ALL CARS ON EBAY.

[JonT]

"Hood is mint"

Has a hole in it?

[nyssa7]

You're correct Clemo.

G888 ALE

TTFN

Having been saved the embarrassment of bidding on the black one courtesy of this forum, other than this being the first M100 anyone actually seen this one?

Last drove an Élan back in 1990 when I was an Esprit owner, now I'm looking for a cheap one to use as track hack and teach my son to drive on track. I'm more than aware of Lotus running costs, so there are cheap and cheap. Plainly the black one would be a money pit for little gain, what I fancy is something usable from go that can be brought up to scratch along the way. It's a lot easier to hide spend on running restorations that it is to hide an initial purchase price

I see this chap cancelled the bids on his previous attempt at selling now he thinks being the first is special, but Wigan is 200 miles from me so if anyone knows the car/has seen it, I wold appreciate a steer

Many thanks

Trevor

[peteoddcar]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1990-LOTUS-EL ... 35b98755a5

Seems its been relisted - The listing is claiming it was the LLC first demo car - that reg number seems familar. Does anyone have any info - just curiuos - I wont be bidding..

[nyssa7]

Was hoping someone knew this car as Wigan is too far away to view, and a salutary lesson has already been learned over the black one!

[Ronee]

Was hoping someone knew this car as Wigan is too far away to view, and a salutary lesson has already been learned over the black one!

im with you on this one, i have a budget and im going to use all of it to buy the right one im not going for cheapies but i had to have a look at that black one out of curiosity!

[nyssa7]

I don't mind buying the right cheapie, easier to "hide" the spend on a rolling restoration than a higher purchase price. Now just need to differentiate between a viable car and a money pit

[Ronee]

I don't mind buying the right cheapie, easier to "hide" the spend on a rolling restoration than a higher purchase price. Now just need to differentiate between a viable car and a money pit

rolling restoration scares me as to how costs can really escalate. my track car over 5yrs has cost me in the region on 15k in parts and keeping it on the road. i could of bought a bloody good car for that.

[nyssa7]

Tell me about costs, I have a race car to take all my money and a bit more. Just need something to do a few track days in this year as race car won't be out, and if it's a soft top then I can drive it on the 3 days of sunny weather we usually manage

I'm teaching my kart racer son to drive now so he can race cars in 2014 when he's 14, so anything I get will have to be friendly so he can learn, and not too dear in case either of us fall off

[Specky]

I have exchanged a couple of messages with the owner and He has an email dated a couple of days ago from the then MD of Lotus certifying it's provinence.

I now know the full VIN, and technically speaking it may be the first official production car off the line...

to be released for sale that is.

To cut to the chase, was it first off the line, I believe not...The first cars left the line in 1989, this is a Feb 1990.

I.B.1 holds that mantle, followed my all the other Initial Bulid cars (9 in total) and it's not one of them. I'll do some more research to find out where this car fits in.

Things that stand out, rear right light, no Perspex number plate cover, steering wheel, cracked sill( bridging tape was not used on the early cars), surface finish. My assumption is the service history may be incomplete, the penknife tool kit and the gloves will be difficent.


TTFN

[inkitin]

Was hoping someone knew this car as Wigan is too far away to view, and a salutary lesson has already been learned over the black one!

Sorry, unfortunately I don't know the car.

The photographs though, do give a few clues to its condition. These are what I've spotted but I'm sure others will see more.

1. The clear perspex cover of the offside rear light cluster looks to be quite badly damaged. (Bottom left of the cover).
2. The aerial is missing (or fully retracted if it's a replacement) and there seems to be two of them??
3. As previously noted by others, the rear corner of the hood isn't sitting properly on the rear deck and the rear screen seems cloudy.
4. The rear deck seems to be sitting proud of the surrounding bodywork.
5. Where are the badges on the boot? (Specky will know - did early cars have them?)
6. There's an ICE head unit lying on the passenger seat. (Aerial?)
7. The driver's seat looks as if it's had water damage at some point.
8. Are those two water puddles on the top of the driver's door sill?
9. There's also something very odd about the look of the steering wheel!! Possible water damage again?
10. The leading edge of the hood above the windscreen looks a bit "rough".

Just my observations.

[Specky]

I don't know about the badges, mine didn't have any, but the car had already recieved a respray. I'll find out though...

I would say yes they should have, PP14 and PP15 did...

I think I've just worked out why this car could be considered Number one...

TTFN

[inkitin]

I don't know about the badges, mine didn't have any, but the car had already recieved a respray.

That's funny, because when I was looking through the photos the word "respray" kept coming to mind! but I wasn't sure.

[Specky]

I don't know about the badges, mine didn't have any, but the car had already recieved a respray.

That's funny, because when I was looking through the photos the word "respray" kept coming to mind! but I wasn't sure.

Just to clarify.. My car had a respray (definatly the front), thus I don't know if they had badges or not.

I haven't got access to my photographs to check, my Preproduction thread might help.

