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Elan +2S Restoration Project.

Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 12:28 am
by ruadh08
I am probably mad, but have just aquired a 1969 Elan +2S, in need of fairly extensive restoration.

The car is fully roadworthy at present, just MOT'd and taxed for a year (Great, FOC Road Tax, and £93 fully comp insurance!!)

Very tatty, but drives very well. Currently hauling the engine out to send to Agra for a full rebuild, even though it sounds OK, I still want to do this for peace of mind. The car will then go to body shop to get it back to original body colour of blue. Interior will get dash refurbished, and seats repaired. Will strip the suspension and get all components powder coated, and will get the knock on wheels refurbished

Chassis is in good condition.

Any advice appreciated!!

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Re: Elan +2S Restoration Project.

Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 1:32 am
by tut
No advice Paul, but good to see you taking on a project like that, especially on a classic Lotus.

tut

Re: Elan +2S Restoration Project.

Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 2:31 am
by Mikie711
I would love to take on a classic restoration like this. Best of luck fella and good choice of car :thumbsup

Re: Elan +2S Restoration Project.

Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 9:52 am
by ryallm
Great project! Probably mad from a cost point of view, but what the hell. The Elan +2 has always been one of my favourite classic Loti. It is just such a pure and pretty shape, somehow more elegant then the 2 seater Elan, although that is very nice too.

Keep us all posted as the restoration progresses. I am sure plenty of people here would be interested to see how it all comes together.

Mark

Re: Elan +2S Restoration Project.

Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 9:58 am
by Shug
Beautiful mate - looking forward to seeing it when it's done. :thumbsup

Re: Elan +2S Restoration Project.

Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 10:14 am
by j2 lot
:withstupid

Re: Elan +2S Restoration Project.

Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 10:22 am
by graeme
Lovely. Been for rides in a mint restored +2 and also a Spyder Cars Zetec (http://www.spydercars.co.uk). Both beautiful cars and most awesome in their own way.

I really look forward to seeing this when it's done!

Re: Elan +2S Restoration Project.

Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 4:46 pm
by Andy G
will need to come visit soon sir!

Awesome effort :thumbsup

Re: Elan +2S Restoration Project.

Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 5:02 pm
by David
Love these cars :thumbsup Enjoy the restoration and keep posting progress :D

Re: Elan +2S Restoration Project.

Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 8:37 pm
by Mr Momo
One of my bosses at work has just had one restored by Paul Matty of same Sports Cars business.

I can put you in touch or you could call Paul himself - apparently very good to deal with (2nd hand info though).

Great to see these cars being looked after....

Re: Elan +2S Restoration Project.

Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 9:21 pm
by campbell
You semi-retired then Paul?!

Otherwise...how ARE you going to find the time?!

Great stuff, am sure you will have lots of fun tinkering away in the garage. Verona must be thrilled :roll:

Re: Elan +2S Restoration Project.

Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 9:52 pm
by DJ
8)

Making good use of that huge new garage then ? :thumbsup

Re: Elan +2S Restoration Project.

Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 10:50 pm
by ruadh08
Thanks for the encouragement guys. I have to admit that I probably wont be doing all the work myself, the car is currently in at my good friend Russell Paterson's Morgan garage. His guys are talking the engine out for me and sending it to Agra to get rebuilt and set up on the dyno. RPM will be also be stripping the interior and shell, ready to send to the body shop. They have put me in touch with people that will do the dashboard and interiors etc. I will also get some of the chromework redone, the door chromes etc are in good nick already, so will be OK.

When the car comes back, I will strip the suspension and wheels etc, and get them refurbished, and look after the easier bits!.

Whilst I would love to do it all myself, I probably would be kidding myself about my own mechanical ability (Even though I used to build my own rally cars in the old days) In reality I don't have the time to concentrate on doing it within the timescales that I would want. I know of many people that have started projects, and in the end got fed up, and abandoned half way through. I want the car running by late spring, so I can get the enjoyment out of it in the summer, so am prepared to pay a wee bit more and get as much as I can afford done professionally.

It also has the advantage of having a full length Webasto sunroof, which will make it fell more open to the elements in the summer. Does anyone have any contacts for refurbishing webasto type sunroofs?

Re: Elan +2S Restoration Project.

Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 10:53 pm
by ruadh08
DJ wrote:8)

Making good use of that huge new garage then ? :thumbsup
Jackson,

Sadly the garage seems to be full of general junk like lawnmowers etc, but have just bought off the internet a 20' by 10' shed for all that sort of rubbish to go in, so should have the space back again soon!

You can never have too big a garage!!

Re: Elan +2S Restoration Project.

Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 11:03 pm
by campbell
I can see you and V in the flying goggles and silk scarves already, wafting through the Sma Glen on a balmy summer's evening...in the 340R cos the Elan is still in bits ;-)

Bravo. Which reminds me, still to pay a visit to RPM with Lisa re: Morgans. :shock: