Bespoke Luggage for the Elan
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Post by: 1owner69Elan » Sat Feb 20, 2021 9:50 pm
I was watching a UK TV show here in the States called "Salvage Hunters Classic Cars" where they were discussing putting some bespoke luggage in one of their projects. They visited a fellow, Colin Surman, at Bag World in Redditch to get this done. It gave me the idea of doing the same for my Elan.
Colin did not have a ready made design for the Elan so I created a four piece set to my specifications and provided it to Bag World. After selecting materials and colors the bags were put together in the matter of a few weeks by Colin's team. They shipped them from Redditch to California and I got them in one day!
Below is my conceptual design and the finished bags. The design was executed perfectly and fit and finish are excellent. Quite pleased. (No affiliation just a happy customer).
Conceptual Design:
Actual Luggage:
It was a pleasure doing business with Colin and his team. They even sent a personal thank you note with the shipment, signed by all the members of his team. It is great in this day of mass production that talented craftsman still exist and are so committed to their craft.
BTW, Colin is a Lotus devotee having had several over the years (Esprits, Excel).
Colin did not have a ready made design for the Elan so I created a four piece set to my specifications and provided it to Bag World. After selecting materials and colors the bags were put together in the matter of a few weeks by Colin's team. They shipped them from Redditch to California and I got them in one day!
Below is my conceptual design and the finished bags. The design was executed perfectly and fit and finish are excellent. Quite pleased. (No affiliation just a happy customer).
Conceptual Design:
- Lotus Luggage Dimensions.jpg (65.55 KiB) Viewed 2148 times
Actual Luggage:
It was a pleasure doing business with Colin and his team. They even sent a personal thank you note with the shipment, signed by all the members of his team. It is great in this day of mass production that talented craftsman still exist and are so committed to their craft.
BTW, Colin is a Lotus devotee having had several over the years (Esprits, Excel).
'69 Elan S4 SE
Street 181 BHP
Original owner
Street 181 BHP
Original owner
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Post by: mark030358 » Sat Feb 20, 2021 9:56 pm
Where do you put all the spare parts 
On a serious not, very nice...
On a serious not, very nice...
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Post by: 1owner69Elan » Sat Feb 20, 2021 10:14 pm
mark030358 wrote:Where do you put all the spare parts
On a serious not, very nice...
Actually since I don’t carry a spare tire there is a lot of room in the spare tire cavity. But I’m not planning on using it for spare parts.
I’m pretty confident in my car having spent over 50 years getting the bugs out. Also, I maintain a road service policy with long range towing, just in case.
'69 Elan S4 SE
Street 181 BHP
Original owner
Street 181 BHP
Original owner
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Post by: TBG » Sun Feb 21, 2021 10:43 am
1owner69. "spent over 50 years getting the bugs out" - they must have enormous bugs in California if they take that long to catch!! How many miles have you done in the 50 years?
Very smart luggage I must say but this is how it should be done!!
Very smart luggage I must say but this is how it should be done!!
.JPG "Booze carrier2011 (1).JPG (1 MiB) Viewed 2038 times")
.JPG "Booze carrier2011 (3).JPG (1.16 MiB) Viewed 2038 times")
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Post by: gherlt » Sun Feb 21, 2021 10:55 am
May I ask what the suitcases did cost (without shipping) ?
1964 S1 (in boxes)
1967 S3 DHC
1969 S4 FHC
https://theelanman.com for details on Brian Bucklands book.
https://shop.lotus-books.com for more Lotus related books.
We ship worldwide. PM/Email me.
1967 S3 DHC
1969 S4 FHC
https://theelanman.com for details on Brian Bucklands book.
https://shop.lotus-books.com for more Lotus related books.
We ship worldwide. PM/Email me.
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Post by: Certified Lotus » Sun Feb 21, 2021 11:22 am
That is very impressive. Now you need to plan a big road trip!
