Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

My S2's hood windows are so yellowed I can't see well enough to drive safely anymore. Can anybody recommend a source for a genuine early hood using the cant rails? I see sources for the later hoods, but the early versions don't have the build in rain gutter over the doors, as they use the drip rail on the cant rail. Thank you.

Got my S2 hood from Don Hoods in Birmingham UK, (Google them). They have the original patterns and supply Paul Matty, but I bought direct. About ?320 iirc.

Geoffers71 wrote:Got my S2 hood from Don Hoods in Birmingham UK, (Google them). They have the original patterns and supply Paul Matty, but I bought direct. About ?320 iirc.

I found Don hood a bunch of cowboys, they took the old hood that was to be my spare, and instead of making patterns they cut it up and destroyed it.

I warn not to touch them with a barge pole.

Jon the Chief

Having found the same situation with the lack of availability of early Elan hoods (tops) and tonneau covers here in the US (especially a problem trying to source a tonneau for my RHD S2) I too just recently purchased a new hood and tonneau from Don Trimming http://www.donhoods.com and they delivered what they promised. I purchased both in their PQ (premium quality) vinyl which looks just like British Everflex and they came with new Tenax fasteners and snaps as needed. I found both items to be well made and fit properly so they must be using original patterns. It takes about three weeks to get them made to order and shipped, but they provided tracking information for the shipment and the top and tonneau quickly arrived at my door delivered by USPS. I really can't complain about their service at all so I am surprised at the trouble Jon had with them.

Dan

I agree with Dan completely though I bought a tonneau. Don hoods can supply in the original Grey, in PQ at least, rather than black, and it looks much better.

I think Jon's experience was a breakdown in communication as he had them copy an existing hood. Don even modified my tonneau satisfactorily when I found, like the original, it wouldn't cope with the steering wheel set well forward and he also supplied me with a free offcut for another purpose.

Dan and Meg, many thanks for the advice. I have contacted them and will be placing an order.

Hi,
I just purchases a tonneau cover and need some info on the installation. My Elan S2 has 16 studs attached to the body and interior though the 4 interior studs are smaller. The new cover with the Tenax fasteners that are to be placed on the cover have 14 fasteners and 4 brass O ring fasteners that would be crushed together to make 2 (I would think). Where do these 2 brass fasteners go on the the cover? also the 4 studs are smaller in the interior near the window and the tenax's do not clip on ( to loose).. Any ideas?

Also does anyone have any ideas how to do the job of installing it easier? Just sent a pic of the hardware:

Regards,
Lou

Hi Lou, my tonneau came with 16 Tenax and I'm not going to guess where your rings fit. The two corner studs inside the windscreen are difficult to use so that's a possibility (and I hadn't noticed before that they and the other dashtop ones were smaller). Ask your supplier and, perhaps, ask for two Tenax instead of the rings.

Unless you want to cut the holes with small scissors you will need a 3/8" (10mm) hole punch like the one here:

I made the little centre finder with a bit of wooden dowel, which would slide up the punch, and stuck a small nail up a hole in the centre of it.

Engage the tonneau cover in the slots on the rear deck, fit the wheel pocket over the wheel and pull the cover gently into its working position. Pulling it out gently all the time, press it down on each fixing stud in turn and mark the point's position with a felt tip pen or ball point. Then move to a workbench and align the punch on each mark, with a device like mine or marking a circle, and hit it with a hammer. Use a bit of scrap wood behind the tonneau material to save your work surface. If using scissors mark a circle to cut to. Either way just screw the Tenax together and fit.

Hi Meg,

What can I say but you are so knowledgeable on the matters of the Elan and you take a simple approaches to work on the car. You should write a book on the matters that concern the Lotus Elan's. I am super appreciative on what you are telling me to do. I will follow your instructions and let you know the results ..

Speak soon,
Regards,
Lou