ALL CARS ON EBAY.

[dapinky]

Looking at the advert, and in conjunction with the above comprehensive run-through of the actual car, it looks like a serious contender for someone......

.... although there are cheaper cars out there, there are also more expensive ones, and being on a dealers' forecourt you would expect a bit of a price premium, for the peace of mind and ease of purchase from such a place.

If you could get it for £10K you'd have a well-sorted car which hasn't had a single MOT advisory in the last 10 years, and nowt to worry about in the 10 before that!

It has a new soft-top, re-trimmed seats, new stainless exhaust and a decent service history.......

........ if I were looking to buy a car that I could have confidence in and just wanted to turn a key and drive it - this one would be top of my list!

[Jamie N]

Totally agree with Dave, It's a nice looking car and appears to have been a cherished example. The advert ideally should have had pictures with the hood up though. I would certainly be considering
this if I was in the market for one, always liked them in red.

[MPx]

Probably only E-bay's auto "help" rather than deliberate misrepresentation, but unusually specified with only 123 bhp from a 160bhp SE and uniquely(?) ABS, or was that an option in some markets? Overall though...looks good.

[TrevorK]

Does anyone know this car? It looks very nice but has been sat (in heated storage) for a couple of years. I've never heard of the Martin Sanchez collection, though.

I asked the seller a couple of questions and his response was along the lines of the other 37 watchers asked the same questions and you are best to come and have a look and it's at a trade price so, if it doesn't sell, he may up the price to a more "retail" level.

[Dave Eds]

Does anyone know this car? It looks very nice but has been sat (in heated storage) for a couple of years. I've never heard of the Martin Sanchez collection, though.

I asked the seller a couple of questions and his response was along the lines of the other 37 watchers asked the same questions and you are best to come and have a look and it's at a trade price so, if it doesn't sell, he may up the price to a more "retail" level.

viewtopic.php?f=21&t=11561&sid=6cdf02c1fe270dc5eeb0b14d925b6850#p370366

[dapinky]

I've never heard of the Martin Sanchez collection, though.

Nope, nor have I ( but that doesn't mean much!)

I asked the seller a couple of questions and his response was along the lines of the other 37 watchers asked the same questions and you are best to come and have a look and it's at a trade price so, if it doesn't sell, he may up the price to a more "retail" level.

The advert description is poor, and his response to you is very poor! From those 2 things I am presuming that he either doesn't know what he's got, or it isn't as good as it (hopefully) appears.
Maybe he picked it up cheap (or as a reluctant PX?) and just wants shot of it..... and hopes that the price alone will get it gone quickly at minimum effort.

He claims to be selling at a "trade" price, but no mention of that is made anywhere in the advert - so he still has the responsibilities of a "trader" under the Consumer Protection laws (and you have the protections of a "consumer").

Personally, I wouldn't want to do business with a dealer who can't even be bothered to answer direct questions, but only you can decide if that is the way you feel.

If it was a very local car, it would be worth going for a shuffty, but not without some information to encourage the journey.......

...... any way, for what help it may or may not be, I can tell you the following from the pictures (and make a generalize summary!).....

1) It has a dump valve fitted (blow off valve)
2) Vacuum hoses in the engine bay have been replaced with silicone pipes
3) I really hope that the same blue pipe on the Turbo oil feed is just a cosmetic cover to the metal oil feed hose, otherwise it is a disaster waiting to happen!
4) The coolant header tank is a replacement one, with associated 'radiator' cap
5) There is an Oxygen sensor fitted, so I assume that it is running 'closed loop', with the low emissions associated with that conversion.... it *may* have a "Mountain Chip" fitted as well, but impossible to tell from the pictures.
6) One wheel centre is missing (not a huge problem!)
7) Hi-spec brakes have been fitted (to the front, at least!) along with drilled disks.
8.) Inside, it looks tidy, but with non-original steering wheel, gear knob, foot pedals and - probably most importantly - bucket seats..... not sure what to make off the Hazzard & Fog light switches.......
9) Odometer 'reset' button missing
10) Side repeater indicator lenses replaced with clear ones (and a big 'Lotus' badge/sticker applied beneath them - which may or may not be to your taste)
11) There is something amiss with the aerial, but I can't tell if it's been bent/broken or is a replacement non-original unit.

That said, the whole car looks very presentable, with what appears to be a nice hood on top of good paint.

Okay, my final "guessed summary" is that the car has been "used", but improved over it's life - the dump valve hints at someone who likes to push on a bit (or just likes the sound!)... they also like to stop, so have upgraded the brakes. The seats and rest of the interior wouldn't do it for me, but each to their own (I'm too fat to be comfy in those Corbeau seats!!!!). The mileage wouldn't worry me at all (mine is higher) if there is enough history to support it.

That said, the MOT history tells us that it has had little use over the past few (10!) years, and has had issues associated with standing still (brake & emission issues) which may or may not now be properly sorted.

I would suggest that it has been owned by an enthusiast at some point in its past, has now arrived with a trader who is doing the minimum possible to move it along......

