Top Gear new series and the Elan

[Peter_W]

And what a great panorama of autos beginning at 59:26. I saw many of the models from my ownership past - Sunbeams, Triumphs, MGs. The first car I ever bought was a '62 Sunbeam Alpine for $100 - It shot flames out the carburetor and my foot went through the floorboard on the first day. As a young person (many years ago now) they were all great adventures (sometimes just getting where you set out to was an adventure) making for GREAT memories. "Other" cars are just a means of getting around in between driving real cars with personality and soul. And it continues now with the Elan.

[scottswatches]

As i said to the wife, I don't care what else happens to the Elan as long as it is the fastest!

Point proved, especially the lap time against the Trevor.

[ashm]

I don't think many here doubted that it'd wipe the floor with the other two. Unless there's something properly wrong with it the Elan should totally outclass them on a road or track, it's technically at least a generation ahead. I wish we could have seen a proper Stig lap from each car on the TG track. I'd be interested to see how an Elan with an Everest and decent exhaust would fare, I suspect it'd give a few current sports cars a good scare.

I do think the TVR S series are pretty cars though, and they seem to know how to make a totally outrageous interior. All those big curves of cream leather - one of my friends has a Tuscan, and while I think it's ugly as hell on the outside the interior is unlike any other car I've ever been in, feels like something out of Barbarella!

Adam

[GeoffSmith]

Shame they didn't have the balls to go with a Pug GTi as I still think it would have beaten it. Not so sure about the Jenson and TVR though.

[rip]

Shame they didn't have the balls to go with a Pug GTi .

That was a 1.6/1.9 8v, so no more than 130bhp, would probably be no lighter than an Elan.
The Elan was built specifically to have a better FWD chassis than anything available at the time.

No contest.

[kenich]

Shame they didn't have the balls to go with a Pug GTi .

That was a 1.6/1.9 8v, so no more than 130bhp, would probably be no lighter than an Elan.
The Elan was built specifically to have a better FWD chassis than anything available at the time.

No contest.

Elans are over a a tonne right? As a 205 GTi sits under 900kgs I'm sure. BHP on earlier 1.9s were just under 130bhp an around 120bhp when using the CAT. The Derv 205 using the basic under pinnings ( a happy shopper ) was not a million miles away on that tarck. I could of seen a 205 GTi being quicker than the Elan if driven by the Stig tbh. Thank god it wasn't lol

[peteoddcar]

Well is was good to have some publicity for the M100 they say that all publicity is good publicity -
The feature about how the Hot Hatch supposedly killed off the "Popular and Affordable* Britsh sports car was quite interesting - truth is that the car companies in the 80's and 90's made lots of dosh out of selling hot hatches that were cheap to produce using powertrains from bigger cars in their ranges adding some cheap bucket seats,better brakes (again from bigger cars in the ranges) wider wheels a few other "distinguishers" from the shopping car upon which it was based.
So MG Midgets and Spitfires and the like whilst fun did not really cut it as all weather daily transport, and in factory form were not fast, the exception being the MGB GT which was not particularly fast but was (almost) weather proof.( and they sold in high numbers)
The motoring public were fed up with wet seats in the mornings and rust that was factory fitted, so they sold the HH's in vast numbers.
So what we can conclude is that the Motor Industry killed the "popular and affordable" British sports car , but not really... bear with me
At that time it was unusual for someone to own an everyday car and hobby car, those that could afford to do so started collecting E type Jags, Big Healey's , Astons etc.
Lots of HH drivers had found that driving IS fun and looked for something more - hence the interest in old "Popular and Affordable British Sports cars" seeking cars as a hobby.
These became " Classic Cars" and the huge industry and vast numbers of enthusiasts world wide who own them restore them buy and sell them.

So I propose that the HH;s actually started the classic car owneship for the masses... Well done
I like driving my Elan - its not a traditional Classic British Sports Car but rare and better than nearly all HH's and has a ragtop but it does leak a tiny bit but first it has to be got WET -

[Gazza]

With the Stig driving a 1.9 Gti i would have been worried! Had one for 5-6 years before my 2 Elans and it was brilliant. Remember Evo mag doing that Group test on front wheel drive cars and the Pug doing better than the Elan.

[peteoddcar]

Pugs are well.. Pugs .. no doubt they are quick - but they have a roof.
Thats exactly why the M100 is the masterpiece that it is - FWD.small engine, super car styling, rattles and squeaks to match any French hatchback but its a LOTUS and and its a RAG TOP
BTW does anyone know of at 4WD Elan M100?
Looking at the the layout - must be possible?

[myskatingcat]

This is my first post and I too have often thought of the 4wd variant. But I think you have to travel down the inside of the frame with the drive shaft. I actually owned an Iszu impulse for a short time, it was fun but so much heavier than our Elans for obvious reasons.