My (Uncle's) Lotus Elan Restoration Project

[theothersawyer]

So a couple of months ago my uncle informed me that I get his Lotus Elan in his will as well as all of his tools and tool boxes. He has had this car for many many years, and hasn't done much too it luckily that has all started to change!

Now all of these updates as of right now will be from the updates he has made from his facebook page, and I actually don't know too much about that car as of right now but that will change!

24 years ago it arrived at the house in the middle of winter the same way. 13 years ago, during a Christmas party, the brothers helped place the body on the cart you see here. Slowly, as time and laziness permitted, the engine, transmission, differential and brakes were rebuilt, and placed on a new, powder-coated Lotus replacement chassis. On August 29 the was placed on a tow truck and taken to 8 Mile Collision and Fiberglass to have some issues repaired, a high-build surfacer added, lots of blocking and sanding done, and a new topcoat sprayed on. And it won't be the current Porsche Guards Red!






Right now the color coats are being applied to the Elan at 8 Mile Collision & 8 Mile Collision and Fiberglass by the incomparable Tony Nerone.

Still at the body shop as the nose won't line up and drop into place, A bit of ill-advised gentle persuasion cracked the left-hand inner wheelwell, which may need to be cut out and modified if things don't improve. But it would allow replacing the hideous, large bobbins used to attach body to car with flush tapped steel plates...

And next, the body (which is fully painted, clear coated, and has sparkly silver bumpers) fits on top

First the chassis with the next project (!) in the background.

Second, the rear suspension, aluminum differential housing (painted, of course) and brakes.

Third, the Lotus Twin Cam shorn of ancillaries that will get in the way when dropping the body in place.

Oh and make a stop over to his car blog at www.thevirtualdriver.com

[Andy]

This looks awesome. The Elan is one of my dream cars.

[theothersawyer]

Apparently it is just gorgeous now! Last time I saw it it was red! Hopefully I can see it again in August when I head up to Michigan next.

[—atank—]

Very Nice Lotus!!!

[— Agent☣Orange —]

That's a great project! Personally, I'd have gone with red and white but the blue is great too.

[The Driver]

That Elan is all kinds of sweet!

[— Agent☣Orange —]

That frame is just plain cool.

[Andy]

That rear suspension travel makes me jealous.

[WASABI]

Beautiful car, and nice to see a total body restoration, so you know it's done right. I always find in interesting to see the drive train, and frame separated. Very cool!

[— kung fu jesus —]

Right now the color coats are being applied to the Elan at 8 Mile Collision & 8 Mile Collision and Fiberglass by the incomparable Tony Nerone.

Awesome.

[theothersawyer]

Thanks guys! Here is another update!

Look who came home yesterday... My hat is off to the incomparable Tony Nerone and the folks at 8 Mile Collision and Fiberglass. I knew it would be beautiful, but the final result is beyond my most fevered imagination. I wish the photos were better, but it's a bit tough to move when there's no steering wheel attached!
Untitled by theotherSawyer, on Flickr

Untitled by theotherSawyer, on Flickr

Untitled by theotherSawyer, on Flickr

[riefdaddy]

I love the Elan, one of my favorite cars of all time. The blue is nice, but I'd have to go BRG and yellow. Heck, I'd take one painted pink with unicorns and rainbows.

[theothersawyer]

My uncle wrote an article about the car on his car blog. Check it out!

http://www.thevirtualdriver.com/driv...ting-over.html

[—atank—]

[theothersawyer]

Update!

Got a few things done on the car this week. I put in the vacuum pods for the headlights:


And I put in the main pulley bolt that I was missing...


And then there are the turn signals and running lights...


And the heater was fully buttoned up...


Of course, the fuel tank went in earlier, as you can see by the dust build up that comes with living on a dirt road:


And the "U" and "O" are secured, but the "T" in the middle and the "L" and "S" can't be reached easily from below, so I will have to figured out how to tie them down without gluing...