New old guy from panhandle of NW Florida, Emerald Coast USA

[55chevy]

The beaches here are nice, instead of blue they're a pretty emerald green, and it's due to algae, sort of odd, huh? I'm mainly a Chevy guy, evident by my name, as well as my first car as a 62 Impala, but I also like all different models of cars, evident by my 2nd car being a 1969 383 Dodge Super Bee, and having a TR7 conv later, 66 Sunbeam Alpine, as well as a series 1 Europa for a while. I'm on a lot of car forums, I have many projects, 68 C10 shortfleet, 1990 Reatta convertible, 1965 Mustang Fastback, 1961 Catalina conv, 66 GTO, 72 2wd Blazer, 1980 TR8 conv, 1955 MGTF 1500, sold a 56 Bel Air 4 dr ht last fall, have some parts cars and trucks also.

I just got a 91 Elan M100, 106k miles, needs some TLC and paint job, window regulators are main thing, traded a 2004 Chrysler Crossfire for it. PO seems to have ADD like me, took door panels off and windows out before he found regulators, a headlight motor needs bolting back up, a lot of parts and pieces disassembled. It sat for a while and got dirty, the clear coat is peeling, had been rear ended and bumper repaired but still some small FG damage in trunk floor and rear quarters. Brakes are real weak but it drove on my trailer, has aftermarket muffler, AC is inop. It bumped it's cousin MG TF 1500 to the side of the garage.

[epipete]

Welcome, at the time of writing 7 folks have already viewed your post - and no response! I figure they're all agog at the pictures and cogitation on the task ahead. Looks a little daunting but should be fun. Ask any questions on here most are verbose!

Pete

[Brit-Car-Nut]

Welcome to the Forum. I have an M100 in North Carolina. It does look to be a big project but once you clean it up and verify what is wrong with it, you should have a nice project for a while. Although more complex, I think it is easier than working on the TF. There is a wealth of info available here so hone your search skills and you will be able to find just about every problem identified and lots of suggestions as to cause and solution.

The original/stock brakes are all GM based so parts and kits are readily available on Rock Auto and the drive train is Isuzu/GEO so also a fair amount of parts available.

If you have any questions, post them here or if you need to "talk" to another owner, you can email me with a phone number and we can discuss options. I have several projects at different stages of disassembly so a wealth of pictures are available.

[55chevy]

Thanks for the welcome, the forum looks like a great resource. So far I jacked the front end up and pulled the wheels, ordered new pads, I sanded on the clear coat a few nights ago, fired it up for a while to listen to it, need to put some front brakes on it and start driving it, can't wait, it was a barn find that found me. I cleaned it with a little soap and water, the water was so black. It came with the original wheels, I like them better than the 10 spoke wheels that are on it, although they might make good track wheels. Another night I found an aluminum top/hood weatherstrip bar that was bent, took a bit to straighten it out and epoxy it to the metal shim bar for reinforcement, then bolt it back to the top frame.
Last night I tested the pop up headlights, I had assembled the passenger side the night before, but it didn't pop up. There are a few rodent chewed wires behind the center console/dash that I can see and touch through the ashtray hole, but not enough room to strip the wires, looks like the PO was trying to pull the AC/heat control to gain better access, the wires look the same colors as the ones going to the headlight.

[Brit-Car-Nut]

Probably your first step should be to download the service, parts and other manuals found here: http://www.lotusm100.com/manuals

I have other, less common files on the same site - but hidden, so if you need some other documentation, ask me and if I have it I will send you a link.

The electrical manuals are on the list and they contain the color codes and other information.

[tigerdog]

A belated welcome from the Left Coast. If there's a good thing about working on M100s, it's LEC and this forum. Chances are, anything that needs to be done has already been done, photographed and documented by some other member. You'll have a good time with the car and you'll find it turns heads in a way even the MG TF probably does not. Enjoy!