Nitroman's 37k White - *****SOLD for $14k*****

[nitroman]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... 0342475638
This car is really, truly for sale now. The price is $15k OR highest reasonable offer by the end of March 2009. For no reason whatsoever my insurance almost doubled (premium period begins Nov 8th). It's hard to justify paying that much just for a few thousand miles per year.

If you want pictures of something in particular let me know. Within the next few weeks I'll write a proper add detailing the things which make this car unique; although without compare, the measure which stands this car above others is the attention given to fighting the ravages of time. It is my natural OCD nature which accounts for this, and since this car is my hobby, it is where my otherwise time consuming perfectiveness pays only positive dividends. I always clean & preserve any part before it goes back onto the car. While this turns the simplest task into a major ordeal, it satisfies me. In a hobby that's all that matters.
===============================================
Selling most likely in May, convertible time. Selling complete with all the bling & blang except for BOV (blow-off-valve). Cringe for cliche', but this car is really, truly, the nicest M100 you're going to see for sale. Please keep it in mind.

http://lotuselancentral.com/forum/viewt ... c&start=40

[Doug]

why the sale?

how much?

[nitroman]

I bought an 11k/mi Norfold Yellow. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... :IT&ih=006 As my daughter said, "... yellow is a real color." So you see, white's not! Some ladies seemed to like it though.

I already have both yellow/chrome AND green/chrome plug-wire sets. Also a standard-Lotus-color (green/yellow) aluminum oil-cap. I've always wanted a green or yellow M100, but I honestly never thought I'd find one that met my standards.

One million dollars.

[paulwatkins]

Congratulations on the new purchase! It looks stunning in the pictures in the ad - like new. As does the car you're selling!

Good luck with the sale. A million dollars is a bit under priced mind you

[wallabyguy]

let me know when the car becomes officially available. I've been looking for a low mileage white Elan recently.

[Sy V]

Hmm

It will be interesting to see what a dealer offers you compared with what a private buyer might fork out.

[wallabyguy]

Hmm

It will be interesting to see what a dealer offers you compared with what a private buyer might fork out.

This would be a personal purchase, not for inventory.

[Sy V]

Oh, well that Sir, is a very different scenario!
Welcome to the Forum.

[Jeff]

Hi Rob, glad you made it over here

[wallabyguy]

Hi Rob, glad you made it over here

I worked summers and afternoons as a kid for years known that the m100 was under development. By the time the prototype made it to the Philadelphia Auto Show, I had enough, with some help from my parents, to buy one. I placed a deposit with Rothrock. Then I had a friend in architectural school convince me to buy a house with him instead. That was a huge mistake. Ever since I always encourage people in the same sort of situation to buy the Lotus, not the house.

The Elan was beautiful in its simplicity. Its engineering was amazing and it is still arguably the best FWD car ever built.

While I have rehabbed from my accident very well and can drive cars like the Elise everyday, an Elan offers me Lotus handling, a more comfortable interior, elegance and easier ingress and egress. Would I still get another Elise? Yes, but it would be tough to make it my daily drive as was the first one. The Elan would be much better in that roll.

[nitroman]

Yeah, today I rationalized away my desire to buy a nice, original Triumph TR8 http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... OTORS:1123 (I drove one as my 'daily' for 8-years) by coming up with $7500 in upgrade parts I'd immediately be purchasing to technically-modernize it & make it perform equal to a 2008 sportscar. For that dosh I'd as well keep the Elan. Somewhat strange that upgrade parts are more prevalent today than when I sold my TR8 in 1998.

I did sell one car Saturday http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... :IT&ih=018 so I've kept steady with 3-cars in the stable, all Commonwealth once again. It's been my intention since moving back to Florida to only own 2 cars, although now, I can tell it will hurt to part with any of them. Every time I drive one it reminds me of its worth! Still, I am trusting somewhat blindly that reason will triumph over emotion (or that a 3-car garage will miraculously appear).

[lwalling]

The Norfolk Mustard Yellow M100 was mine, I hope Nitroman enjoys it!

I miss the car already and will be monitoring all his projects on the car without a doubt. Hell, I missed the car the moment I lost sight of it.

