1965 S2 Elan

[zog]

Spring time is here! Time to get out and enjoy the backroads. And what better way to enjoy springtime driving than with a 1965 Series 2 Lotus Elan.
I'm selling this car for my friend who is a great wrench and does some amazing things with fiberglass, but he struggles painfully with a pc. So this is one of his daily summer drive toy cars. Time to thin out the herd for some parking space so this one was tagged to go.
The Twin Cam, Weber head engine starts easy and runs well. The car handles fine and gets lots of thumbs up and double takes wherever it is driven. The cloth seats are a bit overstuffed so they are comfortable. Trans was rebuilt and shifts great. New drive donuts were installed about 6 years ago. The problematic headlight vacuum system was replaced with real nifty gas struts. Miniature versions of what holds up the back of a hatchback. You pop up the headlight pods when you want the lights on at night and pop them back down when you don't. Adjustable height coil over shocks in the back. Clutch and brakes are good. Clutch master and slave cylinders were recently rebuilt. Convertible top is old but complete. It has a few patches but it keeps out at least 80 of the rain. Rear fenders have slight flares. Stock generator was replaced with an alternator. The car has just over 50,000 miles on the odometer.
This car was in a rear end accident about 15 years ago. A new-used rear fiberglass clip was glassed on by the owner at Fiberglass Solutions in Addison Illinois. The car was then professionally painted by the local paint shop down the street. The car has been driven as often as the weather allowed since it was rebuilt.
Now the warts. The paint is just so-so. It has some scratches and chips and a few cracks here and there. A little TLC would make it better. The engine starts easy and runs good but it is a bit lumpy. Could maybe use a good carb tune up. There are the usual engine oil leaks. Nothing terrible but you will want to stay away from fresh concrete driveways.
As this is a Lotus, there will be a certain amount of fiddling you will have to do on a regular basis.
$20,000 OBO
Located in Addison, Illinois.

I'll add more pictures later when I get to a faster internet connection.

[Fred Talmadge]

Looks like a nice deal. Good luck with the sale.

[Ross Robbins]

Zog That looks like a great little driver and a really good value...if I didn't already have an S2 I would be on this like brown on rice! It looks to be an early S2 what is the unit number??? Good luck.

Somebody buy this fast before I do something that will get me in trouble with my wife!

[wthode]

I'm very interested in this car. I'd appreciate any other information you have. Is the mileage accurate? Has it been serviced regularly? Service records? Etc.

A friend and I are interested in coming from Idaho and driving it back. Is it in shape for that?

What kind of deposit would be required? It might be several weeks before we could make it there.

Thanks.

Walt Thode ([email protected])

[billwill]

I'm very interested in this car. I'd appreciate any other information you have. Is the mileage accurate? Has it been serviced regularly? Service records? Etc.

A friend and I are interested in coming from Idaho and driving it back. Is it in shape for that?

What kind of deposit would be required? It might be several weeks before we could make it there.

Thanks.

Walt Thode ([email protected]" target="_blank" target="_blank)

Do you honestly expect a 50 year old car to have a complete service record? That's not what happens to cars when they age to the point where they are much older than the service station engineers and normal sources of spares dry up.

Classic cars are normally maintained and repaired by their owners and service records give way to personal experience, which sometimes is detailed on forums such as this one; plus notes and invoices tucked into ones copy of the service manual.

[Certified Lotus]

My 50 year old car came with an entire file of work done to the car over a 35 year period of time. The first two owners over 15 years nothing, the the next two were as fanatical as me. You never know what people save.

[tedtaylor]

I know i've seen this car for sale previously somewhere? possibly this forum? i specifically remember the green colored cloth seats. Where was it listed before? anyone remember???

[zog]

Here are some responces to your questions......

This car has been listed on this site and ebay before. Paul was asking a bit more money and nobody came up to his price. Now that he is even busier with his work and has even more projects to work on (1977 March Formula Atlantic), he needs to get rid of something.

Paul does all his own work so there are no records except for maybe the machine shop work on the engine. But he has a pretty good memory and can tell you what was done at what time.

For the person who asked if he could drive this Elan back from Chicago to Idaho, only if you are as adventurous as Ross Robbins...... I would make sure you bring your cell phone and the phone number of a real good friend with a trailer.

For those interested, call Paul at 630-458-0756.

[Ross Robbins]

Three things:

1. If Zog vouches for this car that is all you need to take action.
2. This is a great value on the best version of the Elan.
3. All you need are the two key tools for any Lotus owner...A cell phone and a high limit credit card.

C'mon! Somebody on this site needs this car before I get in trouble again. And if I did buy it I would ABSOLUTELY drive it home to Colorado. What could possibly go wrong???

[roblotus79]

Ross,

I wish I could save you! I'd love to buy this car. A driver condition S2 for $20k. Not likely to happen again. Just compare to the full restoration going for $17k is.

Sadly, the timing is not right for me as I'm building a house and my +2 really ought to have its engine refreshed.

Rob

[zog]

Thank you for all your posiitive responces, the car has been sold!

[wthode]

OK, after assurances from Zog and conversations with Paul, my friend and I (both of us named Walt) flew to Chicago, spent Sunday morning with Paul, and drove away in the car about 12:30, heading for our home in Boise, 1800 miles away. So far we've made it to Toledo, Iowa, just past Cedar Falls. (Ever notice how many towns in Iowa get their names from other well-known sources.) it looks like we'll make it home Wednesday night, barring any adverse circumstances. So far our only concern is an odd clunk from the right rear whenever the brake pedal is depressed. Our concerns about undertaking this trip have been allayed somewhat by the assistance of Ross Robbins, who not only urged us on, but also provided a list of names of Elan aficionados along our route who might be able to help if trouble strikes. Both of us Walts are previous Elan owners, so we're not unfamiliar with the cars--but we were both 30-50 years younger then. I hope to post more updates as we go. Wish us luck!

[el-saturn]

..............GOOD LUCK walt+walt! hope you don't have to rely on the stock tool kit! greetings from the alps sandy

[gjz30075]

I hope to post more updates as we go. Wish us luck!

Both Zog and Ross are authors in their own right so, yes, updates, or a story of the trip at the end, is
expected. Start a new thread when you do. Good Luck!

[Ross Robbins]

Good for you Guys!!
In England they have the three malts tour, I guess this is the Two Walt's Tour Good Luck on the journey. I think you'll make it fine and agree with Greg...the story must be told once you are home safely but on a new topic head please.