1967 S3 Project - LotusTalk

Elan67 · 02-04-2009, 05:21 PM

Here is my fathers' project we have been working on for the last year and a half or so. My father has owned the car since 1973 and its been long overdue for some R&R on the suspension and body work. We replaced the cracked donut suspension for the CV joint swap, along with adjustable a-arms in the front. My dad 'glassed in the fenders decades ago to hide the massive 215s in the front and rear but I prefer the look over stock Elans (and the cornering is far better). All that is left is the interior/electrical.

It is an awesome learning experience to get to restore this car.

Randy Chase · 02-04-2009, 05:24 PM

Excellent! Looks awesome.

turbophil · 02-04-2009, 05:26 PM

EXCELLENT

jkolb · 02-04-2009, 05:42 PM

Nice work!

I have a 64 that I am turning into a 26R clone. Parts prices make parts for my Exige S seem cheap!

I have the same flares on my car and like them, but need to go to the factory flares to be allowed to race vintage.

Jerry

Roger · 02-04-2009, 08:11 PM

Looks lovely!
I'd like an Elan, sometime, when I've finished my Europa. I drove a 26R many years ago, and sundry since, but never owned one.
One day, maybe!

milehitom · 02-04-2009, 08:16 PM

Great work (and great first post!). That is one racy Elan.

Tom

Elan67 · 02-04-2009, 09:14 PM

Thanks for the comments everyone.

I was wondering what kind of seats other Elan owners were running in their cars. We installed the rollcage and the low-back seats aren't safe to use anymore.

ms355 · 02-04-2009, 11:38 PM

Very nice. Not to mention the Alfa next to it!

Mr. Know · 02-05-2009, 12:12 AM

You guys in the California Bay Area? Several of us are wondering who was driving the red Elan going southbound on Hwy 1 on Feb 1st. We had a several cars out on a drive. The Elan I saw definitely was red and had a roll cage like the one in the photos (the bars were wrapped though).
Maybe not though, since you say interior/electrical is still to go.

DeanG · 02-05-2009, 02:00 PM

Nice! I want more pictures! Engine compartment, interior, trunk...

tmr · 02-05-2009, 04:55 PM

Quote:

I was wondering what kind of seats other Elan owners were running in their cars. We installed the rollcage and the low-back seats aren't safe to use anymore.

Here's the Spyder roll bar with mounted head rests that I had on my Elan. In hindsight, they probably weren't so hot, but most aftermarket seats at the time were too wide to fit.

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Chev · 02-09-2009, 05:05 PM

My first Lotus was a Series 4 way back in the 70's. Fantastic car. I hope to get another Elan one of these days but, to date, practicalities have stood in the way.

Although I'm not a fan of the wheel arches, the level of workmanship on your car looks superb. Always nice to see an Elan restored nicely.

khamai · 02-09-2009, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Know

You guys in the California Bay Area? Several of us are wondering who was driving the red Elan going southbound on Hwy 1 on Feb 1st. We had a several cars out on a drive. The Elan I saw definitely was red and had a roll cage like the one in the photos (the bars were wrapped though).
Maybe not though, since you say interior/electrical is still to go.

Sorry, I know we're going off topic... I believe this is a guy that lives in Bolinas. Can't remember his name, but I've met him a couple of times. He is a member of the GGLC.

Cheers,
Kiyoshi

gospeedv8 · 02-10-2009, 06:22 AM

What a car! Thats the kind of car i wanna have in my collection too!!
Great Job, guys! Respect!

tvacc · 02-10-2009, 08:45 AM

Tom's Elan above....the yellow one.

He is too modest to admit it....but that was the best restoration I ever saw and I consider myself to be one of the Elan experts in this country.

That car was way better than new and I know how much Tom had into it and what it sold for. The buyer got the DEAL of a lifetime.

Tom did a hell of a job on the car. I think the best ever. I dont know how he parted with it....except it is my experience when you do a car like that...sometimes the pendulem swings the other way and you just get tired.

tvacc · 02-10-2009, 08:48 AM

BAck in the 80's there wa a guy selling a seat made entirely of tubing...roll bar tubing. He then put sand bags in and you conformed to the seat. It was neat. Have not seen it lately but it is something you could do.