TTFN

[Rambo]

Was hoping someone knew this car as Wigan is too far away to view, and a salutary lesson has already been learned over the black one!

Sorry, unfortunately I don't know the car.

The photographs though, do give a few clues to its condition. These are what I've spotted but I'm sure others will see more.

1. The clear perspex cover of the offside rear light cluster looks to be quite badly damaged. (Bottom left of the cover).
2. The aerial is missing (or fully retracted if it's a replacement) and there seems to be two of them??
3. As previously noted by others, the rear corner of the hood isn't sitting properly on the rear deck and the rear screen seems cloudy.
4. The rear deck seems to be sitting proud of the surrounding bodywork.
5. Where are the badges on the boot? (Specky will know - did early cars have them?)
6. There's an ICE head unit lying on the passenger seat. (Aerial?)
7. The driver's seat looks as if it's had water damage at some point.
8. Are those two water puddles on the top of the driver's door sill?
9. There's also something very odd about the look of the steering wheel!! Possible water damage again?
10. The leading edge of the hood above the windscreen looks a bit "rough".

Just my observations.

I would agree with Inkitin's observations. Plus I'll add the following...

A car that age and mileage has probably had at least a partial re-spray at the front end. Otherwise that front bonnet/bumper area would be looking a bit worse for wear.

The car doesn't seem to be sitting squarely to me. Have a look at the 3rd photo. Put your hand on the left of the photo and cover up the trailer. Does it look like the rear near side is sitting higher almost like it is jacked up ?? Maybe I'm being a little critical - it coud just be an optical illusion.

The fact that he says the hood is "mint" is rather worrying to me. Wonder what the engine bay looks like ?

Maybe Man. Utd. (aka Monty and Dico) could give it the once over if anyone is interested in taking it further ?

[nyssa7]

Really appreciate all the comments so far, will give the chap a call tonight and ask a few questions

If anyone is close enough by to give it the once over, would be very helpful. If I do go with this one, it would have to be bought blind and collected by transport company, so no scope to decline it either. Bit of a risk, but will only take if price remains right enough to allow me some contingency for hidden horrors

[wiganboy]

Hi, just a quick one.
The G888 ALE, it's my dads elan. He's asked me to come on here to ask a thing or two.
Firstly, where would be the best place selling it? On this forum or just on eBay?
Also, is it acutally worth much more because of the heritage?

Thanks, Kyle

Ps, this is the link
[url][/url][url=null]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1990-LOTUS-ELAN-SE-TURBO-SILVER-FIRST-M100-NO-RESERVE-/230745920933?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item35b98755a5[/url]

[nyssa7]

As someone thinking of buying it, all I care about is condition against price, the heritage means nothing. It might matter to someone else depending on the view they take

Purely personal opinion

But as you're on here Kyle, what does your dad mean by "Gearbox is very tight in EVERY gear"?

[Specky]

Hi, just a quick one.
The G888 ALE, it's my dads elan. He's asked me to come on here to ask a thing or two.
Firstly, where would be the best place selling it? On this forum or just on eBay?
Also, is it acutally worth much more because of the heritage?

Thanks, Kyle

Ps, this is the link
[url][/url][url=null]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1990-LOTUS-ELAN-SE-TURBO-SILVER-FIRST-M100-NO-RESERVE-/230745920933?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item35b98755a5[/url]

On here and on EBay, maximise your exposure. If you so require you can start a thread in the UK cars for sale area.

As to the history and value of the car, a car is only worth what someone is willing to pay. I can think of 20-30 Elans that have Lotus history and all are part of the Lotus jigsaw. What makes one car more historically important than another who knows. I think it's a deal breaker, a little something on top.

IIRC wasn't this car up for sale a few years ago?


TTFN

[wiganboy]

On here and on EBay, maximise your exposure. If you so require you can start a thread in the UK cars for sale area.

As to the history and value of the car, a car is only worth what someone is willing to pay. I can think of 20-30 Elans that have Lotus history and all are part of the Lotus jigsaw. What makes one car more historically important than another who knows. I think it's a deal breaker, a little something on top.

IIRC wasn't this car up for sale a few years ago?


TTFN

Thanks Specky, and i've no idea. He bought it just a few months ago from a garage in yorkshire.

[clemo]

Hi, just a quick one.
The G888 ALE, it's my dads elan. He's asked me to come on here to ask a thing or two.
Firstly, where would be the best place selling it? On this forum or just on eBay?
Also, is it acutally worth much more because of the heritage?

Thanks, Kyle

Ps, this is the link
[url][/url][url=null]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1990-LOTUS-ELAN-SE-TURBO-SILVER-FIRST-M100-NO-RESERVE-/230745920933?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item35b98755a5[/url]

IIRC wasn't this car up for sale a few years ago?


TTFN

specky ... yes it was.

kyle can you shed some light as to what the "original" number plate was ( if this is a private plate)

it should be on the handbook or some old mot's .. i would look for something along the lines of G ??? MEX maybe.
or the engine number or vin would help point towards its "heritage".

for me i am into heritage cars ..

many thanks
clemo