Baby Elan headlight spring

[The Veg]

Quick question, for the' baby' Elan, what is the diameter of the wire from which the headlight spring is made?

[ericbushby]

Hi Veg.
Mine are 4mm diameter. They look new so will have been replaced before my time.
Hope this is helpful.
And please, it is just an Elan. There are other cars around usually known as Plus 2 or M100.
An Elan is an Elan and cannot be confused with others.
Eric in Burnley
Elan Series 3SE DHC

[JonB]

Oh yes, for God's sake don't call it a "baby"...

[nigelrbfurness]

+1 in not referring to it as a "baby" Elan. We don't call +2s "adult" Elans. Or do we...

[JohnCh]

When I first heard the Baby comment I flashed back to 15+ years ago when Caterham introduced the larger SV variant. Rather than differentiating between the models by referring to the original S3 as the Baby, people on the owners forum began referring to the new SV as the Fat Bastard. Given the Caterham/Lotus connection, perhaps we could adopt that naming convention here?

-John

[1owner69Elan]

How can the Elan be called the "baby" when it is older and the "ancestor" to the other models?

Concerning the spring wire diameter: Measuring an original spring (not a replacement) gives something closer to 5mm at 0.193". Might nominally be 3/16" if one accounts for the dirt (patina) on the wire.

[JonB]

Because it's small and cute, of course. It's a term of endearment.

[Mazzini]

When I first heard the Baby comment I flashed back to 15+ years ago when Caterham introduced the larger SV variant. Rather than differentiating between the models by referring to the original S3 as the Baby, people on the owners forum began referring to the new SV as the Fat Bastard. Given the Caterham/Lotus connection, perhaps we could adopt that naming convention here?

-John

[alan.barker]

Because it's small and cute, of course. It's a term of endearment.

Yes, like my Elan Sprint is "Little Lo"
Alan

[Davidb]

If we need another name, (we don't), how about Plus One?

[billwill]

If we need another name, (we don't), how about Plus One?

Two-seater Elan is totally unambiguous when referring to the original classic Elan.

{though maybe M100s have only 2 seats, I never checked}


Plus one is confusing because it implies 3 seats.

[el-saturn]

who called the smaller elan BABY the first time or who dared to use that term the 1st time??? sandy

[JonB]

Oh no it’s the “pitch fork and torches” brigade!

It’s not a BABY!!

[ericbushby]

Well, veg, you did not get much response to your "quick question" did you. That was my fault. Soorreee!!
It was meant as a polite request, not the start of a campaign.
Best regards
Eric in Burnley

[billwill]

Quick question, for the' baby' Elan, what is the diameter of the wire from which the headlight spring is made?

Which spring,


Number 10 or number 17 or the one that helps open the bonnet?


PS: I don't think I've ever seen that number 17 one. I don't have one on my car ??