Twenty Years Later........

[Eagle1]

Hi to all LEC members,

This journey began 22 years ago down in Hove, Sussex with a back to back drive of an Esprit and an Elan SE. I loved them both, for entirely different reasons, but not enough to part with my 944 S2 that I had at the time. Fast forward 2 years and the untimely demise of the Porsche and ten Armco barriers on the M23 and another trip down to Frosts was due to drive the Elan S2. What a day, what a drive!!!!!! These were however the days of ridiculous insurance premiums (recall a £18k quote for an Escort RS Cosworth) so the Lotus was too expensive, not withstanding this I did come very close to buying a Palacio S2 from PM Sports Cars in the Midlands but it sold before I could get to see it, damn that business trip to Italy! After some months of hooning around in my Mum's 205 (1100 cc/ skinny tyres & excellent fun) I plumped for a Corrado VR6 Storm. Great car never regretted buying it.....regretted selling it however!

Various stodgy and badly built Merc SLK's and far better BMW M3 Coupes later I got a 991 Carrera S, superb car, wonderfully capable but lacking something.......ah that's it.....there's no compromise or hardship to owning it, save for the morons that give you the bird as all Porsche drivers are #*%*^#! There is however one thing missing FUN, with the best will in the World to get it to where it needs to be I wouldn't have my licence for long.

I guess now deeply into midlife crisis and hankering for a bit more of the three letter F word I found myself routinely flicking through various on-line sales sites lusting after my previous purchases/ heroes. There was however only one car I was really interested in, the Elan. Possibly because I never bought one in my 20's, but truly because I really remember that day in the Sussex sunshine.

A look at Classic Car, sitting in the BA lounge T5 and what's this a Palacio S2 at PM, surely not the same one? A quick call and like all the best Christmas Pantos "Oh yes it is". Again I'm away on business with no chance of seeing the car for an eternity and when I do finally get to call upon my return I find that some brave soul has test driven (aqua tested) the car in absolutely appalling weather and loved it so much that they were returning the next day to finalise the deal. DAMN, history repeats itself 20 years (nearly) after I originally saw the car advertised.

Right enough of this......next reasonably priced Elan S2 in need of TLC I find I'm having it. (Totally the wrong way to do it BTW)

That weekend I saw an advert (on that auction website) for a one owner, medina green, S2 (# 200 to be exact) with 105,000 miles on the clock. Speaking to the owner I found out a bit about the car and a road trip to Leeds followed. After a test drive it was obvious that with a bit of TLC this could be a super example. Fresh MOT and Tax and back to South London it was.

I have hardly seen it since then as it's with a London Lotus specialist having a few things done but the drive back on the A1M prove everything I had hoped for FUUUUNNNNNN.

Funds permitting, considering doing a few further things to it; a complete respray (do I keep it Medina or go for the Empire/ Lotus Carlton dark green all feedback appreciated) a sympathetic refurb/ re-trim of the interior, hood seals and wheels, together with the Nardi steering wheel, brake and short shift upgrade. Should be done in time for winter!!!!

Can't wait to get it back and planning what to do next, let alone the expectation of that first drive! Meantime I will be enjoying the camaraderie of LEC and the Forum and look forward to hearing from fellow members on pitfalls/ tips and the colour question.

Enjoy the sunshine!

Dean

[novacaine]

Welcome to you long belated Elan ownership!

In my opinion a Elan in the Empire/Carlton green would look pretty epic, much nicer than the odd 80s blue/green of the merdina.

If you haven't got them already, I would suggest a front brake upgrade with the HiSpec/PNM kits. In my opinion it has improved the overall drive-ability of my car and has made the braking system feel like that of a modern car.

[Eagle1]

Thanks Novacaine, had thought either the Wilwoods or PNM/ HiSpecs......the AP's being a bit too rich for me. Appreciate the recommendation on the colour too.

[Fredjohn]

Hi and very belated welcome on board to Elan ownership and LEC. As you will have gathered there is loads of info and help here: but add your location to your profile. It'll save people constantly asking.

