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Lurker finally buys a Sprint - Essex UK

PostPosted: Fri Sep 23, 2022 12:05 pm
by Simon_C
Hello - So I finally took the plunge and got a '71 Sprint
I have been lurking and learning for ages so thanks to lotuselan.net and doses of Paul H and Oliver Naylor.

It is the 'fitted bags' red over white recently seen at Brightwells. I have some tidying up to do but more importantly some driving.

I'm in Ongar, Essex, and think there are some Elans locally?
Cheers Simon

Elan collection.jpg and

Re: Lurker finally buys a Sprint - Essex UK

PostPosted: Fri Sep 23, 2022 1:29 pm
by trw99
Welcome, Simon. I'm up the road from you in Dunmow.

Can you make it to Hethel on Sunday for the Elan 60th Picnic? If so, we could drive in convoy. Mind you, since I'm organising the day I will be leaving at 0600hrs and would quite understand if you wished to drive up later!

Enjoy your Sprint and check out my web site.

Tim

Re: Lurker finally buys a Sprint - Essex UK

PostPosted: Fri Sep 23, 2022 1:51 pm
by Simon_C
Hi Tim,

Thanks for the welcome
I have booked myself into Hethal on Sunday - looking forward to it!!

Re: Lurker finally buys a Sprint - Essex UK

PostPosted: Fri Sep 23, 2022 3:46 pm
by trw99
Excellent, Simon.

Do come and say hello. I shall be based in a CTL branded gazebo in the Elan only parking area, with my Sprint reg MMM 15L close at hand.

Tim

PS Do ensure you go to Hethel, not Hethal!

Re: Lurker finally buys a Sprint - Essex UK

PostPosted: Fri Sep 23, 2022 4:07 pm
by Spyder fan
Looking forward to seeing you at Hethel Simon.

I will be close by to Tim with my Elan S4 special "SuperSprint* and my Elan +2 Spyder Zetec.

Image

Image

Re: Lurker finally buys a Sprint - Essex UK

PostPosted: Fri Sep 23, 2022 5:20 pm
by h20hamelan
Spyder fan wrote:Looking forward to seeing you at Hethel Simon.

I will be close by to Tim with my Elan S4 special "SuperSprint* and my Elan +2 Spyder Zetec.

Image

Image


Looks like both your +2 and home need new stem seals :lol:

Re: Lurker finally buys a Sprint - Essex UK

PostPosted: Fri Sep 23, 2022 5:41 pm
by Spyder fan
it's all smoke and mirrors to get that effect

It was a cold day, and in the UK we have stupid condensing central heating boilers that produce more steam than heat. Zetecs don't burn oil either, just condensation in the exhaust on warmup.

Just get in your car and come over for a Picnic!

Re: Lurker finally buys a Sprint - Essex UK

PostPosted: Sat Sep 24, 2022 4:29 am
by The Veg
Welcome Simon!

Re: Lurker finally buys a Sprint - Essex UK

PostPosted: Sat Sep 24, 2022 6:34 am
by pharriso
Welcome Simon, looks like a lovely car!

Re: Lurker finally buys a Sprint - Essex UK

PostPosted: Sat Sep 24, 2022 7:47 am
by nmauduit
Welcome aboard ! you'll find plenty of useful tips and excellent insights here... my 2 cent : drive, drive, drive !

keep it on the road

Re: Lurker finally buys a Sprint - Essex UK

PostPosted: Sat Sep 24, 2022 8:20 am
by Andy8421
Simon_C wrote:Hello - So I finally took the plunge and got a '71 Sprint
I have been lurking and learning for ages so thanks to lotuselan.net and doses of Paul H and Oliver Naylor.

It is the 'fitted bags' red over white recently seen at Brightwells. I have some tidying up to do but more importantly some driving.

I'm in Ongar, Essex, and think there are some Elans locally?
Cheers Simon

Elan collection.jpg

Simon,

The car looks great.

If you are up for it, the cheapest upgrade you could make is to buy a tin of matt black paint and a roll of masking tape. The 'flat bit' at the bottom of the sill should be matt black. I am always surprised that restorations miss this bit. IMO it makes a big difference to the look of the car, costs virtually nothing and all it takes is an hour or so of effort.

This is how it should look:

https://www.historics.co.uk/buying/auctions/2020-07-18/cars/ref-36-1972-lotus-elan-sprint-fixedhead-coup%C3%A9-wp/

and this is how it shouldn't...

https://www.tradeclassics.com/auctions/lotus/1971-lotus-elan-sprint/

Good luck!

Re: Lurker finally buys a Sprint - Essex UK

PostPosted: Sat Sep 24, 2022 11:44 am
by AshleyPark
While you're at it you could remove the tacky 'go faster' stickers :wink:

Re: Lurker finally buys a Sprint - Essex UK

PostPosted: Sun Sep 25, 2022 7:45 pm
by alaric
Great looking car Simon, and grin to match :)

Sean.

Re: Lurker finally buys a Sprint - Essex UK

PostPosted: Mon Sep 26, 2022 7:43 am
by cliveyboy
Welcome Simon from a fellow Sprint owner

Re: Lurker finally buys a Sprint - Essex UK

PostPosted: Mon Sep 26, 2022 8:44 am
by richardcox_lotus
Good to see you yesterday Simon