History?? Or a money pit??

[pauljones]

http://vi.raptor.ebaydesc.com/ws/eBayIS ... spheader=1

[elansprint71]

Crock o'shite...

Next...

[john.p.clegg]

If only I had the time , space and expertise..

John

[Orsom Weels]

It's been on the market for some time now, but seems not to have found anyone willing to have a go. It was discussed at one of our gatherings a month or two ago & the general consensus was that although it's a one off piece of Lotus history, given it needs a total restoration & the original controller for the active suspension is long gone, you would need very deep pockets, plenty of time, & someone who understood the system to build a new controller, after which you would end up with a car too special to use for anything other than a show car. How do you put a value on something that unique ? It does need to be saved though. Sadly, I also lack the time, space & expertise, along with the deep pockets

Tim

[pauljones]

I agree with it being history that idealy needs preserving but i wouldnt have a clue how too even if i had the time, space, money, skills etc.
I put it into context against my Fathers Excel, simmilar condition so simmilar rebuild costs. Except the active ride bit of course. I think he would be happy selling his for a fraction of that asking price. So what exactly is the extra asking price getting you? More expensive bits to fix and a reg number?

[elansprint71]

Apologies for my "Frontier manners" in the earlier post.

Some years ago the Lotus Etna prototype kicked around for ages at a range of prices, sometimes eye-wateringly high for what it was (Paul Matty?). I lost track of where it went and whether it was ever made to work; this contraption will probably go a similar route.

Speaking with absolute no certain knowledge whatever- would some of the "Lotus" active technology not have been aligned with the Citroen active ride cars which briefly appeared (Xantia) around the same time? I think it is possible that Lotus Engineering may have worked with the techies at Citroen. I'm reasonably sure I didn't dream this but, given some of the dreams I've had recently, who knows!

[richardcox_lotus]

The Etna was sold & made to work with one of the original V8s, by a Dutch or Belgian collector - I've an article somewhere.

Probably cost a bomb though as I think he had to invent an interior.

Regards
R

[theelanman]

you think that was bonkers....
try this one........the M90....new Elan Prototype.........

https://www.classicdriver.com/en/car/lo ... 984/459857

$114,000
or ?87,000

Im not even sure its road legal.......

[elanfan1]

There was an article in Octane magazine about the Etna. It was bought from Matty by Olav Glasius as you say a Dutch collector who had some very lovely Elans too. It was basically a clay model and I think the front wheels were fixed so they had to be made to turn, a new Perspex top had to be made. If I recall correct,y they found a V8 engine under the clay and got that to work and actually able to move the car. Again I believe the car was very heavy and difficult to move about which was why the engine etc was recommissioned to make getting it on a trailer and to shows easier. It could never run on a road.

[2cams70]

I'm surprised these cars can actually be sold and are legal to register. In my line of work anything that is "prototype" or "engineering evaluation" has to be registered under special conditions because the compliance to regulatory standards cannot be guaranteed. Once the evaluation is completed the vehicle must be crushed and destroyed with documentary evidence that this has occurred. The vehicle cannot ever be sold to the general public.

I know it's Lotus we are talking about here allowing these vehicles into public hands when it shouldn't have but registration for the new owner may be a problem. Certainly something I'd investigate before putting down by hard earned!

[richardcox_lotus]

A friend of mine obtained the elements that made up the Mk1 Exige displayed at the Geneva motor show. He wanted to put it on the road, and the only way he could do that was to get it type approved.

So he created a company and officially became a car constructor!

Total output....1.

There were a lot of hoops to go through but as the car was basically an Elise the car itself conformed to all required legislation.

He still has & still drives it, but it's an Exige, produced by "Geneva".

Regards
Richard