Long time owner, first time poster - Iowa

[lindbrosracing]

Hello all,

My name is Riley and I'm posting on behalf of my father, who has had a Lotus Elan since brand new. He used to be the area Lotus/TVR/Jensen-Healey dealer up in Waterloo Iowa until most of those brands went under. When the store went under, he still had one Elan and one Jensen Healey that he kept. Since neither has been titled yet, both are technically still brand new cars.

We really don't drive it nearly as much as we should, but it is a real beauty. You can see it in our flickr account here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/75947845@N06/

We're always looking for events around the Midwest and come up to Road America for the vintage races, so let us know if anything is going on. We're thinking about selling the car soon, but even if we do we're always up for some great events.

[lotocone]

Riley, Your Sprint is amazing ! Thanks for the pictures. They are great for reference of how the car was originally.

I see that the car came through Lotus Central which is in my area and the name Robert Schneider I remember, but I never met him there.

If you get to southeast Michigan, there is a big british car show in Sept. and road racing at Waterford Hills. Let me know if you are interested in any more info.

[Tahoe]

That's amazing! What a time capsule, and that car needs to be documented from top to bottom as a reference for others to use when restoring there car.

[stugilmour]

Beautiful Riley. Thank you for sharing. What a great car! Welcome to the list.

[vernon.taylor]

Salut Riley

Superb! You owe it to the Elan fanatics to document your car photographically!

@+

Vernon

[elanfan1]

Hey Riley,

I'm intrigued by your car.

How is it that its got nearly 6000 miles recorded and yet is untitled and 'brand new'? How can it have done 6000 miles without being registered and insured etc?

The chassis plate shows 1971 build date but it has a 1973 side badge. I'm not sure about a stromberg big valve head in 1971 - others will tell me if that is indeed correct. Plastic master cylinders?

Has the car infact been refurbished?

Just wonderin' - perhaps you could tell us motre of the story

Cheers

[billwill]

I expect they used "trade plates" or perhaps private land?

[lance54]

What a wonderful post. Thanks for sharing your time capsule.

We will be celebrating 50 Years in the USA for the Elan on Labor Day at Lime Rock Park. Your Elan would make a great addition.....please consider bringing it for the Sunday in the Park Concours and bring the Jensen Healey for the historic races.

I raced with the Lind Brothers Jensen Healeys in the 1970's. Attached is a photo from Blackhawk Farms circa 1975. My C-Production Elan and the Porsche 914/6 of Stephan Edlis on the front row and the Lind Brothers D-Production Jensen Healey on row two.

Hope to see you at Lime Rock in September.

Clark Lance

[lindbrosracing]

Great to find a group of Lotus enthusiasts! The Elan is a new car in the fact that it has never been sold and is still on the original Manufacturers Certificate of Origin.

My brothers and I were Lotus Dealers in Waterloo Iowa and this was the last Elan we received from the factory.The car has a build date of Dec 1971 it was delivered to us on Nov 1972 and is listed as a 1973.. I was told by a dealer in Michigan he saw this car along with two other Sunroof Coupes at the distributor (SCU Industries) which was in Livonia Michigan.

I have the original window sticker the original invoice from SCU and the original statement of origin.

The badges on the side do show the World Championship from 1973 I added those and I have the originals.

The car had the following accessories added 1) Lucas headlamps with removable bulbs
2) Factory original three "eared" knock offs (have original nuts)
3) Maserati air horns
4) AM/FM radio (have original wooden blanking plate)
5) Coco fibre floor mats
6) MG Mitten car cover
7) Exhaust header which required removal of the cross over
pipes (again I have all the original pieces)
Steel braided brake hoses

My Jensen Healey race car (1973 SCCA National Champion) will be raced at the Rolex Historics at Monterey in August and my plan is to take the Elan out and offer it for sale at the Gooding Auction.If you have an interest in contact me.

Pat Lind ..

[CBUEB1771]

I'm not sure about a stromberg big valve head in 1971 - others will tell me if that is indeed correct.

The Stromberg Big Valve head is normal for a Federal spec Elan or +2 built in 1971, that is how my +2 was delivered.