Elan67 · 02-10-2009, 04:41 PM

I have heard of people fitting Elise seats to the elan (anything under 19 inches wide will do). I found a Cobra seat that was 17.5 inches wide, but was discontinued. The idea of a headrest was our first choice, but isn't the safest option for street use.

mopho · 02-10-2009, 05:40 PM

I don't think the seats will make much of a difference over just adding headrests, the Elan is not safe to begin with

mopho · 02-10-2009, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gospeedv8

What a car! Thats the kind of car i wanna have in my collection too!!
Great Job, guys! Respect!

Here's your chance, mine is for sale

FS 1967 Lotus Elan S3

tmr · 02-10-2009, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Tom did a hell of a job on the car. I think the best ever. I dont know how he parted with it....except it is my experience when you do a car like that...sometimes the pendulem swings the other way and you just get tired.

Tony, thanks for the kind words, as the ten year restoration was truly a labor of love by an engineer with a bad case of obsessive-compulsive disorder. I drove it for six years, saw little flaws that would continue to degrade over time, and figured it would drive me crazy.

As you also know, I was concerned about the safety of the Elan. I think the turning point was when I was staring at the wheels on a soccer mom's Tahoe that was idling next to me at a stoplight. She was yapping on her cell phone while her three kids were bouncing around the inside of the car. I thought about the Elan's lack of side impact protection at that very moment. Although most here consider the Elise a bit lacking compared to much larger vehicles in that regard, it's light years ahead of the Elan.

In the end, the car did kind of wear me out. I really couldn't afford to keep it and buy an Elise, as I had the fever and wanted one very badly. I sold it four years ago for top dollar for Elans at the time , so it was what the market would bear.

Regrets? Not really. It's just a car, as is the Elise I have now. Some day I'll sell it with no regrets, either.

02-04-2009, 05:21 PM	#1 (permalink)
Elan67 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Long Beach Posts: 6	1967 S3 Project Here is my fathers' project we have been working on for the last year and a half or so. My father has owned the car since 1973 and its been long overdue for some R&R on the suspension and body work. We replaced the cracked donut suspension for the CV joint swap, along with adjustable a-arms in the front. My dad 'glassed in the fenders decades ago to hide the massive 215s in the front and rear but I prefer the look over stock Elans (and the cornering is far better). All that is left is the interior/electrical. It is an awesome learning experience to get to restore this car.

02-04-2009, 05:24 PM	#2 (permalink)
Randy Chase Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: San Diego and where ever the roads lead Posts: 28,172 Images: 761	Excellent! Looks awesome. __________________ [b]* V E R I T A S * A E Q U I T A S [/b] We have been feeling the buzz since 2002 2006 Noble M400. Getrag tranny, Quaiffe LSD, Hinged clams. Duratec dual turbo V6. Hoosier 315-18 tires. 2350 pounds. Over 500hp. Track weapon. 2009 Rossion Q1. [color=orange]Monaco Orange. [/color]Wing. Black leather/Alcantara with orange stitching. The street car. In build: 2009 Toniq R (300whp? 1100 pounds?). [color=orange]Chrome Orange. [/color] Lexus GX-470 tow vehicle. [color=blue]“Busy at times off the forum and scary* actually off the Internets. So I may not see your pm or emails for a while"[/color]

02-04-2009, 05:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
turbophil Plug Whisperer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Kansas City/ Overland Park Posts: 2,544 Images: 6	EXCELLENT __________________ \| '05 GG LSS Elise \| A Track Chariot \| BOE ClamHinge \| BOE TVS SuperCharger 280whp/180wtq \| EFI Standalone Engine Management \| BOE Fuel Surge System \| BOE Lotus Tow Package See my car at BOE Fabrication: www.boefabrication.com *----->Last Updated: 9/25/2009* If something ain't worth doing right, it ain't worth doing... *Whoever thought working on a Lotus is hard, clearly hasn't tried it. Pick up a wrench and get some grease under your nails*

02-04-2009, 05:42 PM	#4 (permalink)
jkolb Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bend, OR/Austin, TX Posts: 374	Nice work! I have a 64 that I am turning into a 26R clone. Parts prices make parts for my Exige S seem cheap! I have the same flares on my car and like them, but need to go to the factory flares to be allowed to race vintage. Jerry __________________ 2007 Laser Blue Exige S 1965 Elan (26r clone) vintage race car 2005 Audi S4

02-04-2009, 11:38 PM	#8 (permalink)
ms355 Alfa User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Germany Posts: 2,143	Very nice. Not to mention the Alfa next to it! __________________ Michael Elisetalk Trip to UK 2007

02-04-2009, 08:11 PM	#5 (permalink)
Roger Ancient Briton Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Richmond, TX Posts: 486	Looks lovely! I'd like an Elan, sometime, when I've finished my Europa. I drove a 26R many years ago, and sundry since, but never owned one. One day, maybe!

