Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

garyeanderson wrote:
There is nothing like the sound of a big block.

Hi Gary,
Your picture sent me into flashback mode. This was my toy back in the late 70's, an original 68 with 427 Tri power. Then I had my first ride in a 65 Elan S2, and couldn't sell the Vette fast enough.

elancoupe wrote:

garyeanderson wrote:
There is nothing like the sound of a big block.

Hi Gary,
Your picture sent me into flashback mode. This was my toy back in the late 70's, an original 68 with 427 Tri power. Then I had my first ride in a 65 Elan S2, and couldn't sell the Vette fast enough.

Hi Mike

I spent all of my money on the S2 in 1976 so I didn't have any left for toys. It was hard enough to afford beer and other essentials at that time. I kind of fell in lust with Covettes in September 1967 watching the commercials on Bonanza when I was 13 and impressionable. I guess the idea never left. I have probably driven the Vette all of a couple hundred miles in the time I owned it, it?s not what I would call a great ride but it makes the right noise when you stomp on the throttle. I was at the local cruse night about 10 years ago with the S2 and A guy pulls in with the same model as I have and parks right next to me and we got to talking. I mentioned that I owned the International blue 68 427/390hp in the photo. He asked me ?why aren?t you driving it? well I didn?t have the heart to say what I really thought of the ride but he just couldn?t understand what I saw in the Elan. I guess I knew better than to open my mouth back then like I usually do and piss off some one that I didn?t know so I just said ?I just like this better? and left it at that. I guess if it happened now, I would burn another bridge as I just don?t care to much about what others think of my viewpoint these days?

Gary

garyeanderson wrote:
I spent all of my money on the S2 in 1976 so I didn't have any left for toys. It was hard enough to afford beer and other essentials at that time. I kind of fell in lust with Covettes in September 1967 watching the commercials on Bonanza when I was 13 and impressionable. I guess the idea never left. I have probably driven the Vette all of a couple hundred miles in the time I owned it, it?s not what I would call a great ride but it makes the right noise when you stomp on the throttle. I was at the local cruse night about 10 years ago with the S2 and A guy pulls in with the same model as I have and parks right next to me and we got to talking. I mentioned that I owned the International blue 68 427/390hp in the photo. He asked me ?why aren?t you driving it? well I didn?t have the heart to say what I really thought of the ride but he just couldn?t understand what I saw in the Elan. I guess I knew better than to open my mouth back then like I usually do and piss off some one that I didn?t know so I just said ?I just like this better? and left it at that. I guess if it happened now, I would burn another bridge as I just don?t care to much about what others think of my viewpoint these days?

Gary

That's why we are the few who know the difference, as the ads used to say. And I am good with that, I don't want what everyone else has.

BTW, mine was originally International blue as well.


BTW

Hello Mike,

"That's why we are the few who know the difference, as the ads used to say. And I am good with that, I don't want what everyone else has."

I think your words should be the motto for this website.

Thanks, Eric

garyeanderson wrote:

elancoupe wrote:

garyeanderson wrote:
There is nothing like the sound of a big block.

Hi Gary,
Your picture sent me into flashback mode. This was my toy back in the late 70's, an original 68 with 427 Tri power. Then I had my first ride in a 65 Elan S2, and couldn't sell the Vette fast enough.

Hi Mike

I spent all of my money on the S2 in 1976 so I didn't have any left for toys. It was hard enough to afford beer and other essentials at that time. I kind of fell in lust with Covettes in September 1967 watching the commercials on Bonanza when I was 13 and impressionable. I guess the idea never left. I have probably driven the Vette all of a couple hundred miles in the time I owned it, it?s not what I would call a great ride but it makes the right noise when you stomp on the throttle. I was at the local cruse night about 10 years ago with the S2 and A guy pulls in with the same model as I have and parks right next to me and we got to talking. I mentioned that I owned the International blue 68 427/390hp in the photo. He asked me ?why aren?t you driving it? well I didn?t have the heart to say what I really thought of the ride but he just couldn?t understand what I saw in the Elan. I guess I knew better than to open my mouth back then like I usually do and piss off some one that I didn?t know so I just said ?I just like this better? and left it at that. I guess if it happened now, I would burn another bridge as I just don?t care to much about what others think of my viewpoint these days?

Gary

In the late 70s, I flew back to my hometown to attend my 10th HS reunion. My BIL loaned me his 74 Vette (don't remember the particulars) to attend the daytime events, and frankly I was appalled at how crude it was for a car that had been in production for over ten years. It made nice noises, but . . . made me glad I owned my Elan.

ps. I don't remember which vehicle I left off with, perhaps the 2002Tii (I'd better go back and check). If anyone is interested, I'll pick up there and continue on. Given that I plan to unload at least 6 or 7 of my current stable soon, I guess I should do it now.

Okay, the Tii it is! I've owned this car since 1983 or so, and it now has somewhere about 400K miles on the clock. It's the last year of the round taillights, narrow bumpers, and the semi-hemi head (the next year introduced a new head, with a poor reputation). It isn't much to look at, but I've always kind of intentionally kept it unattractive, as unwanted attention tends to lead to tickets or theft in my experience.

There is almost no single part of the car that hasn't been changed or improved: The motor (too much to list, but now @ 185hp), battery position, ignition (type and location), the trans (5sp), diff (3.91 LSD), brakes (5 series ventilated disk front/turbo drum rear), radiator (dense core), center console (gauges to replace idiot lights or supplement), etc. etc. etc. It also has the OEM alloy wheels, that were used on the 2800 and 3.0CS and CSi, but the 13x5 wheels severely limit my tire choices (sound familiar?).

