the age of 23. Insurance was no problem back then.
Used to drive it a lot quicker back then, before the days of speed cameras and average speed cameras. And a lot less traffic.
Richard
Bought my Sprint second hand in 1982 at the age of 23. Insurance was no problem back then.
Used to drive it a lot quicker back then, before the days of speed cameras and average speed cameras. And a lot less traffic.
Richard
Lotus Elan Sprint FHC 1973
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RichardS - Third Gear
- Posts: 489
- Joined: 23 Apr 2007
Congratulations and good on you. For everyone life presents many challenges so amazing you’ve managed to keep it for so long
1970 Ford Escort Twin Cam
1972 Ford Escort GT1600 Twin Cam
1980 Ford Escort 2.0 Ghia
Peugeot 505 GTI Wagons (5spdx1) (Autox1)
2022 Ford Fiesta ST.
1972 Ford Escort GT1600 Twin Cam
1980 Ford Escort 2.0 Ghia
Peugeot 505 GTI Wagons (5spdx1) (Autox1)
2022 Ford Fiesta ST.
- 2cams70
- Coveted Fifth Gear
- Posts: 2162
- Joined: 10 Jun 2015
Congratulations Bill. Awesome milestone and story.
A good friend of mine had a very similar experience a few years after your car landed. He was with his father to pick up the first Elan SE to hit the Vancouver docks.
As he tells it the then relatively new Lotus dealer took them down to the docks on a calm Saturday for the unpacking. Firing the car was immediately followed by a few impromptu acceleration runs down the desolate dock apron. You know, to “Check the gears”.
On a whim they later toured the new car to California. Actually traded yarns with another new SE owner from LA at an impromptu meeting on the iconic Cali Highway 1.
So great that you continue to bomb around The Island with your S1. Wish I could be down your way for the epic BC Lotus Club Vancouver Island Staycation tour in the next few weeks. Hope you are able to post a few pics.
Enjoy the ride!
A good friend of mine had a very similar experience a few years after your car landed. He was with his father to pick up the first Elan SE to hit the Vancouver docks.
As he tells it the then relatively new Lotus dealer took them down to the docks on a calm Saturday for the unpacking. Firing the car was immediately followed by a few impromptu acceleration runs down the desolate dock apron. You know, to “Check the gears”.
On a whim they later toured the new car to California. Actually traded yarns with another new SE owner from LA at an impromptu meeting on the iconic Cali Highway 1.
So great that you continue to bomb around The Island with your S1. Wish I could be down your way for the epic BC Lotus Club Vancouver Island Staycation tour in the next few weeks. Hope you are able to post a few pics.
Enjoy the ride!
Stu
1969 Plus 2 Federal LHD
1969 Plus 2 Federal LHD
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stugilmour - Coveted Fifth Gear
- Posts: 1942
- Joined: 03 Sep 2007
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