Glen
05 Elise - Back where I started
65 Elan S2 - 26/4055
72 Europa - 74/2358R
69 Elan S4 - 45/7941
64 Elan S1 - 26/0379
12 Colin 30 - Lotus Racing Kart
07 Exige S - Wicked Road/Track Car
07 Exige S - Fast Road/Track Car
06 Elise - Track pack
05 Elise - Back where I started
65 Elan S2 - 26/4055
72 Europa - 74/2358R
69 Elan S4 - 45/7941
64 Elan S1 - 26/0379
12 Colin 30 - Lotus Racing Kart
07 Exige S - Wicked Road/Track Car
07 Exige S - Fast Road/Track Car
06 Elise - Track pack
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Post by: Ross Robbins » Sun Feb 21, 2021 5:40 pm
Glen S wrote
With that luggage and your philosophy about spares you could join me on my Cross Country Elan trip and class up the whole affair every time we unload at a stop
That is very impressive. Now you need to plan a big road trip!
With that luggage and your philosophy about spares you could join me on my Cross Country Elan trip and class up the whole affair every time we unload at a stop
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Post by: 1owner69Elan » Sun Feb 21, 2021 5:52 pm
gherlt wrote:May I ask what the suitcases did cost (without shipping) ?
500 pounds for the four pieces and my design/chosen materials.
But, since these are bespoke, best to get a quote from Colin for any particular set.
'69 Elan S4 SE
Street 181 BHP
Original owner
Street 181 BHP
Original owner
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- Joined: 16 Jun 2015
Post by: stugilmour » Thu Feb 25, 2021 8:04 pm
Very nice! Really like your colour scheme.
I got two bags made for my Plus 2 a while ago, although we have not had a chance to use them yet. The company was formerly called Hillsalive, but I think this link is their new name / web site. I see they have alternatives for different Lotus models as well. When I ordered the bags they were more known within the Morgan community.
https://classictravellingluggage.com/make/lotus/
Interesting that the Plus 2 boot is also about 22” front to back, similar to your Elan luggage. Of course the Plus 2 boot is a bit bigger in practice due to the battery being below the floor boards.
I think we have enough depth to put a small garment bag on top like you did. I raised my floor boards about 1/2” to better accommodate the battery, so my car fits a bit tighter than stock.
Nice feature!
PS. Would be great to take those new bags to Salt Lake next September!
I got two bags made for my Plus 2 a while ago, although we have not had a chance to use them yet. The company was formerly called Hillsalive, but I think this link is their new name / web site. I see they have alternatives for different Lotus models as well. When I ordered the bags they were more known within the Morgan community.
https://classictravellingluggage.com/make/lotus/
Interesting that the Plus 2 boot is also about 22” front to back, similar to your Elan luggage. Of course the Plus 2 boot is a bit bigger in practice due to the battery being below the floor boards.
I think we have enough depth to put a small garment bag on top like you did. I raised my floor boards about 1/2” to better accommodate the battery, so my car fits a bit tighter than stock.
Nice feature!
PS. Would be great to take those new bags to Salt Lake next September!
- Attachments
-
- This picture shows the two custom bags from Hillsalive. They have a slightly irregular shape to fit the boot lid slope. Bags themselves are very simple with no internal pockets or straps. Plan is to use them for destination stuff and have two smaller go bags in the back seat for road stops. A nice feature is the smaller bag fits inside the large one for storage.
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- Two Hillsalive bags in the Plus 2. Lots of room at the sides for tools and stuff. Bags slip in and out easily. A standard rolling bag commonly used as carry on also fits, but tightl enough I was worried about damaging the tail lamp wiring.
Stu
1969 Plus 2 Federal LHD
1969 Plus 2 Federal LHD
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Post by: RichardHawkins » Fri Mar 22, 2024 7:54 pm
1 owner elan,
Excuse me diverting from your excellent bespoke baggage, but what I really noticed was that you have fitted the boot/trunk rubber seal without any kinks in the corners. How did you do that?
Richard Hawkins
Excuse me diverting from your excellent bespoke baggage, but what I really noticed was that you have fitted the boot/trunk rubber seal without any kinks in the corners. How did you do that?
Richard Hawkins
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Post by: 1owner69Elan » Fri Mar 22, 2024 9:33 pm
I don’t recall any particular issue. The boot seal was obtained from Sue Miller.
Actually I think the paint shop refitted the new one. If they used some particular technique I don’t know.
Actually I think the paint shop refitted the new one. If they used some particular technique I don’t know.
'69 Elan S4 SE
Street 181 BHP
Original owner
Street 181 BHP
Original owner
- 1owner69Elan
- Fourth Gear
- Posts: 846
- Joined: 16 Jun 2015
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