Stepping into a mine field

[elanfan1]

First Tuesday
Bucks/Berks/Oxon The Bird in Hand Country Inn
Bath Road
Knowl Hill
Reading
Berkshire
RG10 9UP
01628 826622
Second Monday @ 8pm

[Matt Elan]

Tommo if you can’t pm me then drop me an email at matthew dottt vale attttt ntlworld dotttt com

[Matt Elan]

Tommo if you can’t pm me then drop me an email at matthew dottt vale attttt ntlworld dotttt com

[Baggy2]

An engine can be rebuilt for £3000, but if it needs a lot of work to the head and covers, you can double that and more. Look for invoices on work done to the engine, and the invoices should include details like shim sizes fitted to achieve the right valve gaps to demonstrate that a professional job has been done.

I'd slightly take issue with Mark's assertion above. The Elan is a low tech car and quite a bit can be done by the owner. I that case you have to make your judgment about the quality consciousness of the person you are dealing with. I have experience of taking an engine to a 'well respected' Lotus engine builder in the UK and getting poor quality work so an invoice isn't the be all and end all. Most owners will not have their own machining capability but the right person can assemble an engine with just as much care and attention to detail as an engine building business.

Also with chassis changing. If you've got the space (and some strong mates) a chassis change is well within the scope of the owner / restorer.

Regarding paint and bodywork I tend to agree this is one for the professionals but even then large amounts can be saved by, for example stripping down the car pre paint and re-assembling post paint. So a smaller invoice in the cars file will not necessarily mean in inferior job.

If you are looking to buy a car that has already been restored then look at both the paper evidence and make your judgement about the seller.

Just my two penneth

Baggy

[Tommo]

Cheers baggy , I appreciate all and any guidance on this , but to certain extent relying on ‘ feeling’ of someone’s honesty is a tricky one ?