Hello everyone!

Post by: **26-S2-4** » Wed Mar 02, 2022 3:18 pm

Hi all, I'm Andrea, typing from Italy, I've always been a Lotus enthusiast and recently I finally added an Elan 26R, 26-S2-4, to my little collection: a Lotus 18 Formula 1, an Eleven LeMans S2 and a Lotus Cortina.
Although I only use my cars for pure racing in the main European series I always paid a lot of attention to details and their originality, trying to keep the look as close as possible to the period one, which is what I want to do with the Elan.
For this I will need some advices and help so I'll open a topic about my restoration!
Cheers! Andrea

Post by: **jcocking** » Wed Mar 02, 2022 3:45 pm

Welcome to Lotus Elan.

Post by: **Elan45** » Thu Mar 03, 2022 2:36 am

Welcome Andrea,

I too have a small collection . My Eleven is the 1958 lightweight that was run in England by Keith Hall. Keith had a new Eleven each year from 1956 and '57, and this, his '58. I have video from Keiths original 8mm movies of him racing 4DTN. I have it restored as near as possible to original.

Do you have history on your Eleven?

One of my Elans was converted to 26R spec in the late 60s or early 70s. It is a type 45 DHC, so even if I wanted, it could never pass as a true 26R, but thats OK. I like the S3. The car I currently race is my 20/22 that was a Jim Russell school car that became a Yamura in the movie Gran Prix.

Roger

Post by: **26-S2-4** » Thu Mar 03, 2022 8:18 am

Hi Roger,

Amazing, you have some very interesting pieces with nice history!
Yes my car started its racing career in June 1957 with Douglas Graham and run by Innes Ireland team. Graham largely raced the car until 1958 when he sold it to Tom Threlfall for the 1959 season. The car still retain it original registration, 418SRE.

Andrea

Post by: **661** » Thu Mar 03, 2022 11:01 am

Wow! You lucky people.
Let's have some pictures of the 26R, please?

Post by: **Mazzini** » Thu Mar 03, 2022 12:32 pm

Welcome Andrea! Fabulous collection! What sort of Cortina do you have? Please post photos of all your cars.

Post by: **Elan45** » Thu Mar 03, 2022 3:40 pm

Vic Thomas of the HLR has promised me he would transfer 4DTN to me if I ever wanted to repatriate my Eleven. I do have its 1959 tax disc, but I think the log book was traded for an Ohio title in 1967. I also have original shipping docs from its journey across the Atlantic in 1960.

Keith sold 4DTN to the Bertram brothers of Edinborough at the end of the '58 season and they continued to run it for the '59 season. They then bought a new Lola and sold the Eleven to the USA. I have photos of Don McGreevy receiving the shipment on the dock in Houston, May 1960. There were 3 total owners in the Kansas City area in the early 1960s. I found an add offering it for sale in 1965 issue of Road & Track. There were then 2 owners in the Indianapolis area.

I may have some cine footage of your car since Keith and Innis were pretty close. Keith was in Newcastle on Tyne.

Roger

Post by: **26-S2-4** » Thu Mar 03, 2022 5:04 pm

Here is my 26R, it has some incorrect stuff, like the front indicators/side lights!

Post by: **Mazzini** » Thu Mar 03, 2022 5:13 pm

What a beautiful car. I had a 26R in the 1980's. I sold it to Tony Thompson in 1989. I think I regret selling my pre-airflow Mk 1 Lotus Cortina more though...I must be on the wrong forum :-)

Post by: **26-S2-4** » Thu Mar 03, 2022 5:16 pm

My Lotus Cortina has an Italian racing history as it two won Italian titles, one in 1964 with Zuccoli for Scuderia Sant'Ambroeus and in 1965 with Spartaco Dini who eventually joined Alfa Romeo Autodelta official team.
I bought it from the third owner!
The 18 is an ex UDT- Laystall car mainly used by Masten Gregory!