Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Informative comments here from Fred Stevenson about Dutchess Auto Company and US Lotus Dealer Operations in the 60s and 70s.....

http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2015 ... refer=news

Too bad Chapman never really understood the value of a professional dealer network.....especially in the vast expanses of the USA.

Don't miss the Indy Victory Celebrations in June at the SVRA Brickyard Invitational races......

Interesting; thanks Lance for posting that.

Tim

The Lotus dealer network has always been dodgy in the US. I bought my Elan in 1966 from Tom O'Brien Sports Cars, a small Alpha/Lotus dealership in central NJ. Everyone there (owner, sales, mechanics) was a gearhead who had an SCCA license. Great experience. I drove that car to California. When I stopped in Oklahoma City to have it serviced at the "Lotus dealer," they did not know how to open the bonnet. Not so good. When I got to California, I settled in Manhattan Beach, home of Bob Challman's Ecurie Shirlee. More Lotus gearheads who raced, but Bob had a way of alienating folks. Fortunately I was never on his sh*t list. He was known to throw people out of his showroom and forbid their return.