02-04-2009, 08:16 PM	#6 (permalink)
milehitom Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 3,142	Great work (and great first post!). That is one racy Elan. Tom

02-04-2009, 09:14 PM	#7 (permalink)
Elan67 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Long Beach Posts: 6	Thanks for the comments everyone. I was wondering what kind of seats other Elan owners were running in their cars. We installed the rollcage and the low-back seats aren't safe to use anymore.

02-05-2009, 12:12 AM	#9 (permalink)
Mr. Know British by extrapolation Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Marin, California Posts: 3,335 Images: 6	You guys in the California Bay Area? Several of us are wondering who was driving the red Elan going southbound on Hwy 1 on Feb 1st. We had a several cars out on a drive. The Elan I saw definitely was red and had a roll cage like the one in the photos (the bars were wrapped though). Maybe not though, since you say interior/electrical is still to go. __________________ 07 Magnetic Blue Exige S Join the Blue Lotus Team on Facebook.

02-05-2009, 02:00 PM	#10 (permalink)
DeanG Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 708	Nice! I want more pictures! Engine compartment, interior, trunk...

02-09-2009, 05:05 PM	#12 (permalink)
Chev Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Mooresville NC Posts: 5	My first Lotus was a Series 4 way back in the 70's. Fantastic car. I hope to get another Elan one of these days but, to date, practicalities have stood in the way. Although I'm not a fan of the wheel arches, the level of workmanship on your car looks superb. Always nice to see an Elan restored nicely.

02-10-2009, 06:22 AM	#14 (permalink)
gospeedv8 Just add lightness ... Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Hohenems Posts: 156	What a car! Thats the kind of car i wanna have in my collection too!! Great Job, guys! Respect! __________________ `69 Lotus Type 61FF, `77 Lotus Elite 504, `92 Lotus Esprit SE, `93 Lotus Esprit SE, `93 Lotus Type 110, `96 Lotus Esprit V8, `97 Lotus Elise, `98 Lotus Elise, ...

02-10-2009, 08:45 AM	#15 (permalink)
tvacc Head LOONY Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 2,210	Tom's Elan above....the yellow one. He is too modest to admit it....but that was the best restoration I ever saw and I consider myself to be one of the Elan experts in this country. That car was way better than new and I know how much Tom had into it and what it sold for. The buyer got the DEAL of a lifetime. Tom did a hell of a job on the car. I think the best ever. I dont know how he parted with it....except it is my experience when you do a car like that...sometimes the pendulem swings the other way and you just get tired. __________________ Tony Vaccaro 2005 Ardent Red, Katana Supercharger, Touring, Hardtop, Driving Lights, HIDs, Rear Window Shield, Red Mounts, Laser Shifters, V1, LETSLA Shifter, www.lotusowners.com LOONY (Lotus Owners of New York) and the Church of the HolyLotus Supplier of Polycarbonate Shield for Rear Window IN STOCK , Drive Fast Take Chances

02-10-2009, 08:48 AM	#16 (permalink)
tvacc Head LOONY Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 2,210	BAck in the 80's there wa a guy selling a seat made entirely of tubing...roll bar tubing. He then put sand bags in and you conformed to the seat. It was neat. Have not seen it lately but it is something you could do. __________________ Tony Vaccaro 2005 Ardent Red, Katana Supercharger, Touring, Hardtop, Driving Lights, HIDs, Rear Window Shield, Red Mounts, Laser Shifters, V1, LETSLA Shifter, www.lotusowners.com LOONY (Lotus Owners of New York) and the Church of the HolyLotus Supplier of Polycarbonate Shield for Rear Window IN STOCK , Drive Fast Take Chances

02-10-2009, 04:41 PM	#17 (permalink)
Elan67 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Long Beach Posts: 6	I have heard of people fitting Elise seats to the elan (anything under 19 inches wide will do). I found a Cobra seat that was 17.5 inches wide, but was discontinued. The idea of a headrest was our first choice, but isn't the safest option for street use.

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02-10-2009, 05:40 PM	#18 (permalink)
mopho goofn' with the bees Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: out of a suitcase- my stuff lives in LA Posts: 5,304	I don't think the seats will make much of a difference over just adding headrests, the Elan is not safe to begin with __________________ ________________ 2004 Caterham 7 Superlight R - 67 Lotus Elan www.morgansegal.com www.socalsportscar.com