Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

After significant delays, we finally got to see our project. Significant more restoration required than expected. However still moving forward ……cautiously with tight budget. All opinions, advice will be greatly appreciated. Original owner purchased this from Lotus and shipped it to the USA. Lotus was using it to test potential upgrades. I don’t know if that was a standard process at the time. I’m concerned with the Cosworth engine modifications overpowering the rest of the original drivetrain. The condition of the backbone, let alone the rest I won’t know until I pull this out of storage. Definitely will need replacement parts.

Goodness me - what is that inlet system? It looks like some sort of injection / supercharge / turbo charge system on a Stromberg head? Electrics look non standard too with that row of fuse boxes. It will be fascinating to see what the engine mods are - more photos needed!

What kind of advice do you need?

Without some more detail on what this vehicle consists of, it’s hard to comment. From these initial pics you would have to be brave and rich to take it on!

What makes you think Cosworth have had any influence - I guess if they did then it becomes a very interesting car?

Iain

You say Cosworth, but I don’t know what would make it Cosworth, looks like standard non-big valve Stromberg head engine of the period with a blower connected up to a single emissions Stromberg carburetor, the emissions idea coming because I can see a temperature compensator valve on the side of the single Stromberg that’s just under the tarp, thinking that’s what it’s all about, Gordon Sauer

Looks awesome! Is that an oil cooler at the front?

Look forward to seeing many more photos.

Matt Elan wrote:Goodness me - what is that inlet system? It looks like some sort of injection / supercharge / turbo charge system on a Stromberg head? Electrics look non standard too with that row of fuse boxes. It will be fascinating to see what the engine mods are - more photos needed!

Electrics are BMW and will be replaced with the original. Fortunately the original owner says he has all parts except the windscreen. Although he wants to transfer ownership at no cost, we want a better understanding of the restoration cost, as difficult as that will be. At the end of restoration we do not wish to be upside down … too much LOL. From the comments it may certainly be a Stromberg. I’m personally ignorant about Lotus vehicles, other than enjoying driving all models I’ve been lucky to experience. I look forward to the possibility of cross country exploration with this model before gifting it to family

sprintsoft wrote:What kind of advice do you need?

Without some more detail on what this vehicle consists of, it’s hard to comment. From these initial pics you would have to be brave and rich to take it on!

What makes you think Cosworth have had any influence - I guess if they did then it becomes a very interesting car?

Iain

Original owner’s machine shop worked with Shelby back in the day. He says Shelby’s team provided the mechanics and Cosworth the parts, they rebuilt the engine. Producing 400+HP on the dyno before tuning down. All this of course hopefully will be confirmed with paperwork under a pile of parts inside the car. I’m going back to take more pics of the underside and inside, although it’s stored too close on the driver side to take what’s left of the covers off. Originally this sounded like a $5K restoration… until we got to see it. Now I’m attempting to place a reasonable budget. As rough as that budget range will be.

Rory_Jack wrote:Looks awesome! Is that an oil cooler at the front?

Look forward to seeing many more photos.

Good eye. Yes oil cooler added by the original owner. Not sure if that will stay or best to take everything back to stock.

Gordon Sauer wrote:You say Cosworth, but I don’t know what would make it Cosworth, looks like standard non-big valve Stromberg head engine of the period with a blower connected up to a single emissions Stromberg carburetor, the emissions idea coming because I can see a temperature compensator valve on the side of the single Stromberg that’s just under the tarp, thinking that’s what it’s all about, Gordon Sauer

From what the owner said, he owned a machine shop and became friends with Shelby. When he decided to rebuild the engine, Shelby provided the mechanics and expertise with Cosworth. Obviously I’m hoping to find papers to document all this including the original purchase documents. Including export papers from the Exporter in Brussels. All advice negative or positive is greatly appreciated. Including the “I wouldn’t take this on” … or “this is going to possibly cost $30K” … as much as I admire this model it might be better to buy one already nicely restored.

I’ve got a nicely restored one and I’m sure I have more than 30,000 in it and that doesn’t even include my hours—bought it running for 5000 in 89 and did chassis off thing. And while it is like it came out of the factory and there is a place for those cars there’s a most unique place for anything that had some really interesting work on it and particularly if touched upon by the likes of Shelby and all. At the time he did lay his hands on a number of cars including an alpha Romeo G TV and another one I can’t think of and it seems like he was always trying to put a blower on things and usually scoops too and it looks like it has a scoop in the hood, so I really would encourage you to put it as they were trying to go and then it would be most unique, and if you have to have a factory one you can buy them, but you can’t buy this one, my two cents Gordon Sauer

If you have some proof of the Shelby connection it could be worth undertaking.

If you can do the majority of it yourself you'll still be in for a huge chunk of cash. Many times $5k. If I could get it for free as it appears you may, then I would take it on. But I'm not very smart

Chrispy wrote:If you have some proof of the Shelby connection it could be worth undertaking.

If you can do the majority of it yourself you'll still be in for a huge chunk of cash. Many times $5k. If I could get it for free as it appears you may, then I would take it on. But I'm not very smart

LOL I’m not smart, however reaching out for opinions may save me from myself. Interior & Paint I can do myself. Fiberglass … although it looks in remarkably good condition, I’ll reach out for suggested experts. As the bonnet was modified and a sunroof added. Engine, I may rebuild myself depending on Transmission & Rear End. I must get a good look at the backbone.

I bought my S4 Elan in 1979 as a non runner for £600. The car was mostly complete and it looked better than your project. Life got in the way and I only started work on the car in retirement. I had done enough body and paint in my youth to not want to do anymore. In the UK I understand that the current cost for a good ”body off re-paint” is about £10,000 and that is after you have removed the body.

You need to check really carefully what needs doing, how much it will cost, and as others have said, unless the Shelby and Cosworth provenance can be proved you will not recover your money.

Think with your head not your heart.

Richard Hawkins