Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Most reluctantly for sale!

My fathers Lotus Elan Sprint.

First Registered 1973, bought by my father from European Saloon car Championship winning tuner Harry Ratcliffe about 10 years ago. This car has led a most pampered existence & is a remarkably intact & original example.

Maintained at all costs for many years & having covered little mileage recently, my Fathers death, very sadly forces a sale.

I have attached a number of images below, all of which were taken today. The car has a Full years MOT, everything works as it should including the pop up head lights & electric windows. The car was recently Dyno'd & gave a very impressive 125bhp at the wheels, printout available. Tonneau & full Hood in excellent condition, large history file with car.

This is a great opportunity to buy a really straight, genuine Elan at sensible money.











Offers in the region of PROVISIONALLY SOLD considered. Viewing can be arranged near harrogate, North Yorks.

Provisionally SOLD!

gone in under 18 hours.......
must have been a good price.....

We may never know.

Seemed like a good car and there was a compelling description, too. These things help a sale.

In any case, it's nice to see Elans appreciated and generating attention in the market

The price was on the original posting. ?25950 i think.

Ken

I thought it was GBP26,500, same ballpark though. Shame the seller took down the pictures, nice to see a good original car in Tawny Brown.

Hope that it goes to a good home...

Now there's a name from the past, don't know how many of you know Harry Ratcliffe but he was the man when it came to mini tuning. Ran his own tuning company in Littleborough Lancashire and built the famous hill climb Elan that won the British hillclimb championship around 1970. It broke all the records at every hill it went up!
Last time I saw Harry was sat on the front wing of my Cooper 'S' pipe in mouth tweaking the distributor with the car doing 80 mph!. He also ran minis in the European Saloon Car championship in both the 1000cc & 1300cc classes under the British Vita Racing banner. Brilliant engineer.
Ian

Hi, Thanks for the interest. I have re installed the pics as suggested.

The car was sold via a different forum. The asking price was ?25,950, a very sensible price, we reckoned. The first person to enquire seriously, bought it.

Yes, Harry was a complete legend, I knew him well up until a few years ago & my Dad snapped it up when I told him that Harry was selling it. It went like a dream and was indeed a very original un messed with car that was considerably faster than most.

Only a shame I couldn't have kept it myself.

It looked like a very nice Elan at a sensible price.
I am trying to help someone buy a DHC Elan Sprint ( in the UK)
If any one knows of one or is thinking of selling let me know and I can put you in touch with a serious buyer with a realistic budget.
Needs to be Genuine DHC Sprint, good to excellent condition, can be modified.
Any help appreciated.
Clive

Clive ? me
Thanks

Hi

Seeing that car got me thinking- the reg RUT- since my car (a 72 registered sprint) bears CUT am I right in thinking both cars were registered within the same district or am I way off.

Secondly- I'm intrigued- my car is bog standard, never been shunted, body is original so why does mine sit lower on the front springs that the one pictured (and I've just replaced the front springs with the std 75lb ones from P Matty)- I ask this after cracking the front wheel arch lip when driving up a shallow driveway ramp on right lock.


Regards

John

UT = Leicester.

There were two versions of the standard front spring which one did you get / does Matty sell? The longer one was introduced at some time for an increased front ride height

cheers
Rohan

Hi Rohan

Have to confess I don't know the answer to your question- I'll have to get back to PM tomorrow to clarify.

Regards and thanks


John