Lotus Elan Central

by **Kjeld** » Fri 11.11.2005, 01:00

Bought a pretty new convert top this summer and now need an installer. Any recommendations in the Northern California area, preferable the Bay Area?

by **tubaman** » Thu 11.05.2006, 03:27

I had mine done a few years ago at a shop in Mountain View - but they are out of business now. (and they had to do it twice...) Right now I need to replace the elastic straps on mine.

The Menlo Park shop most familiar with Elans in my area (Planet Auto) has recommended Mountain View Auto Interiors 650-964-8096 for canvas work but I do not know their quality. I will be checking them out soon.

by **jabrown39** » Fri 09.06.2006, 02:22

Any update on this guys? I have everything removed for a repaint now and am seriously thinking of leaving the hood off until I get the fabric and seals changed. I won't want to be the guinea pig on testing installers and I know I would botch it if I did it myself.

Did you get it shipped out from Trim Technology or source it elsewhere.

Kejld - did you get Marie to install yours?

Cheers,

Jim

by **tubaman** » Tue 20.06.2006, 02:55

I cannot find the paperwork for my top(s) - they were ordered from a catalogue somewhere on the East Coast, as I recall. I have not been able to track down the owner of the closed shop, I know he went to work at some other local shop but no luck so far...

by **jabrown39** » Tue 20.06.2006, 04:17

Thanks for looking. Did you get the canvas with rubber seals or without?

I am trying to salvage the hood cover seal as I remove it for painting. It's not going to work. I'll have to get at least that seal for function and looks. The other seals I can make pretty but useless and would like to replace them if I can scrape up the cash and get a source.

Then comes the part of finding an installer that I can trust. George likes the guys at Planet Auto which is less than a 1/4 mile from my house. They replaced a window regulator for me when I first got the car. After 3 trips back I learned to fix it myself and found out they never replace the regulator, used glue and duct tape to make it work, broke several pieces including cuting the door panel instead of removing the orange clip. I will never go there again. I do like drving by twice a day to see if any Elans are in for work. It does seem to be a gravity well.

Let me know if anyone comes up with something.

Cheers,
Jim

by **Doug** » Tue 20.06.2006, 04:54

Not to hijack the thread, but given the responders here:

can you tell me garages, dealers, shops in the Bay Area for the Elan?? good or bad!!

I have never had to take mine to a shop, but the new owner could have to and I want to be able to steer him in a good direction!

thanks

by **Ekapol** » Mon 24.07.2006, 21:41

Wow.. Thanks a lot Doug.

Yes, please post your comments for any good/bad experiences. You could PM me as well. I'm in San Mateo and have no idea which shop I should give them my business. Much appreciated

by **tubaman** » Wed 13.09.2006, 00:57

When I got my top replaced it took 2 tries, mostly because the installer thought he could make some "improvements" in the canvas - ripped several sections first time it went up! I had to get some new seals from Boardwalk because the shop could not replace the top without damaging them.

The only shop I know for sure does good work on Elans on the Penninsula is Planet Auto in Menlo Park 650-328-0287 301 El Camino Real
Menlo Park, CA 94025 they have worked on many local Elans and AFAIK they have done good work. Reasonable prices too!

by **mark** » Thu 14.09.2006, 05:16

I've had two shops do interior work. Both did the same job - taking an aftermarket seat and cutting it down to size to fit under my rollbar. I first tried Harold's Custom Interiors in Palo Alto, and he did a crappy job for high price. Then for the second seat I took it to Sid's Upholstery in Mountain View and they did a nice job at reasonable price. Like everyone in this thread, my top needs some love and care, so if anyone takes the plunge and finds a good shop for top work, please let me know.

Planet Auto is OK for routine repairs and maintenance. The owner Alex knows these cars pretty well and his prices are reasonable. I've heard good things about Rob Deitrich in Sunnyvale - does alot of porsches/bmw, but I know 1 lotus owner who had good service from him.

by **tubaman** » Thu 14.09.2006, 05:46

Harold's was in Mountain View when they did my top (twice) - I did not try to track him down after he moved...

by **mark** » Thu 14.09.2006, 21:01

tubaman wrote:Harold's was in Mountain View when they did my top (twice) - I did not try to track him down after he moved...

understandable - he talked a good game and had some very good looking cars in his shop that he was working on, but the quality was bad! fwiw, his shop is on a sidestreet off San Antonio Road near Charleston.

by **Kjeld** » Fri 15.09.2006, 07:34

LGM recommended Vals in San Francisco for top installation. I had used them years ago, and my last experience was not good (15 yrs ago). But it looks like Vals son is taking over the business and he seems good. He knew the M100 tops, since Vals used to get the upholstery work from British Motors in SF.

Anyway, he installed my top in an afternoon for $400. Works pefectly.

by **Ekapol** » Fri 15.09.2006, 20:15

I wonder if last time you needed new seals for the canopy installation.

Lotus Elan Central

Convert top installed in Northern Calif

Convert top installed in Northern Calif

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Re: Convert top installed in North Calif (& Bay Area sho

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