i might be able to get a lotus elan2 very cheap or even free.

is it worth doing up???

i think it needs an engine as i looked in the back and it was gone.

 

 

One of the best driving FWD cars made by all accounts.

Fragile though.

Needing an engine could be a blessing, things have moved on since the old Isuzu (I think) lump they used originally.

A nice Type R conversion would probably suit the car down to the ground.

Lot of work though.

 

I used to occasionally chat with someone who owned one of these.

He loved the car but was almost continually frustrated by the availability (or lack) of parts for the car. Even the simplest little problem would take it off the road for weeks....or sometime months...at a time.

(Mark, quite right, fitted with an Isuzu engine).

 

I had a G reg Elan SE, one of the first off the production line. Replaced it with a new J reg which I sold in 2007. I did 119,000 miles in it and the Isuzu lump was one of the best things about it.

Threw money at it all the time I had it but it was one of the quickest cars cross country, quicker than the later S2s with cats, and the handling was very flattering to the driver.

Had the wishbones replaced not long before I sold it. Not a cheap job. Took it off the road when I bought the S and stored it in a dry shed. When I got it out the turbo wouldn't work. (If you don't use it you'll lose it) Seems that the spindle? that had failed was no longer available.



Electrics are a problem.

Still got all my memorabilia so might have info that would be of help to you if you decide to go ahead soulcrew.

Actually I am wondering now if you are talking about a Lotus Elan + 2 soulcrew?

 

Me and mate finished a 1987 no. 26/200 IIRC lotus esprit.

It needed a few things done to it, parts were quite hard to get hold of, but it had bits of other cars which were easier, bits off a mini, a renault etc etc.

Still turbo doesnt get upto boost like it should

 

Thanks MQ.Yes its one of those.


It has been standing for at least a year so it sounds like it might be a major project to restore it.

No sign of rust on the bodywork though.

 

There won't be any rust on the bodywork itself as you probably realise that it is constructed from GRP.

Look underneath. As I said, if the wishbones have not been replaced they will definitely need doing.

 

I owned a pacific blue H plate turbo SE. Was great up untill the point when you needed to stop, the brakes were shockingly bad. (quite common) Also had the same problem as MQ with the wishbones, mine were shot but i chose to get rid of the car rather than go to the mega expense of replacing, the little lotus easily becomes a money pit. A minter with uprated brakes would be quite a car though. (and get used to a leaky roof, replacement seals are rarer than hens teeth.)

 

One of my best mates has an SE Turbo that he did up. It wasn't loads of work but he got it for a bargain price.
They are going up in price as there are fewer and fewer of them about now.

The engines are pretty bulletproof and the build quality is better than most other old Lotus as most parts were sourced from a GM parts bin.

My mate bought this one for