.... that wouldn't worry me, but it would put off a lot of people.

Caveat Emptor

[Rambo]

I've never heard of the Martin Sanchez collection, though.

Nope, nor have I ( but that doesn't mean much!)

Me neither, but a quick search revealed ......

About MS Supercars
https://www.mssupercars.co.uk/about-ms-supercars/

[MPx]

So as suggested above most likely an unwanted part-ex against a porker moved on through the trade to Mr NoSalesPersonality ... probably not part of the "collection" as such

[dapinky]

Well done, Mark.

I spent a few seconds with a Google search and found some photographer bloke in California, and some one else who had died..... then I gave up!

[Rambo]

Well done, Mark.

I spent a few seconds with a Google search and found some photographer bloke in California, and some one else who had died..... then I gave up!

My 1st trawl found a Martin Sanchez who played goalie for NIU Huskies

PS some nice looking cars on the MS website

[TrevorK]

Thanks for the review, Dave. Something to think about.

Well done on the search, Mark. Like the others, I only found unrelated people such as an artist and a doctor.

It's 2 hours' drive away from me so may be worth a look. If I do, I'll let you know what I find.

Thanks.

[Newkstar1984]

I bought the red S1 off James at South West 2 years ago, he had owned it for circa 10 years and maintained it for a while prior to that. James had done a lot of work to it including suspension and brakes refresh and new aluminium rad along with twin fans plus a host of other stuff. James and the team are a good bunch and they know they're cars so worth checking any cars they may have for sale, I would recommend them. I've done some bits to the car since picking it up from South West, which has included doing the door window internals, I've also put a new hood on the car along with some roof/door EPDM seals from our "Seal God" master himself Jamie who has given me some great advice since I've had the Elan, which I'm really grateful for.

[exeterjeep]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/324494321434?
the reasonj it is being sold as private as he doesnt have to say its a cat c or milage is incorrect ..its called BUYER BEWARE

Vehicle check report summary

Recorded as Category C

Not recorded as stolen
Not recorded as scrapped
No outstanding finance
No third party interest
No mileage discrepancy
Not imported
Not exported
No recorded colour changes

Other Information
No outstanding stocking finance
No recorded plate changes
MOT Expiry date
16/04/2021
This vehicle is recorded as Category C
You can advertise Cat C vehicles on Auto Trader. We recommend you include as much information as you can about the damage. Buyers will have more confidence if you can document what happened to the vehicle and how it was repaired.
Date recorded as Category C
03-09-1999
MOT Information
Most recent test
Status
PASSED
MOT expiry date
16-04-2021
Mileage recording
53,372
V5C logbook data
V5C issue date
09-10-2012
Most recent recording
Date of most recent record
09-10-2012
Registered vehicle details
Check the details below match the V5C logbook, vehicle appearance and vehicle information.
Make
LOTUS
Model
ELAN SE TURBO
VRM
J919OEW
VIN
SCC100ZT1MHD17875
Engine number
0061452
Colour
-
Date first registered
16-08-1991
Year of manufacture
1991
Number of previous owners
12
Current V5C issue date
09-10-2012
CO2 emissions
-
Mileage data
Most recent recording
Source
DVLA
***********************Mileage recorded
95,000
Date recorded
19-06-2003 ***********************

This has appeared again today on ebay..

And now deleted as error in the listing....- was
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LOTUS-ELAN-S ... 7675.l2557

[andysS2cars]

Been looking at the 1991 se turbo, "stuning unusual colour" on ebay, been there a while, (baby blue colour) appeals to me though. quite trumpy at £14995, any comments- Dapinky is very eagle eyed, so expecting a slating from him! lol

[exeterjeep]

Been looking at the 1991 se turbo, "stuning unusual colour" on ebay, been there a while, (baby blue colour) appeals to me though. quite trumpy at £14995, any comments- Dapinky is very eagle eyed, so expecting a slating from him! lol

Is this Steve Cropley's car as seen in an article.
https://www.classicandsportscar.com/blo ... -elan-m100 a few pages down.
and on tlf
https://www.thelotusforums.com/forums/t ... ent-952170

[Rambo]

I think it could be. Wheels

[dapinky]

Hi Andy ,

No slating from me.....

Personally, I'm no fan of Aqua Blue, and AFAIK it wasn't offered as a factory colour on the SE/NA cars, so was either a special order, or a later respray.

Again, the seats wouldn't have been a 'standard' colour combo, so are either a special order or later work.

The wheels don't do anything for me at all.....

.... I'm sure it appealed to someone (whoever decided to do the work and/or spec the car), but in the same ball-park there is a Palacio S2 with similar mileage and cost..... I know which one I'd prefer, but there again, I'm not buying either!

[andysS2cars]

Thanks, yes the purple one does look good, and the later s2 so win win. Who is Steve Cropley?? (sorry for my ignorance)

[Fredjohn]

Thanks, yes the purple one does look good, and the later s2 so win win. Who is Steve Cropley?? (sorry for my ignorance)

A well known (or maybe not) motoring journalist

[andysS2cars]

OH, him!