Some pics:

That beemer is superb. Same as a few listers here, the next logical vehicle for me after the Elan is the Seven. Here is mine

Thanks Mark! Nice Seven. I've always wanted one of those (as long suffering SWMBO would say: "What car can't you say that about?")

Next up: The 1974 Norvil Commando 850. This one will take a bit of explaining.

Gents.
Wow! some wonderful machinery! The Triumph Bonnie brought back some great memories of getting stuck by the side of the road on the way home from the beach in SoCal...

Ross,
My sincerest compliments on your carriage house and collection. What a wonderful group of very significant cars! I hope you could see your way to bringing your Mallock out to Laguna for the Vintage event in late April/early May. We would love to see you and Anne any anyone else from LoCo.

I have had my Elan for over 31 years, just slightly longer than my wife. Peter Egan had a Formula Ford, then rebuilt an Elan. I could not resist. I have always wanted to race a formula car, so I found an project Formula Ford, rebuilt it, went to drivers school and took it racing. Unfortunately, I am the slowest one in Club Ford, but at least I am out there having fun.

Wow nice to look at all the nice autos, bikes, tractor and yes Gary the lawn mower! I will add another motorcycle to the collection. It was my last motocross ride back in 1976, was a 250 that had 38 hp at the rear wheel. So you might ask why I stopped racing? My left upper leg could tell the story, broken in fourteen pieces from hip to knee. Sure was fun while it lasted.

Mark

Another small garage. Here's my Flaminia Pininfarina coup? alongside my CB77 of the same era.

Great to see some of the other obsessions. I have a few too...not just cars but it dose have wheels too. Just a bit of history on a few of the pics. The 122 is an unrestored 1966 that was purchased new in Seattle by an employee of Ravena Motors and heavily modified from day one. Custom short shift m41 close ratio overdrive, LSD, custom built sway bars(IPD did not exist) Sun tachometer , widened stock steel rims, original b18 with full R Sport engine performance kit, Currently running built B20. The car was the Western Washington State Auto Cross Champ for three years.
510 old school mods unrestored original...soon to be tweaked for track car. 1963 Triumph Sports 6 concours restoration.
Street shot a few I still have other are now gone. Still have the 1964 MGB and the 2002.
Finally our 1947 Westcraft Coronado travel trailer, three year restoration used regularly now.
Cheers Silas

Ok, It took four years to rebuild the red 67 Barracuda Convertible, only it has a 385 HP small block and a Tremec TKO 5 speed. It's a great muscle car. And then there is Japanese reliable 67 Datsun Roadster 1600 (about to go on the block so I have room to restore the S2 SE). I also have a 2.0 motor and 5 speed for it if anyone is interested. And in the basement is the 73 VW Thing. Oh and like Gary I have a 68 Plymouth GTX Hemi 4 speed that should be Triple Black (not Hemi Orange) but with no money to restore it..

And I shouldn't have sold the other white Elan S2 SE and the 69 Chevrolet Impala.

Maybe this is where I should start my list of cars I've had in my life:

63 Buick LeSabre 4 dr
69 VW Beetle
65 VW Beelte
73 VW Beetle
73 VW Beetle Sport Bug
72 Lotus Europa TwinCam
68 Chevrolet Nova 4 dr
70 Toyota Corona
72 Toyota Corona Mk II
70 VW Karmann Ghia
65 Lotus Cortina
65 Plymouth Barracuda
63 Buick LaSabre 2 dr
68 Chevrolet Nova 2 dr
70 Chevrolet Nova 2 dr
73 Oldsmoble Omega 2 dr
74 Lotus Europa Special 5 speed
73 Ford Pinto Wagon
81 VW Jetta
84 VW Jetta GLI
68 Plymouth Fury 4 dr
85 Honda Prelude
65 Lotus Elan S2 Green
68 Lotus Elan
67 Lotus Elan Coupe
65 Lotus Elan Blue
66 Lotus Elan S2 SE White
66 Lotus Cortina
69 Beech Formula Ford
73 Lotus Elan Sprint Red/White
69 Lotus Elan Coupe Yellow
87 Honda Accord 4 dr
89 Honda Accord 2 dr
70 Honda Accord 2 dr
96 Lexes ES300
98 Toyota Sienna
92 Ford Ranger
93 Ford Ranger
97 GMC Sierra
2000 Chevrolet Silverado
2003 Chevrolet Siverado
2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
2004 Toyota Matrix
67 Barracuda Conv Red Primer
67 Barracuda Conv Yellow, now Red
69 Barracuda Conv
68 Barracuda Fastback
68 Plymouth Satillite
73 Lotus Europa Special Maroon
60 Bug Eye Sprite
70 Dodge Charger
76 Dodge (something)
66 Lotus Elan S2 body missing
65 DOdge Dart
66 Lotus 26 R
59 Ford Retractable
63 Ford Galaxie XL 4 speed
76 Honda Prelude
62 Buick LeSabre 4 dr
65 Saab
60 Porsche 356
69 Chevrolet Impala
96 Eagle Vision TSI
87 Pontiac Bonnieville
96 Geo 3 cyl



Hmm, there are some I'm missing but as the say, ...........the mind is the second thing to go !!!!

Famous Frank wrote:Maybe this is where I should start my list of cars I've had in my life:



Hmm, there are some I'm missing but as the say, ...........the mind is the second thing to go !!!!

Very cool Frank. My list wouldn't be nearly as long, but my claim to fame was having 14 vehicles (cars, trucks and bikes) all registered, insured and running at one moment in time.

BTW I've sort of slacked off posting a bit, but if there remains any interest, I'll post the Norvil soon. Then maybe the Paris Dakar, the BajaHeep and a few Ducatis (the modified Monoposto one being my Avatar).