Recommend an Inspection Service for a Lotus Elan 130/4

[tays27]

I am looking at a 1973 Lotus Elan 130/4 that is for sale near Stevenage.

Problem is I am halfway between Dundee and Aberdeen. Can anyone recommend a classic car inspection service? Preferably someone who has seen a few Elans over the years.

[a8hex]

There must be a suitable club for these cars.
I would have thought you would want to get a Lotus Elan specialist rather than someone general on Classic cars.

[RW774]

Hi Happy to inspect it for you and give a report, give us a call.

[tays27]

After sleeping on it I have committed to buy the car.

The car was for sale 7 years ago and I missed out, so heart ruled head on this one and I made an offer this morning.

Fingers crossed.

[BurblingBrownOne]

Make sure you post some pics when you get your car home!

[tays27]

This is what it looked like 7 years ago!

[AJAX50]

My son lives in Edinburgh and is back home in Hertfordshire next weekend, I bet he'd drive back to Scotland for you! He's a 23 year old student!!!

[tays27]

I think I'll be safer driving down and towing back on a trailer.

I've never even sat in an Elan let alone driven one, but I've been admiring that photo of it for the last 7 years kicking myself that I didn't buy it.

[wulmar]

Very nice colour scheme, always fancied one of those +2s myself, hope it works out for you

[Sam_68]

I think I recognise the driveway it is sitting on, in the pic... was that from a previous owner?

[tays27]

yep, this the pic from the original ad in 02

[Sam_68]

OK. If it's where I think it is, the guy was a bit of a part time dealer in Elans and Plus 2's. I did a couple of deals with him back then. Haven't seen him around for a bit, so I assume he's moved on to other things.

You've bought the best version of Plus 2, by the way... the 4 speed box is much nicer to use than the 5-speed in the 130/5.

[tays27]

I've read the 4 speed box is the nicer and more reliable, time will tell I suppose.

The plan is to keep the car for a VERY long time, so no real hurry to get it up to top condition.

Priority will be to get the mechanicals then interior up to scratch, then maybe sometime in the future look at the paintwork, but with fibreglass repairs and respray costs of 5k+ I am in no hurry.

[Sam_68]

Yeah, I've owned both 4- and 5-speed cars, and there's no comparison. The 4 speed is a much nicer change and is as tough as old boots. It's a bit under-geared for motorway cruising, but then that's not the natural environment for any Lotus!

Your biggest problem with the Plus 2 is likely to be electrics (the wiring is a lot more complex than the 2-seater Elan, and is usually a rats nest of bad connections and poor earths!), so get yourself a good multimeter. As you say, bodywork can wait - it can look a bit shabby and not do any harm, since you've no rust to worry about!

[Carsie]

I've got the baby Elan S3 DHC '67 - these car's are sublime - enjoy! p.s Congrats!

[clanger]

Excellent purchase - have a +2 somewhere myself, everytime I see a photograph I think I must restart the resto...

[RW774]

Just finishing the second S4 Elan resto, from the ground up. Very underated cars as were all Chapmans products, should command much higher prices. Way ahead of its time, let down by Prince of darkness electrics .