Lotus Elan

Have You a Photo of Your Elan in the 60s/70s?

PostPost by: trw99 » Fri Jul 02, 2010 6:11 pm

Here's an idea. If you had an Elan in the 1960s or 1970s, post a photo or two on here. Thus we can see what they looked like 'in their day', what ideas folk had about colours, added extras etc. Just a bit of fun but also we can build an archive of contemporary photos to help future Elan nuts.

I'll start off with my first Sprint, a July 1971 DHC bought in that very hot summer of 1976. The snap of me looking very serious was taken by my girlfriend at the time, just as a 3 litre Bentley was passing by. The colour scheme was inherited from the PO, who took a perfectly good Colorado Orange over White Sprint and turned it into a bee!

Tim
Attachments
UCS 2.jpg and
UCS 5.jpg and
UCS.jpg and
User avatar
trw99
Coveted Fifth Gear
Coveted Fifth Gear
 
Posts: 3327
Joined: 31 Dec 2003
Location: Essex/Herts border, UK

PostPost by: Elanintheforest » Fri Jul 02, 2010 7:21 pm

You were a very serious looking chap, Timothy!

Here we are in 1978, doing what had to be done for the second time in 2 months. Then, the old girl a couple of weeks later with her new bits. I used to be able to change a chassis in a couple of weekends, and had plenty of practice.

When I bought the car in '75 she had a metalic blue roof, with matching rear panel and wheels! Metalic blue bloody wheels!!! I rubbed down the offending paintwork and painted the affected bits the correct colour pretty quickly, and she still looks exactly the same today.

Mark
Attachments
z coupe 78 1.jpg and
z coupe 78.jpg and
User avatar
Elanintheforest
Coveted Fifth Gear
Coveted Fifth Gear
 
Posts: 2954
Joined: 04 Oct 2005
Location: Forest Of Dean, Gloucestershire

PostPost by: Frank Howard » Fri Jul 02, 2010 8:28 pm

Tim,

While I can't see your entire face, you appear to be a dead ringer for Stewart Copeland. For those of you who don't know who Copeland is, he is one of the best drummers in the world as he was the drummer for the Police. Tim, I also noticed the black paint on the rear valance. That was very popular during the time period. TR-6s came that way from the factory.
Frank Howard
'71 S4 SE
Minnesota
Frank Howard
Coveted Fifth Gear
Coveted Fifth Gear
 
Posts: 1182
Joined: 30 Mar 2004

PostPost by: trw99 » Fri Jul 02, 2010 9:11 pm

Hang on Frank!

Copeland was fair haired - and it was longer (sort of Mark's length juding by his photo!) - and his father was in the CIA!

The blacked up tails were in vogue, yep, and vinyl roof coverings, remember those? Rostyle wheels......

Any way, more snaps people, please!

Tim
User avatar
trw99
Coveted Fifth Gear
Coveted Fifth Gear
 
Posts: 3327
Joined: 31 Dec 2003
Location: Essex/Herts border, UK

PostPost by: billwill » Sat Jul 03, 2010 1:32 am

I think I only have ONE picture of my Elan from the early days.

My only camera had been adapted for underwater use (with a big perspex case that I made) and was too clumsy to use on dry land.

Here is the one photo showing my Elan next to my other car an Austin A35.


ogu108e-1969.jpg and
OGU108E in early 1969
Bill Williams

36/6725 S3 Coupe OGU108E Yellow over Black.
billwill
Coveted Fifth Gear
Coveted Fifth Gear
 
Posts: 5065
Joined: 19 Apr 2008
Location: London UK

PostPost by: spanner » Sat Jul 03, 2010 2:35 am

'65 Elan ground tow vehicle and tie-down, summer 1975.
Attachments
1975-.jpg and
spanner
Second Gear
Second Gear
 
Posts: 111
Joined: 06 Mar 2008

PostPost by: Elanintheforest » Sat Jul 03, 2010 7:36 am

Wow, that's a great picture Mr Spanner. So you were mates with Dave Lee Travis then, eh? :D

