Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Hi All,

What are people's experiences trying to sell a modified Elan? I have over the years successfully gone Fuel Injection/ECU and 5 speed (thanks to Worzel for his help)

I now need to get a different fun car and selling the Elan is not easy, I never thought that it would be, but I wondered if anyone else had any particularly good tips in this area?

I am actually wondering whether to convert it back to standard(ish) and sell the car and the kit separately!

Jason

The purists just don't know what they're missing...

John

I know John,

I don't miss "that flat spot", that torque, that cruising gear.....

I don't think it'll be a problem.

Assuming it is a "baby" Elan, it'll make its money.

Hi Jon,

So far, that's not my experience...

memnon,

If you decide to go back to standard I would definately be interesting in the FI kit - something I've been planning for a long time.

is it a home brew or jenveys?

Jon

Jason, I think you answered your own question. 1st try to sell as is. if not successful, then return to stock (as near as possible) then sell. Sell the extras separately. just my 2 cents

Jenvey.s an MBE Ecu and an Andy Wiltshire Fuel tank make the basis of it.... I costed the kit and new its about ?5k!

Jason
Take it off,let the purists pay through the nose for oil leaks , loose fillings and bragging rights down the pub/club/track.

Sell the EFI of to someone who enjoys motoring...

John

As was said by others and from another FI guy running two with FI, if you can't show the value gained by that set up take it back stock as you can easily sell the parts.

Not sure I would ever go back but have the stock parts to do so.

Mark

As the owner of a fairly original Elan and a Spyder/Zetec Plus 2, I value both for different reasons. I think you just need to work a bit more to find the right buyer. There aren't as many who are willing to buy a modified car as there are who will overpay for an "original" car (As if there were such a thing. More likely it will be overrestored to an original specification.) but they are out there. If one intends to really drive it rather than show it, the FI is a huge plus as has been noted by those who have one and have posted their delight.

Patience, Grasshopper!!

Thanks Ross,

The point of the original post was to see if anyone had any experience at finding the right buyer, that they would like to share. I do take all your points...

Jon,

Your best option is to just get them to drive the car, if it is done right it should sell itself.
I would guess you have tossed the distributor and have a crank sensors. It should start easy and idle well and then drive with no hiccups. As you know the difference is amazing. A one that has seen mine or driven it is blown away.

If a buyer knows the old school technology and drives the new a sale should happen.

Best of luck with your sale.
Mark

The strange thing is many people want to buy a standard car and pay good money.
Then all they do is talk about modifying it
I tried to sell a TVR 1600M bored to 1700cc + Piper 285 Cam+ twin 40 dcoe Webers and nobody wanted to buy it.
So i replaced the Cam with a GT Cortina Cam+ replaced twin Webers with an original Downdraught Weber and it sold.
Then the buyer contacted me to see if i wanted to sell the twin 40dcoe Webers + Piper Cam.
Crazy situation
Alan

I'm going to make sound generalisations here... I think most classic car owners & collectors desire cars as they left the factory i.e. without mods. That's certainly true of the Porsche, Jag & Ferrari worlds.
On the other hand, Lotus owners tend to be tinkerers & "improve" their cars. That & the fact that at times it seems that no two cars left the factory the same has kept Elan values down.
As it said in my "A levels", discuss...