I will probably buy another one down the road sometime. I'm really into rotorcraft now - and I have to tell you, it makes owning a motherload of cars look cheap, but it is a blast ! :).

[Specky]

An R44....

Still living on the edge then...

TTFN

[paulrwebster]

Yeah, today I rationalized away my desire to buy a nice, original Triumph TR8 http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... OTORS:1123

Its those Morris Marina door handles again, same as on the Esprit.

[nitroman]

Yeah, today I rationalized away my desire to buy a nice, original Triumph TR8 http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... OTORS:1123

Its those Morris Marina door handles again, same as on the Esprit.

Yes, and when I pointed out that the (then new) Lamborghini Diablo had the same steering binacle & switchgear as my TR-8 I became the salesperson's least favorite person!

[nitroman]

excess

[Fubar1764]

excess

And excess is a problem, how?

Don't you love NOT living in sub-saharan Africa?

Good to see you up and about again Rob. Still messing with people with your blue hand?

[Ekapol]

excess

That's a lovely collection you have there!!

[nitroman]

excess

And excess is a problem, how?

Don't you love NOT living in sub-saharan Africa?

Good to see you up and about again Rob. Still messing with people with your blue hand?

I don't mind sub-saharan heat, being born here. Studies show we all have the same # of sweat-glands at birth, but in the 1st 2-years of life only so many become active; the body having figured out how to dole its resources... based on the environment of our youth. Traipse near the equator though, and the sunlight will burn through your skin!

I do mind the bugs & wind being on a navigable tributary of the St. Johns River. I feel like I live in the windiest place on Earth! The river is 3-miles wide near me, and the buggies love all that fresh water.

[nitroman]

Hi all. This is an update on the sale of the car. I don't wish to ramble but want to honestly relay the situation.

1) The only reason I bought this WHITE Elan back in 2006 is bcuz my RED Elan, owned since 2001, got T-boned & totalled the night of Dec. 26, 2005. Initially told by my INS Company, "yes, we'll pay for all your $ mods", I provided $14,900 in PARTS receipts to my INS Co. Suddenly, they had a change of heart & informed me all my mods were "worth nothing". My Scots-Irish blood called 4 revenge. I was determined they would not get even 1 shiny "worthless" nut. To carry out this plan I needed another Elan. Delaying, delaying, delaying... I bought this WHITE Elan & transferred all the parts to it; whilst both Elans sat side-by-side in my garage. I never intended to own a WHITE Elan, but was forced to buy the BEST Elan I could find within the time-frame of 6 months. Once all spruced-up however, I shoved the fact that it was WHITE to the back of my mind.

Forward to today...

2) Having bought a YELLOW Elan a couple months ago, my logical thought was to sell the WHITE Elan; which may very well still happen. Thinking of a career-change (I've been in computers 25-years); I now go to college at night: Anatomy, Physiology, Chemistry. The finals for this term ended yesterday. All course work is due this Monday @ 5PM so I've one more "lost-weekend" to bear. That's the point... I've not had time to do diddly-squat car-wise.

I had hoped to have the YELLOW Elan somewhat fitted-out by now, but being preoccupied & not "leaning-on" the Speed-shop doesn't produce fast results. The only parts I want to keep from the WHITE Elan are, as previously mentioned, the BOV, plus the driver's seat-track which I had altered @ a machine-shop to give another inch of travel following an L3/4 spinal-fushion. An aside: I'd forgotten the level. This sec pulled an Xray & counted down from what is obviously my lowest thoracic vertebrae. Can you do that? Four months ago neither could I. The facectomy jumps out at me too.

Anyway, at this moment my plan is to put my Mercury Capri XR2 up for sale, in about a week when I have time to write the add. It is perhaps the nicest speciman of "that car" still extant. If it doesn't meet my reserve of $5000 I'll look back at the WHITE Elan to sell. Several people who've seen the WHITE Elan lately (car experts, not Elan experts) said, "why would you ever sell it?" That is a comment from those who've spent weekends laying under their own cars. I suppose they got through to me.

Will update this thread as events dictate.