3 owner '72 Sprint for Sale, NZ SOLD

[Robhi]

Reluctant sale of my Blue and Gold Elan sprint FHC. First registered in NZ in April 1972. The service voucher book shows last official service in Wellington (NZ) in March 1979 @ 28,150 miles. It then appear the car went into a semi state of hibernation (last Warrant of Fitness test was Nov. 1979) but remained (optimistically!) registered for road use through to 1990. The car remerged in 2006 when it was purchased off the first owner with 28928 miles on the clock. It was sympathetically re-commissioned and was re-registered for road usage by its second owner in 2016. I acquired the vehicle in 2019. It now has just over 37,000 miles on the clock.
The good: Lovely patina, deep blue body work with gold bumpers (as per ex-factory spec), mechanically very good, on original solid chassis (NZ is a low corrosion environment), nice paint work (but some small chips and discrete micro cracking). Starts and drives beautifully, maintains excellent oil pressure and pulls strongly through all the gears. Original owner’s handbook + service booklet (8 main dealer service entries from new through to 1979). Windscreen is original and has original running-in sticker still attached. I have replaced the donuts with a solid CV set up (RD Enterprises) + generator replaced by alternator + points replaced by Lumenition Ignition. Has modern stereo (not used, I enjoy the windows being down!). Original brake booster, HT leads and sprung loaded distributor rotor were fitted when I got the car but I have removed these to ensure it is reliable to use (all removed parts will go with the car). I have a new replacement booster to fit, which will go with the car, if required. Comes with original jack! Everything works as it should. Started up regularly, and dry weather permitting, taken for sprints in the local countryside on a reasonably regular basis. Has been serviced x 2 by a lotus specialist in my ownership to keep it in good fettle (including new front bushes). Rear shocks are TT replacements and car is certified for road use with the rear adjustable shocks. I think the carpets are the original ones too!

To do: Depends on whether you want to have a sparkly show piece (I prefer the useable state it current presents):

1. The windscreen could ideally do with replacement (it has some local delamination in the bottom corners (obscured by two 'Lotus' stickers) and windscreen and rear screen rubbers are the originals which are cracked (but would be a shame to lose this patina).
2. Original steering wheel is in great condition but outer cover has locally seperated on the inside over a length of about 2cm (has deteriorated any further in my ownership)
3. Otherwise probably time to replace the fan belt and the earth connections to indicators cleaned up!
4. or just turn the key and enjoy…….

Please contact me for further details and photos, if you are interested.

Hopefully this will tick the buttons for a member of this community, otherwise will put up on our local web sites. A lovely piece of Lotus motoring history for the next custodian to enjoy.

Looking for offers around NZ$60,000.

[MTBer]

I've just started dipping my toe, looking around for an Elan. This one does check all the boxes for me. Coupe, Sprint, single AMAZING color. The RHD isn't ideal for the US but I've heard if there were ever a car where it matters less, the Elan would be it since it's so small to begin with. I'm also not sure how realistic it is to find a Sprint Coupe that's LHD, they must be exceedingly rare!

I would love to take a look at some more pics if you have them handy in a google drive or something.

Cheers!
Adrian

[Robhi]

Hi Adrian
Yes, beautiful colour combo. I have attached some more photos to the original post and some extra ones here.

Robert

[MTBer]

Lovely car Robert. Thank you for the pics. It would be very hard to resist if it were on the same continent!

[peterl]

Hi Robert,
Have you sold your Elan? If not, where in NZ are you?
Cheers
Peter

[Robhi]

Hi Peter
My Elan is located in Clevedon, Just South of Auckland if you wanted to have a look.
Robert