Classic Cars / Lotus / Car for sale

Lotus : Other : Elan - Great Project Car -

Sale price: $7,800.00 make an offer

Pending offers

Date: 2017-03-09

Max Venegoni (from Milano (ITALY) ) offered 6.000,00 usd

Car location: United States

Sale type: Fixed price listing

Technical specifications, photos and description:

Year:
1966
Mileage:
90,465
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Lotus : Other : Elan - Great Project Car - for sale

Current customer rating: current rating for this car(2.25) based on 515 votes


1966 Lotus Elan





Project car

Mostly complete

Prepped motor




. Selling for a friend. his description follows below.

 

I purchased this early pre airflow coupe from an elderly man in Oregon who had owned the car for 37 years. The car was in a pretty sad state. Though stored in his garage the roof had collapsed and both the front and rear windscreens were broken. The car had last been registered in 1999 at which time a weak oil pump caused low oil pressure and the car was taken off the road for repairs. These repairs never were completed and the car sat for many years. The head was pulled to check the cam bearings but not much else happened.   He loved the car but could no longer justify keeping it.

He was a real car guy but getting pretty forgetful by the time we met. His recollections regarding the car have however turned out to be well supported by my research. When he purchased the car it was only 3 or 4 years old and had been repossessed by an insurance company. He recalled that when he purchased the car he was told that the front clip had been repaired or replaced. Though not outwardly apparent when I went to purchase the car once the interior carpet and trim panels were removed we could see that repairs were made at some point.   He also recalled that the original valve cover had a riveted plate on it that noted that Cosworth had modified the engine. That original valve cover is no longer with the car but one of the first things I did when I got the car to my shop was to pull the engine and investigate what the bottom end looked like. What I found certainly fit the description of a well-prepped and modified engine. Steel main caps ARP rod bolts on forged connecting rods. VegaTune of similar front cover and evidence of blue print and balancing. Hepolite . 40 over pistons with valve relief cutouts. Perhaps someone more knowledgible could verify the Cosworth connection but regardless the engine shows many correct modifications for a period build. The head had been cut by the rear breather (note this area has no impact on water. oil or compression functions)  so I took it to Rick's Cylinder Head here in Portland where it was welded. pressure tested and surfaced. current deck height is 4. 600approx.

The head had previously been welded by the number two spark plug as can be seen in the photos. The carbs are the original Weber DCOE 40's and have been cleaned but are missing a few internals. The engine is non numbers matching. The head number is LP087 indicating a very early casting. The block is an 116E. Currently the engine is out and on a stand. The short block has not been torn down and appears to be in very good condition. Among the loose parts that came with the car is a NOS set of main bearings still in the box. Note that the pictures show a bare head but this was stripped for Rick's to do the welding and pressure test. All valves. followers. shims and springs are marked and bagged and in good condition as are the cams. . The car has all five original pinned knock off wheels and correct spinners. The numbers matching frame on the car still wears most of its original red oxide primer and has nothing more than surface rust in a few locations that I can find and I have looked everywhere. There are two small frame repairs that I have located and both are photographed. The rear suspension. trailing arms strut unit and disc brakes are all in original and good condition. The four Roto-Flex joints are cracked and will need to be replaced. The front suspension is also in original configuration. This may be obvious from viewing the pictures but the car is very original and retains virtually all its original components.

The original Teak dash is not perfect but I certainly would not replace it but restore it. All the switchgear is present and with the exception of one toggle switch and the oil pressure gauge all-original. The seats are also present and original though in need of covers. The door panels I just had re-upholstered and look great. The original wheel is missing but the Jackie Stewart MoMo is pretty neat and a valuable item as well. Items that I know to be missing include: both front and rear windscreens. Lotus hood emblem and Lotus script. The original widow motors are present but torn apart and I have not investigated if they can be re-built or not. The tank as can be seen in the photos is also a case where repair is possible. a repair panel was formed and is included but might not make sense especially if you wanted to go with a modern fuel cell. The original cast iron header is present but the rest of the exhaust is absent though correct brackets are present. Though certainly in need of new rubber seals the braking system does still work though the front calipers stick if you apply any pressure to the brake pedal. Clutch master is currently non operational but original and present.

Though unable to test. the transmission shifts into all gear crisply and was reported to work just fine when the car was last running. When I first got the car I posted a few questions on Elan. net regarding the presence of the Stromberg hood. Several folks noted that early Weber transition cars did come with the Stromberg hoods. I have no way of confirming this but several forum members have cars that wear this configuration. Of course if you like the flat hood it would be very easy to eliminated the bulge. The car has a clear Oregon title and still retains its original Oregon blue plates. My intentions were never to sell this car but to make a companion car to go with my S1 roadster. In fact when I went to buy the car I made up my mind I had to have the car the minute I saw the Oregon plate number LEE 253. You see I was born in Lee N. H and always know an omen when I see one. Current financial responsibilities necessitate the sale. My plans were to build a fun street/track day car and not to make a show car. Hopefully the images and the description illustrate that this is a solid platform to build such a car.  









Click here for a gallery of all of the enlarged images.


About the reserve price:
Out of fairness to all bidders the reserve is held in confidence. please just bid at the level that you're comfortable paying.   This auction ends Monday February 9th at 10AM Pacific Time . 12 Noon Central . 1 PM Eastern. 6 PM GMT .

About Payment:
I will contact the winning bidder via email within 3 hours of auction completion.   I would like a $500 deposit via paypal within 24 hours.   Balance is due (bank check or bank wire transfer only) within 7 calendar days of auction end. The car will be securely garaged until pickup.

About this auction:
This auction process is a legally binding contract into which you enter when you click "confirm" on your bid.   Please have finances in order before you decide to bid and please ask all questions before you decide to bid.   Basically. please only bid if you are ready to purchase this car.   Car is sold as-is with no warranties express or implied.   Any disputes regarding the sale of this vehicle shall be resolved through binding arbitration exclusively in Multnomah County. Oregon under applicable state laws.   By bidding you agree to these terms.

About me:
Please check my feedback. I take customer satisfaction very seriously and am a licensed. bonded and insured dealer in the State of Oregon.   Clean and clear Oregon title.

 

You and/or your representative are welcome and encouraged to inspect the car in person before the close of auction. I can be reached at 503-891-7702 between the hours of 9-5.   Previously sold inventory is available to view at www. cascadiaclassic. com

Post Auction details:
The transport cost is the responsiblity of the winning bidder. although I'll be happy to help with logistics.   I have a wholesale account with a shipping dispatch service and can help you find a reasonable rate.

Overseas bidders may contact any of these international shippers for a quote:
Schumacher Cargo
CFR / Rinkens
California Shipping






Thanks for looking!







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