I have to admit that the Elan has finally defeated me and I have been instructed by a higher authority that it has to go….
The reason I have (erroneously) said it is free is that it has many of the normal upgrades that we do to our cars; namely:
- Hispec front brake upgrade
AB Motorsport shift cables
DeeAitch short-shift kit
Stainless rear wishbones with new bushes
New rear top-links
New rear shocks (from SJ Sportscars)
New rear springs (from SJ Sportscars)
New radiator
2 new ‘Gordon’ fans
MSD ignition coils
All of these upgrades have cost a pretty penny and have done less than 300 miles. Therefore, if you buy this convenient all-in-one package of upgrades, you get the rest of the car for free!! I make it roughly £2,400 just in new parts (and thats before the cost of fitting them). I am asking £1,250 just to try and recoup some of the cost of these parts, never mind the purchase price I paid 5 years ago. That is without an MOT; I have it booked in for next week and if it passes (which it might, to be fair) then the price will go up. However, if you can trailer it away before then and save me the bother....
The other good point is that all the electrics work
The bad points are that the front suspension is going to need the same treatment as the rear has had (i.e. a pretty much wholesale rebuild) and the paintwork needs plenty of TLC - I was planning to have a full respray as that is the only way to address all of the ‘paintwork challenges’; someone who wasn’t that fussed would probably not bother, but that person isn’t me. Additionally, the car seems to have an overheating problem, which I suspect is something simple but I have just lost my confidence in it; hence, it is time for it to move on. Unfortunately, i am all thumbs with the spanners, so I have to pay a professional to do anything serious and the costs have just worm me down.
The car has done 114000 miles and has been owned by me for the last 5 years, during which time it has moved from my house to the local classic car restorers and back again! (oh - and a few outings to Donington/Malvern
)I have done some fettling to the interior and am part way through that - it is only cosmetics but just looks untidy as it is only half complete; it wouldn't take too much to finish off.
The hood is good (one small repaired cut in the usual place); the rear window less so. The A pillar seals need doing.
Starts and drives well to be fair - does run slightly rough when cold. No engine management codes stored and never has had. Tyres are good, wheels could do with a refurb but aren’t bad.
Has part history and many previous MOT certificates, bills and receipts.
I know I have a bit of a downer on the car and would understand if it comes across as me being overly negative, but I don’t want anyone to get the impression that this is a garage queen that I am mis-describing - I know it is a better car then I am giving it credit for, but I am just trying to be as (overly) honest as possible.
I would love it to go to someone who has the time to spend bringing the car back up to scratch rather than use it as a part donor, but it has to go, and if it is going to be a parts donor, thenI really want it to go to someone on LEC and not be cannibalised by the likes of DVB. However, it there are no takers.....
Please give Patch a new home.
With or without an Elan 
