Len Street Chelsea

[DacTech]

Here is a Len Street employee in 1979 looking at my Elan after the fire:

My burnt Elan & another Len Street employee

Here is my Elan after the last rebuild:

After last rebuild

Doug Bell

[512BB]

Just fantastic so many old employees and people with memories of Len Street coming out of the wood work. And previous contributors to this thread, please post some more of your recollections, you must have many, and folk are interested.

Did you run your car without an airbox Doug? Tut tut, and leason to be learnt there if you did.

Thanks all.

Leslie

[DacTech]

Hi Leslie,
I had owned it only a short time, the previous owner had cut the airbox backplate up leaving only the section for the throttle.
In addition the 14mm Banjo Bolts were rounded off, I assume because they did not own metric spanners.
I had only borrowed tools when in the UK.
My diagnosis was that possibly one Banjo bolt started leaking fuel and a pulse back through the open Webers ignited it.

It is a very exciting and reliable car these days.

[normanjsmith]

Doug,
Did you buy a red S3 coupe from my mate, Bruce Tandy, back in the late eighties? Just wondering.
Norm Smith

[512BB]

'My diagnosis was that possibly one Banjo bolt started leaking fuel and a pulse back through the open Webers ignited it'

Possibly Doug, but as you will know as a long term owner, a twincam engine can spit back at ANY time, especially if it is not set up just right, and that can be all it takes.............booom. And if there is no airbox on the carbs, sheer folly. A friend of mine burnt his parents garage down, which was attached to the house, in the 1970's, starting his S3 without an airbox on the engine.

Keep well and thanks for coming on board.

Leslie

[DacTech]

Hi Norm,
I bought an S3 FHC from Bruce tandy mid 70s.
After I test drove and agreed the deal, he said he would register the car but reneged and also swapped out the motor that was in it for the test drive.

I sold that car and went over to the UK and bought the S3 DHC that I still own.
I am still good friends with Steve Fryer who has his Lotus Cortina back on the road, Andrew Jones (Mike Jones son) who lives in Albany, he has a S3 Elan, a Plus 2 and a Caterham 7. Mike died last year.
I also reconnected a couple of years ago with Ian Nichol and Pete Harris, we used to surf together in those days, they are both live in Berry. Back in the late 70s- early 80s, Ian had a yellow S4 and Pete had a green S2. Ian has a Daimler (??) and Pete has a Ducati.

[DacTech]

Leslie,
I have my car pretty sorted but I keep this handy:

[normanjsmith]

Doug,

Your name sounded familiar and I remembered that you probably bought the S3 Coupe. I've been in the club since the beginning and know Steve Fryer, Ian Nichols and have been in contact with Andrew Jones. We are both resurrecting our Plus 2's which have very close chassis numbers. Mine has not been used for 37 years but has just been re-registered. Your Elan looks superb - I think the S3's are the best of all models.

[vstibbard]

Hi Doug, I know Andrew having purchased an S2 project from him in the 90’s I restored it sold it to a friend who Andrew bought it from who now also lives in WA.
Vaughan

Andrew’s S2 car is one with stripe, the other my S1 same colour.