Your improvement list is pretty extensive and you will undoubtedly suffer from project creep as things get done and other things reveal themselves.

I'll add my tuppence worth too: after you've done the Wilwood or Hi-spec front brakes, get an Everest chip. It'll give you c35bhp more with no serious impact on engine reliability, retain all the protection features of the standard ECU and more importantly make the driving experience even more fun. I got wheel spin at 60-65mph in 2nd on a slightly damp road last Sunday when I floored it. I was somewhat taken aback as I didn't expect that instant a response. All controllable though! I was on my way to an LDC breakfast meet at Hilltop Farm: good meet and great breakfast!

Others will also testify to the effectiveness of this easy to install mod: but do the brakes first.

Enjoy your Elan

[lotos]

Welcome! I love hearing about how others had caught "the bug" so long ago too, and finally just decided to buy the damned thing already years later. There's something special about this car that just grabs us and doesn't let go. Have fun!

[dapinky]

Personally, I don't think YOU should get the Empire/Imperial green paint.....

....Lotus only made 3 in that colour, 1 was written off, and (If my research is correct) the other 2 went abroad (one a few weeks ago to France - because I wanted to buy it, but like in your story, I was on my way out of the country ).....

....as such, (and as mine is now vertually complete except for it's respray, which was due 2 months ago, in original Pacific Blue - delayed due to broken leg!) so I have decided to do mine in the colour I always wanted.....

....I don't want there to be too many Imperial Green ones on the UK road - so, as i say, YOU shouldn't do it - but I should!

(on a serious note - IMHO it is the colour to have, and who wants to be totally unique anyway )

Whatever you decide - enjoy it - It's yours to do with as you wish - make the most of how YOU want it to be

[rip]

I got wheel spin at 60-65mph in 2nd on a slightly damp road last Sunday when I floored it.

Are you sure you don't mean 3rd gear?

[GeoffSmith]

Tasty....

[dapinky]

Tasty....

Well, I think so - especially with black wheels......

(I just need someone to get round to sorting out some grey carpets for me now )

[Fredjohn]

I got wheel spin at 60-65mph in 2nd on a slightly damp road last Sunday when I floored it.

Are you sure you don't mean 3rd gear?

Ian

Pretty sure I was in 2nd, but you could be right! Will go out tomorrow and check revs/speed in 2nd/3rd.

John

[Kathryn]

I think you should keep it Medina green. Am I the only person that thinks it's a nice colour? (then again, I am a girl!)

I though you were going to say you bought the Palacio at Paul Matty, I saw it advertised but it was way over my budget. I've since got a Palacio (had her one month today!) for considerably less and I'd love to compare the two.

[Rambo]

Oddly enough, the Fellatio was at Paul Matty's for quite a few months (from before Xmas to about April) and it struggled to sell then someone came along with a Collapso red and it appeared they might have traded it in. The CR had had new leather inside (tan) and it sold very quickly although the interior was a bit over the top for some folks

[HJ2]

Nah!...
Not as good as Calypso though...

Seriously... Good intro and welcome aboard!

[TrevorB]

with everyone.

Welcome aboard but if we're talking colours surely silk red comes into the equation

TrevorB

[Eagle1]

All,

Thanks for the feedback and tips keep 'em coming, especially on the colour choice (2:1 to the darker green so far)

Think the next upgrade will be the front brakes PNM/ Hi-Spec (over the Wilwoods) appear to be the more straight forward option, ie PNM can supply the lot.

Can't wait to doscientos back!

BTW TrevorB I love Silk Red......just don't want the faff of changing the logbook, hence green it needs to be.

[Enright]

Great intro and welcome.
Now it's 3:1 in favour of Empire Green.
Having seen WillB's a few weeks ago (here: viewtopic.php?f=49&t=23105&p=291289&hilit=empire#p291289) I thought it looked stunning.

HOWEVER:

It's going to be more of a faff than "simply" changing the logbook. I would expect a complete colour change on an Elan to be a major undertaking that could take weeks or even months, and thousands of pounds to complete - assuming it's being done properly.
If money and time are no object in favour of the appearance, then absolutely go for it.
Otherwise, you could be generating all manner of issues in disturbing stuff, and potentially being stuck without the car for a long time.

