ALL ELANS ON GUMTREE / CAR & CLASSIC

[exeterjeep]

Here's an interesting one about to be put to auction for anyone on the lookout:

https://www.carandclassic.com/auctions/ ... rbo-4mMjP4

Listing does not have a service history/owners manual,
and one of the pics shows a bill for an exhaust for H397 MFX that is mentioned elsewhere on this forum as a green Elan.

UPDATE : asked auction house about the manual etc, seller responded that they did not know where the owners manual/history was, but was looking for it.

[Rambo]

I've seen those very red seats before (are they ex Honda?) Castle Combe 2 years ago I think? Or was it in John Benk's red creation? Geoff?

[KenCarson]

H397 MFX is green according to the MOT check and the MOT expired in 2016. Curious but it does look like a nice example, 3000 miles in the last 9 years.

[dapinky]

I've seen those very red seats before (are they ex Honda?) Castle Combe 2 years ago I think? Or was it in John Benk's red creation? Geoff?

I had very similar in my old red one..... I don't know who bought the seats from Surfer Phil when he parted out the car.......

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[EricD]

Well, two people certainly wanted it and fought it out to the death.

https://www.carandclassic.com/auctions/ ... %3D.X5QLxS

[Rambo]

Hmmm.... as a very regular auction go-er (both at auction house and on line) those bids make me a bit sceptical

Anyway, good luck to the buyer. I hope he/she turns up on LEC

[exeterjeep]

Hmmm.... as a very regular auction go-er (both at auction house and on line) those bids make me a bit sceptical

Anyway, good luck to the buyer. I hope he/she turns up on LEC

And there was no update about the seller finding the handbook/service history. So that might have an impact on bids.

[chris]

Been away from the LEC forum for a while but looking to get back into Lotus ownership very soon. I just wanted to share my thoughts on the auction site I think you're talking about; I did a cursory check on the reviews and while most are good there are still some horror stories mainly from disgruntled buyers who claim the vehicle is not as described but more worryingly some who have been defrauded out of their vehicle without payment. As a buyer that is not a website I would be purchasing a vehicle from: https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/www.ca ... uk?stars=1

I'd also recommend you read their terms and conditions as those make pretty horrendous reading too !

[Rambo]

Been away from the LEC forum for a while but looking to get back into Lotus ownership very soon. I just wanted to share my thoughts on the auction site I think you're talking about; I did a cursory check on the reviews and while most are good there are still some horror stories mainly from disgruntled buyers who claim the vehicle is not as described but more worryingly some who have been defrauded out of their vehicle without payment. As a buyer that is not a website I would be purchasing a vehicle from: https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/www.ca ... uk?stars=1

I'd also recommend you read their terms and conditions as those make pretty horrendous reading too !

As mentioned in an earlier post, the bidding pattern looked a bit odd. Reminiscent of a lot of "shill bidding" patterns I see fairly regularly on that other dodgy bidding platform

Incidentally, you just missed a cracking Medina Green S2. If you need any help with your M100 purchase I may know of someone on LEC with one, or two, for sale

[RobertS]

Been looking for a yellow one since joining the site in January - https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1435068 - suspiciously low price - any knowledge,anyone?

[Rambo]

Good price for a project car. If you're mechanically minded you're half way there. High mileage but all work has been carried out by GST, well known in Lotus circles. That looks to be the cheapest, well maintained entry level M100 anywhere

[muley]

Can't go wrong at that price. It's worth more in parts!

There's nothing that can',t be done on an M100 Elan.

Just do it

[Jamie N]

Totally agree, thats a cheap car. If I was looking for another I would buy that unseen, pay for it and get it trailered up the road. Right time of year, right colour, as good as you will find for sweetie money, buy it quick!.

[dapinky]

I'm in agreement with the above...... with a couple of thoughts to add.

First, Jamie wouldn't necessarily be trailering it up the road, because I'd (hopefully) already be driving it home

Okay, being serious, we can't check the MOT history as the index plate isn't clearly visible.... it's H567---, but Google only gives me a silver and a pac blue with that combination, so it isn't one which has appeared for sale for a fair while.... which backs up the description of long-term ownership.

I have no worries on the general 'usability' of the car, or the high mileage - if it was a daily driver, it has been maintained, so the 'wear and tear' is likely to be down to what you can see.

The drivers seat needs work (as stated), but if the actual leather is okay, you can DIY it. The bodywork looks good in the pics, but will need some work according to advertiser...... rear window may well be repairable, or certainly replaceable without doing the whole roof....... I wouldn't worry about it as I don't drive with it up, and it lives in a garage, so for the really odd time I need it, gaffer tape will keep it together.

My only real concern is for the front wishbones (and anything similar on rear wishbones). A car that has been used as a daily driver will have seen all kinds of weather, sot he wishbones may well be good, or they may be completely shot (or somewhere in between). If it needs upper wishbones, they are easy to get - lower control arms not so much! At the back, the SE wishbones will be mild steel, and will probably be past there best after 30 odd years. Easily replaceable, but not cheap to get.

Without access to MOT history I can't see if the wishbones were an advisory or not.

At £4k it could be a perfect 'rolling restoration' to get you on the road with a big smile for this Summer, then set about some more serious work next Winter (if needed, which it may not).

If you 'need' wishbones, they will cost you IRO £500 a corner for the 'lowers', and £200 for the uppers. Add in new bushes, balljoints etc etc as found. Many 'needed' items can be salvaged by a good fabricator/welder - but I have also seen some held together with 'hope & chewing gum' which should have been in the bin years ago.

Basically, if I wanted a new project, I'd have it (unseen). If I wanted an 'entry level' usable car I'd be asking the questions of the owner to see exactly what I'm looking at. But if I specifically wanted a Yellow one, I'd be in my car going for a look.

[Rambo]

Can't go wrong at that price. It's worth more in parts!

There's nothing that can',t be done on an M100 Elan.

Just do it

I don't think you've had a Naefuck Custard in your collection yet Jim? Box to tick

[Jamie N]

Pretty sure someone here will know this one.... Red 1990 H with 166k at Mathewsons with an estimate of 13 - 15k. Check the seals!
https://www.mathewsons.co.uk/auction/lo ... 6&pn=6&g=1

[dapinky]

It says it has new hood rubbers - but they don't look very well adjusted.....

..... not sure what's going on with the wheel centres either.

[Giniw]

Wow Oo

[Rambo]

Seems way overpriced for the mileage and condition. That looks more like a sub £10k car to me. And you've got the auction fees/VAT on top.

Listen to the engine running. Surely the owner didn't drive it there like that? Multiple vacuum/air leaks.....

Wheels (15" Ruote Oz) seem to be fitted with BBS wheel centres?

Boot carpet missing.

Non standard seat covers, gaitor etc...

Intermed. seals look like bits of plumbers foam pipe Jamie will love them.

[Saltire]

with Mark. I suspect the present owner has reserved it at £10K or so, on the basis that he or she has seen good condition S2s at that sort of asking price. Actually, it reminded me a bit of the John Benk car of fond(?) memory My guess is that bidding will stall at around £6K, but we’ll see next weekend. Either that or we’d all better revise our agreed valuations