Lotus-Élan-Resource-Hub.

Owning a classic lotus elan is, as some would say, both a joy and perhaps a mild frustration.
But OMG, what a drivers car it is.

The frustration could stem from experiencing some kind of mechanical or electrical problem and not knowing how to fix it.

The elan is a pure classic 1960s sports car, but some would say they are complex and difficult to repair if you don’t posses specific elan knowledge, and certain technical skills, and it’s a huge bonus if you have a good selection of tools and workshop equipment, know your way around the workshop plus the required automotive skills.

But not everyone has the ability, time, or desire to personally maintain their elan, so that’s where may need to trust a professional workshop the job of caring for your elan, but that can also prove to be very costly.

It is possible for the enthusiast who is endowed with the proper mechanical skills and tools to be able to fully maintain the elan in excellent condition.

I think it is in every elan owners interest to learn about and acquire a very wide range of mechanical and fabrication skills.

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When it comes to rebuilding the engine, gearbox, diff, or suspension, not to mention fabrication repairs to the chassis and composite body repairs, not that you’ll need to frequently attend to many of those things, but when the time comes for the inevitable total rebuild/restoration, the multi skilled elan owner will be way ahead of the pack.

The more maintenance that you can carry out yourself in a professional DIY manner, the less you will need to spend on your elan over several years of ownership.

Comprehensive mechanical repairs require a fat wallet when employing the lotus guru to service, repair, and rebuild. There are few jobs that can be carried out quickly when working on the Lotus elan, because there is a given process, a certain procedure and order to follow, and there are few short cuts to be had.

The cars (Early examples) are now sixty years old, they are known to be fragile in certain areas, and some parts are becoming hard to find.

There are generally two types of elan owners, those that can be called “tragic purists”, where everything must stay as it was when the car first rolled out of the factory door. Then there are others who are sympathetic to the purist form, but who are also willing to mod and improve their cars with sensible, improved updates.

There is no prejudice intended here for whichever way you prefer to lean.

The number of lotus elan cars that could be identified today as absolutely stock standard would probably be a very low number, does that really matter? Not at all. But fortunately, the lotus elan does respond well to certain modifications.

A well tuned, modded and well set up elan can truly hold it’s own, even today when driven along twisty winding mountain roads which it was designed for, but not so much on the free-ways, motorways or autobahns, unless a 3.5 diff is installed, or a 5 speed gearbox with a tall final drive ratio, and the 5sp conversion is one that is gaining in popularity with many elan owners.

Where the elan truly shines, and it is an absolute joy to drive, is on twisty, winding alpine roads, or sweeping roads found in the open undulating country, the elan is still a very rapid “point to point” sports car, and a tongue in cheek quote from Graham Arnold, ex Lotus cars marketing; “The elan can average 69MPH without exceeding 70MPH” is not far from the truth, you don’t have to (Often) break the speed limit, much to the frustration of drivers with more powerful and larger cars, and as an elan owner I can testify to Mr Arnold’s quote.

The elan is quite simply, one of  The Best Drivers Sports Cars Ever Built…. Thank You, To The Late Mr Colin Chapman.

This blog has been put together to help other elan owners to upgrade, enhance and maintain their pride and joy. Feel free to read the articles.

There are many types of lotus elan cars in the world, some are left stock standard, some are slightly modded, some are given transplants with more modern powerful engines.

Modified S2 Elan- Australian Alps.

Wide wheels, nice flares, roll-over bar hoops, gives the S2 elan lots of poise, and, well, there’s no shame with a bit of 26R street cred.
It’s a head turner where ever it is parked, and many a stranger has approached the driver at fuel servos, with a big grin… and the quote… “I used to have a lotus elan, and wished I still owned it… fantastic drivers cars.” Yeah, thanks mate, I know what you mean.