Hi from Canada!

[LBC]

Hello all! I'm a very recent Lotus newbie/wannabee in North Vancouver, B.C.

I owned and drove a good dozen or more LBCs in my early youth through the '60s & '70s when they were plentiful, reasonable to own & easy to keep back in the day.

I rejoined the mayhem 8 years ago with a well sorted & Collector plated early '74 MGB in BRG (chrome bumpers, thank you much) that I've enjoyed very much during it's stay-over with me. I sold "OMG" a few weeks ago since I'm ready for a change. The new custodian has agreed to stay in touch and take me for a drive at least once a year in return for me sharing my own intimate knowledge of his classic new ride as needed. Nice fellow he is too, which made for a comfortable sale.

After a good deal of DD and viewing/driving half a dozen "select & mostly originale" olde LBCs, I ran across a local advert for a "1991 Lotus Elan M100 with 74Kms, 5 speed, normal 165hp now 200 hp courtesy of the V5 chip." which has tweaked my interest as I have always been a fanboy of the marque, but haven't shared the experience as yet.

So, here I am boys and girls, trying my best to soak up some initial insight into quite another level of mayhem and awaiting a reply from the seller.

I will ask the M100 seller if he is a member of Lotus Elan Central or Lotus Talks once we connect.

So far I have picked up a few tips from other's posts such as carefully reviewing documented service records and a number of high-point refit/maintenance necessities and I'm open to any collective wisdom any member would care to share. Appears to be a fairly steep & potentially spendy learning curve involved in such a refined vehicle, however logically the best place to start is here at the beginning.

Needless to say, but I will.... local input is very much welcomed.

Cheers & try your best to stay safe out there while still having a bit o' fun, eh.

[sideways]

Welcome and thats me! - feel free to contact me any time to see/drive the car but as you suggest, ask as many questions as you like here as they are a very friendly and knowledgeable lot!

[Rambo]

Hi and Welcome.

Was just about to say that there are a few owners around in the Vancouver area and BC that are knowledgeable and will be able to help you out and give advice... sideways, Sleeka, esprit888 etc.....

[TorqueHorse]

Welcome!
Hope you are able to find one that suits what your are looking for. In North America there are always a few for sale, but the price range, location, and condition can vary greatly. If you have 'money', then you should be able to quickly find one in immaculate condition. There are some listed (including the one you are inquiring about I think) on this site as well as the other typical web sites, a la Hemmings, etc. Probably even more through this site if you make it well known what you are looking for and have a bit of patience. If you have 'time' (and money, who are we kidding), I see a potential diamond in the rough show up on ebay, Bring a Trailer, and even Craigslist maybe a few times a year.
Regardless, welcome and hopefully happy motoring (or wrench slinging depending on what excites you)!

ps. I'm sure others wiser (or closer?) than me can give you any specific purchase advice you may want too

[LBC]

Thanks for your input @Rambo and @TorqueHorse, much appreciated. I feel the onset of a new journey approaching.

[LBC]

Welcome and thats me! - feel free to contact me any time to see/drive the car but as you suggest, ask as many questions as you like here as they are a very friendly and knowledgeable lot!

Thanks for reaching out @sideways and thanks also for the phone call back earlier today, let's see where we go with this new found relationship.

[Bern]

LBC - Little British Car? I'm assuming not Long Beach California!?

[LBC]

LBC - Little British Car? I'm assuming not Long Beach California!?

Yes please. Little British Car it is.

[sideways]

So LBC decided not to go ahead with buying my car as he was also looking at a Volvo 1800E - I'm fine with that - but/and as soon as I can find my "For Sale" posting, I will adjust the price to reflect what it is now selling for up here in the blazing sunshine. (was $19,800, is now $17500 - Canadian, do your own conversion but I believe that makes it less than $13000 USD )


Maybe the video I posted of the car when I gave it some welly scared him off.

[Rambo]

Or maybe your avatar scared him off

Mind you, a choice between a Lotus or a Volvo. Hmmmmm

[dapinky]

Mind you, a choice between a Lotus or a Volvo. Hmmmmm

Not necessarily a bad thing......

