Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Family Hack, Continental Grande Tourer, Concours (was) Show Car. General hobby car and subject of Restoration Guide, (hope you have all got one)

See you all at Donington 17/18 March at the Club Lotus Show.

Gordon......is there no one or no place that is safe from you trying to sell your book!!!! Will see you at the show in March, let me know where you're staying. George (France)

Gordon, I do have your book:- since the profile shot of Rhubarb looks so good, could you let us know what your setup is re tyre size and make, static ride height (Lotus or Spyder chassis), spring rates etc. Does your exhaust also scrape a lot

Gerry M

Gerry,
My +2 is shod with Dunlop SP10, 13x165 80 nothing special. Ride height is as per book at 6" and the spring rates are std UK. Most modern springs sold these days are federal rating which raises the front end by 1" to comply with headlamp height legislation.

Yes, the exhaust pipe in front of the silencer does ground under certain conditions. On hols with a boot full of luggage and a passenger one knows which manhole covers and sleeping policemen to avoid. The workshop manual quotes 5/16" clearance of pipe to chassis but this is dificult to maintain as the silencer box is offset mounted which tries to twist the box and hence lower the box front pipe. Ensure all U clamp ends are pointing to one side.

Gordon,

what happened to Custard after the motorway incident?

best regards, iain

Sorry to say Iain that my Sprint fhc (custard) was so badly damaged after being in colision with the German artic that I didn't want to engage in a rebuild which would never have resulted in the same car. It went to salvage and eventual auction. I believe it now resides somewhere in the west country where I think it is being rebuilt in the modern idium. ie non std drivetrain & suspension (each to his own). Meanwhile, Rhubarb is back. My old +2 I bought back off the guy who I sold it too. A good polish, a new set of chrome wheels from Stoneleigh, new boots and a new front bumber to finish off. (I always was annoyed with the old slightly bent bumper which was on the car when I bought it in 1981. See you all at Donington in March with the +2 and a friends gorgeous Pistachio over white Sprint dhc on my book stand. Lotus Elan RESTORATION GUIDE Author Gordon Lund, Published by Brooklands Books.

This is a section of a painting that my wife Johanna commissioned for my 50th birthday and our silver wedding. The full picture is portrait format and very dramatic. It is reminise of a time, some time ago in fact, when we were balling down the Mulsanne Straight at a about 120 mph in the +2 on a French holiday. It almost ended in tears when a French farmer decided to pull out of a side road in front of us (like they do). The +2 brakes were up to it though and retarded us in a timely fashon.

Anyway, hope you like the picture. The artist name is John Ketchell and he can be found on tel 01772 743654 (England)

Gordon,
I also have your book and my 72 Elan Sprint Coupe is virtually the same as yours (was) (sorry to hear that), only difference is mine has the black wheels with Nader nuts (knockoffs) as it is a federalised us model.
I often display your book cover to show people that yes, this was the original color (yellow over white) and yes it had gold bumpers originally.
Great book and thanks for the support
David

David,
My Sprint was featured in a Brit Magazine called CLASSICS in the September 2000 Volume 4 number 2 Issue 38. I don't know if you can get back issues over there but the car got a six page write up.
A number to ring for back issues I got from the mag is
01689 887238 (England).

I attach another pic of EMA (custard) with myself and Johanna in period dress (Mary Quant)

Rear of Rhubarb in the garage, my son's S2 Esprit lurking in the background. He tells me he will have it on the road soon. I wait in anticipation to get whole of my garage back.

The next shot is of Rhubarb's interior, 18 coats of varnish on that dash 20 years ago. still looking good. The seats, centre armrest and rearseats & quarters are out of an early +2S. I still have the original seats in the loft.

The last photo is my friends Sprint with Rhubarb behing the table on my book stand at Donington last year.

Rhubarb's paint is two pack Regency Red Service shade. This is slightly lighter than the original Jaguar Regency Red and photographs turn out in all shades of red depending on the light conditions. Not perfect but not bad for a 20 year old paint job. It's all in the preparation.

Hi Gordon,
Thanks for the follow up and additional photos....question though...at risk of dating myself wasnt Mary Quant the designer of the original mini-skirt?.....man ,I remember those, but mainly the boots that were usually attached....very hip...
thanks, David

David,

You are so correct. I don't want to age myself either but put it this way, I saw the Beatles live at Preston (England) Public Hall when I was a lad. and mini skirts had not quite hit the scene. Yes Mary Quant was one of the founder members.

Here are two more pics of Rhubarb at "Period Costume" shows. Hope you like them. That's me with the "bucked" teeth (Austin Powers), Jo on left (Hippy) and future daughter in law on right (Felicity Shagwell)

...Yeah, baby!!!

Emma,

The name of my Elan Sprint, EMA (1st 3 letters of the registration plate)

We have not seen a picture of your car yet Emma. Or did you have a string at an earlier date that I hav'n't seen??

+2 or 2 seater Elans, if there is anything you need to know, if I can't help you I know a few people who probably can.

Gordon Lund

North West Club Lotus
Area News Letter Editor

ice blue white - CTM 939D - and a little bit of a yellow S3 in the background. EMA... what happened?
CTM will have original "thin" KO's this year and maybe rebuild inner door panels. It was first registered in Luton, like EMMA's.
But when its could outside, I prefer watching Austin, Avengers or the Persuaders...

Anna