The Original Lotus Elan

By Trade Trade

This book contains a variety of information, both of a practical nature and otherwise, including the identification of alternative equivalent parts sources, which is applicable to all Lotus Elan 1500/1600 models as well as S2, S3, S4 and Sprint derivatives, produced between the years 1962 and 1973.

• Language: English
• Publisher: M-Y Books
• Release date: Aug 14, 2014
• ISBN: 9781783180059

Book preview

THE ORIGINAL LOTUS ELAN

THE ORIGINAL

LOTUS ELAN

Essential Data and Guidance for Owners, Restorers and Competitors

PAUL ROBINSHAW & CHRISTOPHER ROSS

BROOKLANDS BOOKS LTD.

PO BOX 146,

Cobham,

Surrey,

KT11 1LG, UK

www.brooklands-books.com

First published in 1989 by Motor Racing Publications Ltd.

Notes for revised edition P J Robinshaw January 2013

Copyright ©1989 Paul Robinshaw, Christopher Ross and in 2013 by Brooklands Books Ltd.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of Paul Robinshaw, Christopher Ross and Brooklands Books Ltd.

ISBN: 978178318 0004

(Original ISBN: 0947981322)

BB Code: LTOE - 01/T13/2201

Cover illustrations

Front cover: Christopher Ross’ 1973 Elan Sprint DHC.

Rear cover, upper picture: Ross leading out of Druids in the well-known ex-Schryver/Ashby/Ross and subsequently Ball championship-winning Elan. He was taking part in a round of the HSCC Post Historic Road Sports Championship during the Aston Martin OC meeting at Brands Hatch in May 1985.

Lower picture: Nick Blunsden leading an HSCC race at Snetterton in 1988 with his VAS Computers-entered S4, a car with which he won his class in the inaugural Classic and Sportscar Novice’s Championship the previous season.

Paul Robinshaw’s 1971 Series 4 Drop Head Coupe in action and at rest. Above: The author taking part in one of the Lotus Driver’s Club practice days at Mallory Park, which he initiated when he was Competition Secretary of the Club. Left: Hood down, sun shining – the Elan at its most enjoyable.

Contents

CHAPTER 1

Elan Identification Guide

Model, Type and Chassis Numbers, Weights and Production Figures

CHAPTER 2

Value for Money

Prices, Options and Performance

CHAPTER 3

Elan Design Analysis–1

Chassis, Suspension and Steering

CHAPTER 4

Elan Design Analysis–2

Engine and Ancillaries

CHAPTER 5

Elan Design Analysis–3

Transmission

CHAPTER 6

Elan Design Analysis–4

Brakes, Hubs, Wheels and Tyres

CHAPTER 7

Elan Design Analysis–5

Body and Interior

CHAPTER 8

Homologation Notes

CHAPTER 9

Replacement Parts and Sources

Listing of Equivalent Parts and Alternative Suppliers

APPENDIX A

Production Milestones

Key Introduction/Modification Points Identified by Unit Number

APPENDIX B

Clubs for Elan Enthusiasts

The Lotus Driver’s Club

APPENDIX C

Keeping the Elan on the Road

Specialist Garages and Services

APPENDIX D

The Elan in Print–1

Other Books of Relevance and Interest

APPENDIX E

The Elan in Print–2

Magazine Road-Test Reports

APPENDIX F

Amendments & Additions

APPENDIX G

The Two-Seater Elan

Some further notes - Ron Hickman O.B.E.

About the Authors

Paul Robinshaw has been a Lotus enthusiast and keen Elan owner for many years, starting his love/hate relationship with a yellow 1964 Elan 1600 in early 1972. His current car, a 1971 Series 4 Drop Head Coupe, also yellow, was purchased in 1975.

During the past 16 years, he has covered well over 120,000 miles of Elan motoring and has nearly always derived pleasure from undertaking the necessary maintenance. For five years until October 1986 he was a committee member of the Lotus Driver’s Club, initially being responsible for the club’s social and sporting activities and latterly acting as its Competition Secretary.

Chris Ross has owned and run a variety of Lotus models over the years from an early +2 and a ‘third generation’ Elite to his present stable of three Elans: a pistachio-coloured wide-bodied 1971 Sprint DHC, which recently underwent an extensive body and mechanical rebuild on a Spyder replacement chassis; an immaculate original-specification yellow 1973 Sprint DHC; and a recently acquired red 1966 Series 3 FHC, which was stripped to the bone prior to its complete rebuild for racing. He has recently parted company with the ex-Schryver championship-winning Elan S3, which he developed and campaigned for three seasons in the Historic Sports Car Club’s Post Historic Class with Richard Ball, to whom the car has now passed.

A youthful Paul Robinshaw in 1972 with his first Elan – a well used yellow 1600 dating from 1964.

Although the history of the Elan has been well documented elsewhere, the authors believe there is a need for additional published material on the marque of a more practical, factual and specific nature; this book is their contribution.

