Lotus Elan Central

by **Sy V** » Fri 31.03.2006, 18:14

We've been approached for a car to feature on an ITV digital TV show folks.

I had a long chat with Emma today and here's her follow-up e-mail.

Hi Simon,

Thanks for calling earlier. As promised here is an e-mail outlining a bit about the programme and about this feature involving the Elan. I work for a new ITV car programme called The Used Car Roadshow which was the surprise hit for ITV Digital Channels in 2005, and has been re-commissioned for 2006. The 20 X 1 hour shows are made by Daisybeck Productions in Leeds, and is filmed at various locations all over the UK. Last year's series is being repeated at the moment on the Men & Motors Channel at 8pm on Monday nights. The audience for these repeats is now reaching up to 300,000 with new viewers discovering the show each week.

7 million used cars are traded each year in Britain and UCR is the only TV show dedicated to this huge market - that's why we are NOT surprised that our audience continues to grow. The show is presented by Jason Dawe (used car expert/journalist for The Sunday Times) and Penny Mallory (former Ladies Rally Champion and the only woman to have qualified for the World Rally Championships) who also presented for Channel4's motoring programme Driven. In each programme we include an item called 'free motoring'. This is when we tell the story that someone has managed to buy a great car at a great price. We are interested in this story if it involves a certain model, now seen as collectible or cult or for whatever market reason will not depreciate in value. If the owner wishes to sell it on then he/she would still be able to get the price that they originally paid for it, hence the term, "free motoring." I am a big Lotus fan and I would love to try and find an example of this type of story and I believe that some of the Elan's from the mid 1990's are now going for around £8,000, but due to the great nature of the car, I don't believe these values will depreciate much from here. My reason for contacting you is to ask you if you knew anyone in the club with such a story/ such a car? Or if there is anyone you know who has paid around about this mark for this sort of car as they will probably fit the bill. After talking to you I believe that perhaps a standard car would be better than a modified one as it would be easier and clearer for us to demonstrate the non-depreciation. I would appreciate any advice/help you can give me on this matter. If we do find one, and feature it on the programme, I would be more than happy to provide a verbal mention on the programme of the club and the good spirit between the members. I would also be happy to provide a 'With thanks' credit at the end of the programme. Thanks again for your help, I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Kind regards,
Emma

Emma Martin
Researcher, The Used Car Roadshow
www.theusedcarroadshow.co.uk

All we need now are volunteers (Emma has stressed that she doesn't want individual approaches - they will be accepted from me only) - I will/must (begrudgingly) be the arbiter of who get's nominated.

Sy

by **Dico** » Fri 31.03.2006, 18:26

Sounds good

At 11k and more mods than Gerome i dont stand a chance

Shame as i would love to have volunteered

Anyone with a bog standard Elan out there???
Isnt Costas Elan standard spec?

by **Dovey** » Fri 31.03.2006, 19:01

I'll volunteer. I paid 6,800 quid for mine, on a forecourt too, with MOT and tax. It's BRG (the best) with 76,000 miles and practically mint. Reckon I'm in with a chance of 'free motoring'. Only mods are wheels and rear suspension. Of course I have the originals in me garage and could make it stock again in about an hour...

by **chris.t** » Fri 31.03.2006, 19:21

'Cult following' huh

by **TheBard** » Fri 31.03.2006, 21:15

Sounds like a great chance for positive PR of LEC! Shame my stock Elan is a Fed and the wrong side of the Atlantic or I'd have volunteered too.

Now repeat after me, I must not make any 'cult following' jokes :twisted:

by **GeoffSmith** » Fri 31.03.2006, 23:21

Mine's bog standard but a bit on the pricy side.

The radio show are helping a viewer with £15k to spend on a 2 seater roadster: "Apart from the Audi TT, what else is there?". Only one answer IMHO.

by **Enright** » Sat 01.04.2006, 00:56

£15K? I say 2 SE's - drive one while fixing the other! :lol:

BTW: great avatar.

by **Stef** » Sat 01.04.2006, 09:05

Also been invited by the same people for the ACE Cafe feature, but not specifically for my car. Seems like they really are working hard to create a cult following!

They seem cool enough. I'll happily show off Blipi, she's fairly standard with no modifications except for Alan's contributon (which I'll keep quiet about) and the hard top accessory. Oh and nauturally she is the best :wink:

I think dates and location will be a big deciding factor as to who will hold the honours.

This is quite an exciting opportunity to show off the Elan and bring awareness to LEC! Brilliant!

Website · by **theelanman** » Sat 01.04.2006, 09:19

I think we should all turn up to support whoever gets selected!!!
an elan convoy always turns heads....... :lol:

by **stevieshag** » Sat 01.04.2006, 21:25

theelanman wrote:I think we should all turn up to support whoever gets selected!!!
an Elan convoy always turns heads.......

by **Enright** » Sat 01.04.2006, 21:30

Great idea.

Top publicity for LEC, and chance to show what a jolly reasonable, supportive, and bunch of all round good eggs we are!

by **chris.t** » Sat 01.04.2006, 22:28

yeah i'll fourth that suggestion - great TV. Perhaps it could be suggested to the producers as an idea Sy???

by **Sy V** » Sun 02.04.2006, 07:25

...it already has been.

They were adamant that they wanted to feature a single car, but the massed Elans concept would be a cool gesture that they'd find hard to ignore.

by **chris.t** » Sun 02.04.2006, 08:34

Sy V wrote:...it already has been.

They were adamant that they wanted to feature a single car, but the massed Elans concept would be a cool gesture that they'd find hard to ignore.

yeah they mentioned the "cult" thing well that would be underlining it big time and besides its another excuse for us all to get together :drunk:

by **Stef** » Sun 02.04.2006, 20:38

Indeed!

Also another good opportunity to perhaps plug the Guinness Book of Records attempts at Donny next year.

by **GeoffSmith** » Sun 02.04.2006, 20:53

What about a practise session for the GBoR attempt - guard of honour with headlamps being raised as "the chosen one" passes through? What self respecting TV producer could resist it?

by **Rambo** » Mon 03.04.2006, 08:57

chris.t wrote:
Sy V wrote:...it already has been.

They were adamant that they wanted to feature a single car, but the massed Elans concept would be a cool gesture that they'd find hard to ignore.

yeah they mentioned the "cult" thing well that would be underlining it big time and besides its another excuse for us all to get together

How's about doing it in your field Sy - the featured car, a few other LEC suspects, BBQ, a few beers, Stef getting pished, Stevo doing do'nuts and cutting down your trees (sounds like the normal camping trips !!) and an exclusive interview with the "Squire of Bromsgrove" Compulsive fly on the wall TV. How could Emma possibly resist ??

Mark

by **Nige** » Mon 03.04.2006, 09:47

Norma (definitely a cult car) is pretty stock (apart from the interior) scrubs up well and was well shy of £8k. There again the S2 is modded but a genuine one (careful :roll:

) owner car. I'm in for any mass Elan 'cult' gathering.

by **Sy V** » Mon 03.04.2006, 12:06

"Hey Mom, look at that bunch of cults!"

by **ailwyn** » Mon 03.04.2006, 12:55

My S2 cost 12.5k, and if de-chipped would be stock. Would need a good scrub and the paint has plenty of chips.

Don't mind providing the car but have no desire for fame and fortune so wouldn't be appearing on TV myself

Ailwyn

Lotus Elan Central

You and your Elan on UK TV.

You and your Elan on UK TV.

Who is online