[sideways]

Or maybe your avatar scared him off

Mind you, a choice between a Lotus or a Volvo. Hmmmmm

I suspect the occasionally spirited drive scared him off...he came from the MGB world... nothing wrong with them but maybe the ability to start the M100 without tugging on the choke, not wondering if the ambient temp/humidity and almost inevitable maladjustment of the carbs would allow the car to start or that the points had closed up etc gave him pause.

I started it from cold, no coughs and wheezes, no blue smoke, simply insert key, wait until the pump stops whispering in your ear and...ho hum, no drama.

Every time I drive it I marvel but it has to go to someone who understands and appreciates such a fine machine because the "boss" wants yet another 3 series BMW...but this time a hardtop convertible so I can satisfy her (?) and keep myself happy with my need to feel the wind in my receding follicles.

[LBC]

Or maybe your avatar scared him off

Mind you, a choice between a Lotus or a Volvo. Hmmmmm

I suspect the occasionally spirited drive scared him off...he came from the MGB world... nothing wrong with them but maybe the ability to start the M100 without tugging on the choke, not wondering if the ambient temp/humidity and almost inevitable maladjustment of the carbs would allow the car to start or that the points had closed up etc gave him pause.

I started it from cold, no coughs and wheezes, no blue smoke, simply insert key, wait until the pump stops whispering in your ear and...ho hum, no drama.

Every time I drive it I marvel but it has to go to someone who understands and appreciates such a fine machine because the "boss" wants yet another 3 series BMW...but this time a hardtop convertible so I can satisfy her (?) and keep myself happy with my need to feel the wind in my receding follicles.

Hmmm.... well, gentle folk, there are at least 2 sides to every good story now, aren't there?

As well, I personally feel that it's good to keep in mind that whatever we post on these forums is pretty much here forever, so I'll be brief and like our good Dr. Bonnie Henry, try my best to be kind.

I enjoyed meeting mr. sideways, he is quite a character once you get past his brogue. However at this point in time that particular M100 is not the car for me. I will admit that the older 60s and some early 70s era LB cars are still where my heart is at currently. The Volvo 1800E I drove the day after his M100 was not the right car for me either, however I did realize from that experience that it was closer to my ideal than many later contemporary examples of classic marques. Although I will attest that his M100 started without drama and certainly proved to be an exhilarating ride from both passenger and driver's seats.

In my own defense, I have owned cars in the past that have been fairly difficult cars to drive slowly and I still have the speeding tickets to prove it. Frankly ladies and laddies, I do prefer to "row a bit harder" through the gears to get my thrill in the twisties.

And so my search continues, having already SOLD my venerable MGB to a nice younger couple that I fully expect to stay in touch with, I am fortunately in a comfortable position to both chase and realize my next choice in classic car custodianship, since IMO we never really own these classics; we simply enjoy, curse and pay their bills.

That's all I've got to share guys and gals, wishing y'all well and I will continue to monitor and contribute to this Forum when I can.

[sideways]

All good Jeff, my comment about scaring you and comparing the M100 with an MGB was strictly tongue in cheek! but now you have experienced a Lotus and while I understand your desire for a car of a certain era, you may want to look at the parental unit of the M100 - the original Elan.

The original Elan was the best of its era and still stands alone, almost 60 years after it came on the scene though the prices are finally starting to rise - something which will happen with most Lotus products...one of these days.

Or maybe an early Porsche, pretty much the same wheelbase as the MGB (and equally prone to rust )

Anyway, as I said, all good and good luck with your search.

PS, Scots don't have a "brogue", they have a burr.

[LBC]

All good Jeff, my comment about scaring you and comparing the M100 with an MGB was strictly tongue in cheek! but now you have experienced a Lotus and while I understand your desire for a car of a certain era, you may want to look at the parental unit of the M100 - the original Elan.

The original Elan was the best of its era and still stands alone, almost 60 years after it came on the scene though the prices are finally starting to rise - something which will happen with most Lotus products...one of these days.

Or maybe an early Porsche, pretty much the same wheelbase as the MGB (and equally prone to rust )

Anyway, as I said, all good and good luck with your search.

PS, Scots don't have a "brogue", they have a burr.

No worries Brian, best of luck with both your sale and your search for a replacement vehicle as well.