Chris Ross leading Simon Ford’s Europa out of Woodcote during the HSCC Post Historic Road Sports Championship race at the April 1986 Jaguar Driver’s Club meeting at Silverstone. This is the well-known ex-Schryver/Ashby/Ross championship-winning Elan, seen here complete with period Minilite magnesium 5in knock-on wheels.

Introduction

This book contains a variety of information, both of a practical nature and otherwise, including the identification of alternative/equivalent parts sources, which is applicable to all Lotus Elan 1500/1600 models (usually referred to as either Series 1 or S1), as well as S2, S3, S4 and Sprint derivatives, produced between the years 1962 and 1973.

In some instances, the information provided is also applicable to other Lotus models, notably cars of the Elan +2 range, many components of which are common to those of the two-seater Elan. However, it has not been the intention that this book should provide parts information specific to the +2 Elan, or to the Type 26R racing version of the two-seater car, although certain parts used in the latter model are mentioned in passing.

The information which has been provided is as comprehensive as several years of dedicated research has allowed, but like any book, it cannot truthfully be claimed to be definitive. Nor is it intended to supersede the excellent Official Lotus Workshop Manual and Service Parts List, both of which are still available and should remain at the top of an Elan owner’s list of reference sources. This book has been compiled as a complement to those publications, and to other Elan books which are referred to in Appendix D of this volume, in the hope that it will enhance the enthusiast’s understanding of the subject and assist in the tasks of renovation, restoration and preparation. It also seeks to rectify certain errors of fact which have crept into other books concerned with the Elan.

A West German-owned left-hand-drive Sprint with eye-catching non-standard colour-co-ordinated bumpers. Note the Federal-type wheel spinners.

When the prefix ‘alternative’ or ‘equivalent’ appears in this book in reference to a supplier it means an alternative to Lotus, although in many instances the named supplier was, in fact, also the manufacturer of the original equipment.

The authors and publishers emphasize that no recommendations are being given, implied or inferred by the mention in this book of any alternative parts or suppliers, nor does the exclusion of any such listing imply any lack of recommendation. Responsibility for the use or otherwise of all such parts is a matter for the individual owner.

Many of the alternative parts listed within this book have previously featured in an Equivalents List published by the Lotus Driver’s Club and compiled by the authors and others in 1983. Certain errors in the original listing have since been corrected and a number of omissions have been rectified in the course of preparing this book for publication, and where appropriate relevant comments have been added. One never stops learning, but the following pages are a true reflection of the authors’ knowledge at the time of publication.

PAUL ROBINSHAW

CHRISTOPHER ROSS

Jim Grant’s much-modified and very fast Sprint complete with modern 185/60-series tyres mounted on Revolution alloy wheels.

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance provided by many companies, organizations and fellow enthusiasts whilst gathering information for this book.

The following were of particular help: Bearing Services, Simon Bloomfìeld, Keith Day, Jon Dobson, Hella, Hepworth & Grandage, Tony Ingram, Peter Jenkins, Lucas-Girling, Paul Matty Sportscars, Nottinghamshire County Council Local Studies Library, Payen, David Rose, Thomson Industries, John Wade and Ed Winter.

Photographic Acknowledgements

Many of the photographs reproduced in this book were taken by the authors. However, they are also grateful to acknowledge and record their appreciation of the contributions made by: Artricia Industrial Pictures, Robin Astle, Harold Barker, Kenneth Bieber, John Blunsden, Alan Brinton, S.J. Brown, R. Cooper, Keith Day, Jon Dobson, Rob Forbes, John Gaisford, Jim Grant, Ronald Hunt, Keith Ingram, LAT Photographic, Steve Loakes, Lotus Cars, Lotus Driver’s Club, Mike Magill, Paul Matty, Monitor, Lynton Money, Gordon Nudd, C.E. Robinshaw, Dave Rose, E. Selwyn-Smith, Greg Welch and Stewart White.

One dark night …. This is how Paul Robinshaw’s Elan ended up (on Chris Ross’ trailer) following a front wishbone failure.

CHAPTER 1

Elan Identification Guide

Model, Type and Chassis Numbers, Weights and Production Figures

Elans fall into two distinct types. The original neat and nimble two-seaters started the breed in late 1962 and remained in production until the summer of 1973. They were joined by the almost equally agile but somewhat larger four-seater +2 (Type 50) models which proceeded through their own evolution path from 1967 via the + 2S and +2S/130 derivatives to the final model, the luxurious +2S/130/5, in 1974.

Here, we are solely concerned with the two-seater Elan version in its Type 26, Type 36 and Type 45 guises, with some brief comments in passing on the Type 26R racing version.

These three basic types can be summarized as follows:

Type 26:1962-1966

This type number covered all early convertibles, although a works hardtop was available as an extra almost from the start of production:

Elan 1500

Elan 1600, subsequently referred to as the Series 1

Elan Series 2, or S2

Elan Series 2 Special Equipment, or S2 S/E

Type 36:1965-1973

This type number covered all Fixed Head Coupe models:

Elan Coupe, subsequently referred to as the S3 FHC

Elan Series 3 Special Equipment, or S3 FHC S/E

Elan