Mark
User avatar
Elanintheforest
Coveted Fifth Gear
Coveted Fifth Gear
 
Posts: 2954
Joined: 04 Oct 2005
Location: Forest Of Dean, Gloucestershire

PostPost by: dusty » Sat Jul 03, 2010 7:46 pm

This has the makings of a great thread, keep them coming :D
User avatar
dusty
Third Gear
Third Gear
 
Posts: 361
Joined: 07 Mar 2007
Location: Killaloe, Ireland

PostPost by: batfish » Sun Jul 04, 2010 9:56 am

Hi Tim

This was my Elan at Silverstone for the Birkett 6 hour race in 1966 however I did not own it at the time of the photograph having only bought it 7 years ago. The fastback body unfortunately has disappeared.

Andy
Attachments
Brian Sherwood Elan (Medium).jpg and
batfish
Third Gear
Third Gear
 
Posts: 323
Joined: 09 Oct 2003
Location: Staffordshire

PostPost by: gjz30075 » Sun Jul 04, 2010 11:35 pm

On the first day of ownership, bought Mother's day, 1978. That's my wife in the car. Still have the wife and car today.

Greg Z
Attachments
firstday4.jpg and
Greg Z
45/0243K Sprint
45/7286 S3 SE DHC
User avatar
gjz30075
Coveted Fifth Gear
Coveted Fifth Gear
 
Posts: 3595
Joined: 12 Sep 2003
Location: Roswell, Georgia, USA

PostPost by: spanner » Fri Jul 16, 2010 12:44 am

Elanintheforest wrote:Wow, that's a great picture Mr Spanner. So you were mates with Dave Lee Travis then, eh? :D

Mark


The inspiration for the Hairy Cornflake. Groovy baby!

Just dug up one more of the '65.

Proud new owner, winter 1969:

145 Dunlops on silver wheels.

Slipping clutch.

Exhaust missing.

Twin bullet mirrors.

Two Leather steering wheel covers over wood rim.

Black horn button.

Period Blaupunkt.

Locking gas cap.

Karl's Garage badge on back.

Sideburns.

Jim
Attachments
1969 .jpg and
spanner
Second Gear
Second Gear
 
Posts: 111
Joined: 06 Mar 2008

PostPost by: Gearhead Schmearhead » Sun Sep 05, 2010 3:32 pm

Here are a couple pictures of my Dad (and Mom) in Dad's '64 Elan 1600 (S1). He bought it new in 1964.
Attachments
Mom and Dad and Elan.jpg and
My parents at some sports car club function in Charleston, West Virgina, late 60's
Dad autocrossing Elan at Gartersnake.jpg and
My Dad autocrossing in West Virginia, around 1970.
Gearhead Schmearhead
New-tral
 
Posts: 6
Joined: 05 Sep 2010

PostPost by: elansprint71 » Sun Sep 05, 2010 10:53 pm

Image

Where is it now?
User avatar
elansprint71
Coveted Fifth Gear
Coveted Fifth Gear
 
Posts: 4440
Joined: 16 Sep 2003
Location: Cheshire, UK.

PostPost by: RichardS » Mon Sep 06, 2010 7:44 pm

Here's my Sprint on the morning after our wedding in 1983. I am another one who still has the Sprint and wife after 27 years!

To this day the "Just Married" is still visible in the paintwork - the shaving foam was not very good for the paintwork!

Richard
Attachments
elan1.jpg and
Lotus Elan Sprint FHC 1973
User avatar
RichardS
Fourth Gear
Fourth Gear
 
Posts: 520
Joined: 23 Apr 2007
Location: Wirral, UK

PostPost by: Jason1 » Tue Sep 07, 2010 10:54 am

Where is it now?


No match on the DVLA or Eurocarparts site :( :(

So it seems the number plate of no more.
50/0951 1968 Wedgewood blue +2, 1990 Mini Cooper RSP
User avatar
Jason1
Coveted Fifth Gear
Coveted Fifth Gear
 
Posts: 1554
Joined: 03 Nov 2005
Location: Colchester, Essex. UK
Next

Total Online:

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 6 guests