Progress and question

[MartijnElanS4]

Hi all,

Engine and gearbox have been refurbished. Now waiting for the carbs.

Questions: does a hardtop from an S1/S2 fit on a 1971 S4 and what are your thoughts? Does it help reduce wind noise so it can be driven more in colder times or doesn’t it help much?

Best regards,

Martijn

[bitsobrits]

A hardtop from an S1/S2 will definitely not fit an S4. Door glass shapes are completely different as is rear deck fitment.

[MartijnElanS4]

Thanks!

Good to know. Any experience of how it drives with it fitted?

[bitsobrits]

A hardtop on any series Elan makes the car the car quieter and warmer as there are less air leaks.
It should make things a bit drier in the rain, but don't expect them to be water tight, especially the S1/S2.

[gjz30075]

Lenhams makes hardtops for the S3/4 cars.
http://www.lenhammotorcompanyltd.com/20 ... prototype/

[gherlt]

I bought a (Honeybourne Mouldings aka Lenham) NOS hardtop for my S3, it was rough, came with side brackets only and a methacrylate rear window. I cleaned and polished it and had it painted the same colour as my car.
As mentioned here in previous posts, I wanted to drive the car in the "rainy season" and be a bit quieter...

I bought a new fitting kit from Lenhams. I looked at the installation instructions, how it sits on the "rear deck" and how to put it on and off (2 person job). My overall impression was that the fitting was not very strong (I have to add that I regularly drove the car 1500km across Europe at 120/130km/h). This impression was confirmed by Rainer Brammer. So I did not fit the hardtop and it has been sitting in my garage for 12 years now.

You are in the Netherlands, so it is never very cold, just windy and rainy. It rains less than ever, the soft top can be watertight, even add "high speed" (which I think is much more important), even on the motorway I like the sound of the car, so now I really do not see the point.
If you still want one, I am selling mine for half the price of a new one...


i

[MartijnElanS4]

Hi!

Thanks for your feedback!

I thought it would be a good addition while waiting on parts and not having finished the car in the beginning of September. With a hardtop and fixed rear window I hoped for a bit of comfort. With your feedback, maybe I should start driving the car when ready and see how it will do without the hardtop.

Thanks again!

[steve lyle]

Don’t let the color police see your engine block, or you’ll get arrested!

[alan.barker]

That Engine colour very tacky yacky.
Get down to the M F Tractor shop for a pot of paint "tout de suit".
Alan

[MartijnElanS4]

Don’t let the color police see your engine block, or you’ll get arrested!

Do you mean the grey or orange/red? The orange red is the epoxy primer so the base coat. The grey is the final chassis paint.

[alan.barker]

That's better Massey Ferguson Tractor grey
Much easier on the eyes.
Alan