Re: More Interesting Factory Pictures
Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 7:09 am
Eric, I love the S1 / S2, partially because of it's, let's be realistic, rather crude attempts at keeping the weather at bay!. It's why I'm spending a small fortune restoring one. These issues were the main criticism levelled at the car in the 1960s, and why of course, the S3 had the door frames, fold over hood (top) and full length boot lid.
The early Elan wasn't alone in having such equipment. Most Brit cars of the 50s and early 60s had something similar, and when cars like the E Type came along with simple to operated fold over hoods, the rest had to follow.
As I mentioned above, when I was looking for my first Elan in the 70s, the early cars didn't get a look-in. Remember, I wasn't buying a 'classic car' for occasional use in the summer, I was after the latest, fastest and most impressive machine I could buy for my ?400...and it had to be my everyday car for years and live on the street.. At the time, the later Elans looked far more sophisticated, and the appeal of electric windows in 1975 to a young lad was just irresistible! Prices then were something like ?800 - ?1200 for a S4 / Sprint, ?500 - ?700 for a S3 and ?200 - ?400 for an early car, reflecting their desirability at the time. I have a receipt for my S2 that the previous owner received when he bought the car in 1973....?130!! A car where you had to assemble the hood, and pull and push the windows up and down, was seen as very old fashioned.
It is that very same simplicity or 'purity' of the early cars that I disliked so much in the 70s which appeals so much now.
Mark
The early Elan wasn't alone in having such equipment. Most Brit cars of the 50s and early 60s had something similar, and when cars like the E Type came along with simple to operated fold over hoods, the rest had to follow.
As I mentioned above, when I was looking for my first Elan in the 70s, the early cars didn't get a look-in. Remember, I wasn't buying a 'classic car' for occasional use in the summer, I was after the latest, fastest and most impressive machine I could buy for my ?400...and it had to be my everyday car for years and live on the street.. At the time, the later Elans looked far more sophisticated, and the appeal of electric windows in 1975 to a young lad was just irresistible! Prices then were something like ?800 - ?1200 for a S4 / Sprint, ?500 - ?700 for a S3 and ?200 - ?400 for an early car, reflecting their desirability at the time. I have a receipt for my S2 that the previous owner received when he bought the car in 1973....?130!! A car where you had to assemble the hood, and pull and push the windows up and down, was seen as very old fashioned.
It is that very same simplicity or 'purity' of the early cars that I disliked so much in the 70s which appeals so much now.
Mark