Elan Tow Bar Original Lotus Part

[casalunge]

The following photo may (or may not ) be of interest.

I acquired this recently (not that I will use it), it is an original Lotus issue Tow Bar for a Baby Elan.

Mounts to the diff at the top and the two bobbins in the boot at the bottom

[ardee_selby]

The following photo may (or may not ) be of interest.

I acquired this recently (not that I will use it), it is an original Lotus issue Tow Bar for a Baby Elan.

Mounts to the diff at the top and the two bobbins in the boot at the bottom

Well, it may not be "de rigueur" (but neither is a boot rack, particularly after seeing the damage they can do to a bootlid) So for anyone serious about needing more "luggage space" (another, lightweight Elan on a trailer?) it guess it would be of interest.

Q. Wonder what info Lotus published about towing capabilty, if not pulling power..

[69S4]

The pic is certainly of interest! I was after info on tow bars here some time (years) ago as I was looking to try and tow a small motorcycle trailer behind the Elan. The idea was to go "1970 retro touring" with the Elan and a Kawasaki 500/3 down to the Moto Coupe Legende meeting at Dijon (end of May each year). I still want to do this but the bike is in pieces at the moment so not much will happen till it's sorted.

Someone did contact me with one for sale but sadly at a time when I was going through a periodic financial retraction. It also had the drawback of needing chunks cut out of the rear bodywork to fit, something I'm not prepared to do. How does this one fit? Just with spanners or do you need an angle grinder as well?

[ardee_selby]

The pic is certainly of interest! I was after info on tow bars here some time (years) ago as I was looking to try and tow a small motorcycle trailer behind the Elan. The idea was to go "1970 retro touring" with the Elan and a Kawasaki 500/3 down to the Moto Coupe Legende meeting at Dijon (end of May each year). I still want to do this but the bike is in pieces at the moment so not much will happen till it's sorted.

Someone did contact me with one for sale but sadly at a time when I was going through a periodic financial retraction. It also had the drawback of needing chunks cut out of the rear bodywork to fit, something I'm not prepared to do. How does this one fit? Just with spanners or do you need an angle grinder as well?

Stuart,

It wasn't so long ago...but I'd "remembered" someone wanting to pull another car, but it was you & a bike. With that in mind, would it be a year round fixture? Or only when required? Thinking about ease of removal as well as fitting...

elan-f14/towbar-t20123.html

[nebogipfel]

...... it is an original Lotus issue Tow Bar for a Baby Elan.

Only one question .... What's a baby Elan

I know what an Elan is and I'm familiar with Elan Plus 2's but I don't ever remember Lotus announcing a Baby Elan

[69S4]

It wasn't so long ago...but I'd "remembered" someone wanting to pull another car, but it was you & a bike. With that in mind, would it be a year round fixture? Or only when required? Thinking about ease of removal as well as fitting...

elan-f14/towbar-t20123.html

I wouldn't want it on all year round so ease of fitting / removal would be a consideration - but how hard could it be, I'm underneath the Elan most weekends anyway. In practical terms though you know how it is - the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak, so I could envisage it being stuck on there until I "get round to it". That's why hacking the bodywork is a non starter as I'd only want to use it occasionally for specific trips.

Looking at Casalunge's photo I can imagine the top bit with the tow ball bolting onto something solid near the diff but where does the other part fasten to? The two bobbins at the bottom of the boot at one end and 2/3 along the length of the top part at the other? I imagine it's cranked to fit round the exhaust but which silencer? S4 twin pipe, Sprint? Even with the fixings mentioned I wonder how solid it all is. As usual I've more questions than answers.

[oldelanman]

It wasn't so long ago...but I'd "remembered" someone wanting to pull another car, but it was you & a bike. With that in mind, would it be a year round fixture? Or only when required? Thinking about ease of removal as well as fitting...

elan-f14/towbar-t20123.html

I wouldn't want it on all year round so ease of fitting / removal would be a consideration - but how hard could it be, I'm underneath the Elan most weekends anyway. In practical terms though you know how it is - the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak, so I could envisage it being stuck on there until I "get round to it". That's why hacking the bodywork is a non starter as I'd only want to use it occasionally for specific trips.

Looking at Casalunge's photo I can imagine the top bit with the tow ball bolting onto something solid near the diff but where does the other part fasten to? The two bobbins at the bottom of the boot at one end and 2/3 along the length of the top part at the other? I imagine it's cranked to fit round the exhaust but which silencer? S4 twin pipe, Sprint? Even with the fixings mentioned I wonder how solid it all is. As usual I've more questions than answers.

Stuart, all you need is a pair of stepladders and a few ratchet straps...................

[frearther]

[/quote]Only one question .... What's a baby Elan
[/quote]

There are no baby elans - just Elans and overgrown Elans

OOO, am I gonna hear about this!

[casalunge]

Unfortunately its a hole in the car job.

I acquired it from the previous owner who ordered it new from Lotus and fitted it to his car (which I now have complete with hole)

Colin

[billwill]

Only one question .... What's a baby Elan
There are no baby elans - just Elans and overgrown Elans
OOO, am I gonna hear about this!

Maybe we ought to call them an Elan+0 when we want to be clear that it is not an Elan+2

[69S4]

Stuart, all you need is a pair of stepladders and a few ratchet straps...................

That looks more like an insurance claim than a means of transport. Presumably the rider is ratchet strapped to the bonnet

[theelanman]

Only one question .... What's a baby Elan
There are no baby elans - just Elans and overgrown Elans
OOO, am I gonna hear about this!

Maybe we ought to call them an Elan+0 when we want to be clear that it is not an Elan+2

I think 'elan' and '+2' would suffice

[nebogipfel]

I think 'elan' and '+2' would suffice

Precisely

Or "Elan" and "Plus 2"

Or "Elan" and "Elan +2"

Or "Elan" and "Elan Plus 2"

We on the Lotus Elan forum, should not use or encourage the use of "Baby Elan" (Yuk!) or +0 (nearly as bad)

Apologies for the thread hijack but this is really annoying.

I propose that anyone using either term in future are given a prompt virtual slap

[ardee_selby]

I think 'elan' and '+2' would suffice

Precisely

Or "Elan" and "Elan +2"

Or "Elan" and "Elan Plus 2"

We on the Lotus Elan forum, should not use or encourage the use of "Baby Elan" (Yuk!) or +0 (nearly as bad)

Apologies for the thread hijack but this is really annoying.

I propose that anyone using either term in future are given a prompt virtual slap

What's wrong with keeping to the convention of the forum title(s) used to date... Viz. Elan & Plus 2 ??

[nebogipfel]

I think 'elan' and '+2' would suffice

Precisely

Or "Elan" and "Elan +2"

Or "Elan" and "Elan Plus 2"

We on the Lotus Elan forum, should not use or encourage the use of "Baby Elan" (Yuk!) or +0 (nearly as bad)

Apologies for the thread hijack but this is really annoying.

I propose that anyone using either term in future are given a prompt virtual slap

What's wrong with keeping to the convention of the forum title(s) used to date... Viz. Elan & Plus 2 ??

Nothing Richard, I missed that one, my omission, posting edited. Thanks