Hi-Specs are a great idea, as is an Everest. I would recommend porting the wastegate and fitting a Piper full system including Pre-Cat Eliminator (PCE) too.

[GeoffSmith]

Rumour has it that there was a senile pensioner hobbling around Caring With Cars at the weekend talking about turning a blue one green.... something about bringing out the best of the red carpets.

[dapinky]

HOWEVER:

It's going to be more of a faff than "simply" changing the logbook. I would expect a complete colour change on an Elan to be a major undertaking that could take weeks or even months, and thousands of pounds to complete - assuming it's being done properly.
If money and time are no object in favour of the appearance, then absolutely go for it.

There are always more than one way to skin a cat, and some are easier or better or quicker than others - as with all things, it's down to what you want to spend (in either money or time or both), and what your expectations are with the finished product.

Personally, I want a 'good' job, but it doesn't come easily.

Changing the log book is the easy bit

I have seen a few elans which have been 'colour changed' - some done well (Tango & Pistachio - by Stevo & Kier on LEC respectively), some not-so-well - the horrendous Calypso to Black one which was frequently offered for sale over a period of 5 years or so.

To do the job 'properly' involves a complete strip-down, and painting inside and out (and under!) - just ask Stevo how many hours it can take!!!!

I'm not going to quite that length, but to do a 'good' job - it isn't the painting which takes the time, but the strip/preparation/rebuild.

Ideally, you will take the bumpers off (as for any re-spray, even in original colour), but go on to removing and stripping down the doors (I suppose it could be 'masked up' around the lock mechanism etc, but not ideal). Then the clamshell needs to come off (not a hard job if the bumper is off anyway), boot lid/spoiler, hood cover, bonnet, light pods, 'A' panels (which need to come off to remove the clamshell anyway ), sill cover trims, 'B' post trims, 'A' post seals - all are quite straightforward, but time consuming.

Having done that lot, you can get a colour change which looks good, but you will still have original colour underneath the carpets, behind the dash and inside the boot (none of which can be seen with the carpets etc back in) - if you want to, you can 'brush paint' the underside of the bodytub (maybe just use some satin black Hamerite or similar) - but there is one other problem to overcome to stop it instantly showing out as a 'colour changer'.....

......When you open the bonnet, you'll see the original colour on the bulkhead behind the engine.

To get to that bit takes a LOT of effort (time and/or money) as to do it right means the engine should come out (quite easy with the clamshell off, but still takes effort) - or 'bodging' it up (which isn't as bad as it sounds!)....

...you can get to most of it (and the visible bits) with a dextrous arm and a paintbrush - ideally, removing the intake manifold makes it a hell of a lot better, and if you get to that stage, I would suggest that whipping the whole head off and changing the gasket, belt, water pump and tensioners may be a logical 'project creep'.

Having spoken to my painter, we are going for the 'middle ground' - strip the doors, clam, light pods, bumpers, A panels, carpets etc but he'll leave me to worry about the bulkhead (which doesn't need his quality of spraying, so I'll do it with an airbrush whilst the head is off).

It'll never be done fully, as the cost far outweighs the value (to me), and it still wouldn't be 'original' anyway - but It'll look right.

Also to be factored into the 'cost' is a set of stickers for the engine bay (removal and repacement outweigh the cost/look of masking and spraying round them) - and the main bit of this is the VIN sticker which can be a bit time consuming to obtain - you need to send all sorts of paperwork to Lotus, together with photographs of the original in situ, and it takes a while.....

...and it'll still be 'wrong' when it arrives, as they will transfer the ORIGINAL information to the new VIN sticker, and it will have the 'wrong' paint code on it.

Plenty to think about - all of it can be overcome, but much depends on your timescales and cash/time availlability vs desire to achieve your goal....

...I'm not trying to disuede you, but it needs thinking about......

.....The actual cost for my sprayer (and extra materials required) was minimal - he saves time on 'masking up' by working on complete, seperate panels, but the 'strip/rebuild' needs to be added.