Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

It's been my experience that owners of a desirable collector vehicle like the Elan usually have other interesting vehicles as well. In my case, from a high of 14 vehicles I've now thinned down to 11 (well, 11.85 actually) and all but one (Old Reliable) have a fairly dedicated marque following through clubs and websites. I don't actively participate in all such, but do have "personal relationships with all my vehicles.

I'd be interested in seeing what other members have by way of esoteric or otherwise collectible vehicles. I searched the archives but did not find any similar thread. If there is one, then a link would be appreciated.

I'll throw this one out, just to see if others are similarly interested. If not, this thread can die a quiet death.

As one of my 7.85 motorcycles, I own a 1959 Velocette Venom. The Venom still holds an unbroken record set in 1960 at the Bal d'Or IIRC of 24 hours with an average speed in excess of 100mph. Apparently the record category was retired shortly after 1960.

This is the bike:









And yes, the discerning eye will detect that it has magneto ignition AND a belt driven dynamo, and runs a 6 volt electrical system. A 497cc single which many consider to have all the performance of a BSA Gold Star DBD without the astronomical price (or at least I didn't pay very much for mine).

Although not exactly the same here is a thread in a similar vain elan-f15/besides-lotus-elans-t12380.html
As you are into the old Brit bikes I had a Norton Dommi (500) in my youth (not got it now) my brother had a International Norton and I had friends with a Goldie (DBD34) a Vello Viper, an Excelsior Manxman and Bonneville among others.......unfortunately those days have long gone

types26/36/74 wrote:Although not exactly the same here is a thread in a similar vain elan-f15/besides-lotus-elans-t12380.html
As you are into the old Brit bikes I had a Norton Dommi (500) in my youth (not got it now) my brother had a International Norton and I had friends with a Goldie (DBD34) a Vello Viper, an Excelsior Manxman and Bonneville among others.......unfortunately those days have long gone

Agreed, that thread is related, but not quite what I had in mind. I'd like to see if there is an interest in what other collector vehicles we have currently, and maybe spread some of that passion to like minded folks.

BTW I have a 69 Bonnie, a 71 Commando and a 74 Norvil Commando. If there is interest, I'll post pics of them as well.

Love the fish tail. No bikes left in the stable, suffice to say, it all started with a Whizzer when I was 12. Still on 2 wheels, but on a pedal powered mountain bike that tries to kill me on a weekly basis. Current crop of 4 wheelers include the Elan, my first sports car with glass in the doors (a sign of creeping old age), 1963 Sabra Coupe undergoing restoration, 1964 Elva Mk4T coupe, waiting its turn, 1970 Datsun 510 wagon undergoing conversion to a 2-door panel delivery with lots more engine, and a very neglected Datsun 1200 race car. Plus the usual go-to-market mundane daily drivers.

Rob Walker
26-4889

summerinmaine wrote:
BTW I have a 69 Bonnie, a 71 Commando and a 74 Norvil Commando. If there is interest, I'll post pics of them as well.

You've come from the dark (oil covered) side then

Post up some pics, I'd love to see them.

I've been a biker even longer than I've been an Elan enthusiast although the current stable is mainly Japanese. At the moment there's seven
in the garage. Here's a previous post that had some pics of four of them - http://www.lotuselan.net/forums/elan-f14/elan-wanted-for-fashion-shoot-t20287.html along with some of Alex's award winning scooters.

Two of the others are used for overland trips - An XR600 Honda that I've had forever and used for two trans Sahara trips:



Pic was taken in Western Sahara in 2004. It's in semi retirement now and it's replacement is a CCM600 (CCM are the second biggest UK bike manufacturer after Triumph).



Pic taken in the French alps


Back in the 70's I used to do a lot of bike touring around Europe / North Africa, mainly with a school friend who was equally into bikes. He now lives in New Jersey and at the last count has over 30 bikes including a number of Triumphs and a 1970 BSA Rocket 3. He's just completed an 11,000 mile coast to coast business trip on a modern Triumph and has invited me to do a mini version of it with him next year using either his Gold Wing or the Rocket 3. I'm thinking about it!

No that's what I'm talkin' about! Thanks Stuart.

I'll post a few more pics of my next bike, hopefully this evening.

For those who are purists, fair warning: Other than the Velo, pretty much everything I own lacks originality to some degree, and some to a great degree.

Not a bike (I don't have a license for two wheels!) but I guess it's as near as you can get on four wheels. This is my '62 Seven which jumped the restoration queue to make it onto the road before my Elan.







Cheers
Jon

Nice one Jon!

No other Loti for me, but I also have a '87 BMW M6.

http://sharksinthewild.com/pages/pagesefg/gilmour.html

As for a bike, I have a '84 BMW R100RT.

Neither have seen much mileage since taking on the Plus 2!

I have a disease. Not only Lotus but BMW as well. The cars in the first photo are on the left in my carriage House '71 BMW 2800CS, '89 Esprit, '91 M100 Elan, '70 Elan Plus 2.On the right is a '60 Elite, '65 Elan S2 (which with the Plus 2 let's me be here), '72 Mallock 11b vintage racecar, and '68 Seven S3. The Seven and Elan will be at LOG 20.

this is the lovliest Super 7 i ever saw Jon, big compliment and Ross, your collection is mouthwatering. Wish i could join you for LOG
Forgot to say that a Velocette Venom Thruxton is on my eternal wishlist Jim. Saw an ad in UK lately for a Metisse converted Velo.
" A few years ago I bought a 750 MV Agusta for the engineering detail alone" says Gordon Murray and so did i.

Ross Robbins wrote:I have a disease. Not only Lotus but BMW as well. The cars in the first photo are on the left in my carriage House '71 BMW 2800CS, '89 Esprit, '91 M100 Elan, '70 Elan Plus 2.On the right is a '60 Elite, '65 Elan S2 (which with the Plus 2 let's me be here), '72 Mallock 11b vintage racecar, and '68 Seven S3. The Seven and Elan will be at LOG 20.

Super collection, how do you decide which one to take out on a weekend?

1970 BMW 2800 Cs for dinner or someplace special or when I want to wear my top hat
1960 Lotus Elite for twisties and concours
1965 Lotus Elan roadster for road dancing
1968 Lotus Seven for auto-crossing and local hooning
1970 Lotus Elan Plus 2 for trips too rough for the coupe
1972 Mallock for vintage racing
1989 Lotus Esprit for high speed touring with the "lads"
1991 Lotus Elan M100 for the Lady of the house who always takes it or the coupe - it just does everything

If I could only keep four, the top four would stay. And I don't know how I would narrow it further.

My garage (not carriage house) is a bit less spacious than yours Ross, but I make do:




Since I started with the oldest, I'll keep posting in order. Next up, the 1969 Triumph T120R Bonneville (but I gotta go take a pic or two, as I don't seem to find any in my cache).

What's that at the bottom of the drive, a BMW 2002 ?

dusty wrote:What's that at the bottom of the drive, a BMW 2002 ?

Tii. Don't rush me Jon, that's fourth on the list!