Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

A few months ago, someone posted a copy of a poster/ad for a baby elan of some sort. It had some famous actress/model etc of the era sitting on the bonnet (my tender years mean I have no idea who!). It was clearly some kind of 'special', and had slightly flaired arches and the 26R type lights....or at least ones with an 'open' glass shield... anyone know what I'm talking about? Better still anyone know where the posting is?

Thanks!

Diane Webber?

Rob..that was a LOTUS ELITE - Type 14. For your penance, and to further understand the heritage of the Elan, research the Elite and answer these 3 simple questions:

What was (almost) unique about the Elite, and how does it link to the Yorkshire car manufacturers of the time, Rochdale?

What's the link between the Elite and the London Blitz, 1940?

What's unusual about the dashboard?

Mark

You mean this one?:

Doh! Beat me to it mark!

Nope, the poster someone put on here a while ago was definately an elan - I know the difference between an elan and an elite Mark!

I can't remeber whther it was a FHC or not, but definately had slightly flaired arches and the perspex headlights. The shot of the car was almost stright on from about bonnet level and the woman in question (whoever) was standing to the left.

Any more ideas?!

Then it may have been this one which I posted a few months ago. You can only view it if you answer the questions though
Mark

She is hot though

How old would she be now? She is probably a gran now?

that's the one!
did anyone ever figure out what this car is? I'm guessing it's just a series 'something' with flaired arches and some nice touches? Are the perspex light modification a straighforward one to any baby elan - it looks so much better than the pop-ups...

It's the S1 (or 2) that belonged to Kermit the Frog. Not a 26R. Can we have the answers to the Elite trivia quiz now?

For Rob, I'll have a go at it.

short answers, Im sure there are many who are far better qualified to answer.

1. both manufacturers used a fiberglass monocoque construction

2. the elite used a motor (coventry climax FWE) which shares its basic design from a fire pump motor used in WWII.

3. the dash of the elite notably the silhouette is shaped akin to the car in
profile. either that or it has the most interesting horn switch I have seen in
any automobile!


regards

cds

Text book stuff cds You must have the same library, or have been around Lotii for a long time as well. Or both. Here's a few more pics showing the dash, the engine, the beauty, and a very generous owner showing the underside and total lack of chassis.
One day....
Mark

After seeing the "Rochdale" word and the picture of the underside of the red Elite I thought a few off topic words might be appropriate.
First of all, Mark, Rochdale is in Lancashire, it's very important to me as a Yorkshireman that we get this right but as you are from "darn saarf" I can undestand the mistake.
I have two Rochdales undergoing restoration at present, a GT and an Olympic Phase2. The Phase2 I have owned since 1992 and was used regularly until restoration time came along.
I remember seeing the Olympic at the Racing car Show in the 60's and really wanting one but as an apprentice on around ?7 a week and living in digs, the chances were zero. Glad I got one in the end.
It's a true fibreglass monocoque using a suframe made of 1" tube to mount the front suspension and the underside of the shell is very similar to the Elite.
The GT and the Olympic were designed in the main by Richard Parker who was then poached by Colin Chapman to work at Lotus, so the connection between Lotus and Rochdale is a little more than just fibreglass.
If any of you are interested in the Rochdale here is the club website :-
http://www.rochdale-owners-club.co.uk/
Regards
Dave

Ah, Dave, I have mitigating circumstances. I had in front of me my service record book for an Elan recently purchased from the second owner in Harrogate, and the first service stamp is 'Normand Garage Ltd, Thornton Rd, Bradford'. The car is a Yorkshire lad through and through, registered DWW 10 H, with the first owner living in South Kirkby. The car hasn't lived outside the county since new. So with Yorkshire on my mind...ah well, that's my excuse. But the reason for those details is...does Normand Garage still exist? Did you ever know of it? Bit of a long shot but if you don't ask....
Mark

Sorry Mark I can't help. I live near Doncaster and I am not familiar with the Bradford area. Maybe a PM to M100 might be in order as he is from the leeds area and Bradford joins on to Leeds, another option might be CJ Foulds as they are long time Lotus dealers in that area and are very helpful.
Sorry that's the best I can do for you
Regards
Dave

I spoke with Peter Cambridge (designer of the Elite interior) a couple of years ago about the Elite dash shape; he reckons that he did not do it on purpose but that it was probably because they had all been living and breathing that car for a while. You may, of course, read different elsewhere.

Cheers,
Pete.