Possibly my next project: Accident Damaged Elise S2

[MGJohn]

Accident Damaged Elise S2

My son who has one of these and is delighted with it has advised me to give this one a miss :~



I really like it but, his advice is that with so much damage to the fibre glass and missing parts, chances are I would have my financial fingers severely burnt.

How do others with a good background of experience with these cars see this?

Any pointers here appreciated.

[Scuffers]

depends on what your expecting, from the looks of that one it's mostly superficial GRP damage.

Sill will be the pain as you either fix it as it is, or have to change it, they are bonded to the chassis tub.

for me, the no go would be any damage to the tub itself, assuming that's OK, then it;s just a financial question.

[stuthemong]

Cat d that's probably a 8-10k car depending on mileage (assumi it's a 120hp model by alloys).

Assuming no damage to suspension supports - which would probably scrap the car - and fg/paint work only - then if you are getting it for 6k or so it could make sense. But you'd need to know what you were doing!

[junks]

Looks like a fairly easy repair as already said, a decent bodyshop should be able to sort those broken pieces out without too much trouble but with the clam sill & door damaged (don't know about the other side)you'd be looking at nearly half a respray & silver is a bh to match.

[kambites]

Clams aren't cheap and nor are front light units if they're damaged too. Doesn't look difficult to repair as long as the suspension is all straight, but it might not be particularly cheap.

[MikeATD]

Motorsport components in Bolton are one of very few places that can do repairs to the chassis.

[Stonefly]

Check the chassis as it may well be buckled. I had a side impact like that, very minor damage to the sill... total write off as the chassis was bent

[MGJohn]

Thanks for all the input folks. My son is more clued up having a similar car so he has marked my card about these negative aspects to watch out for. I shall have another look at the car and make further enquiries. However, 90% sure I shall pass on this because of the unknown risks.

Meantime I've just picked up an MG in need of some TLC.

I would have enjoyed working on that Lotus being one of those once rare, now endangered species who actually like Rover's little K-Series fitted to these cars...
.

[TIPPER]

MGJohn said:

Thanks for all the input folks. My son is more clued up having a similar car so he has marked my card about these negative aspects to watch out for. I shall have another look at the car and make further enquiries. However, 90% sure I shall pass on this because of the unknown risks.

Meantime I've just picked up an MG in need of some TLC.

I would have enjoyed working on that Lotus being one of those once rare, now endangered species who actually like Rover's little K-Series fitted to these cars...
.

Liking your love of the K. Sweet engine (but sadly underdeveloped by Rover. Thankfully the likes of Dave Andrews and Roger Fabrey came to the rescue).

[TIPPER]

Just to add, my car landed on a rock (infield on a racetrack) but only damage was to glassfibre: the lip where it joins the chassis what a bit buckled but every but in now way compromised the integrity of the chassis - it was merely a piece of Ali to locate the body.

Difficult to say without closer inspection though, surely guys?

Also its possible that the damage to the glass sill could be repaired from without - I've done the same to a glass boat when access to inside was difficult (read expensive/time consuming!). And before anyone asks - No you couldn't see the join.

[TIPPER]

MikeATD said:

Motorsport components in Bolton are one of very few places that can do repairs to the chassis.

Care to expand on that please? Seriously.

I've never heard the name come up in Lotus cirlces so would like to know more (and I'm sure there are plenty of other people - potential customers - that would like to know as well). I'm sceptical but always open to new knowledge

[TIPPER]

MikeATD said:

Motorsport components in Bolton are one of very few places that can do repairs to the chassis.

OK, I'm up late working but curiosity has got the better of me.

I googled Motorsport components in Bolton - a few links thrown up which highlight their skills as 'Machining, Fabrication and Welding services'. Mmmmmmmmm

And Firefox can't connect to any of their pages.

As I said, never heard of them (and I've been around long enough, researched more than most, listened to more than most and put my money where my mouth was but I've never, ever heard of these people when over the years people have asked how they can get chassis damage repaired).

Please explain Rocky (assume that's you're real name!).

I'm quiet happy to stand corrected and eat a huge portion of humble pie

[pthelazyjourno]

TIPPER said:

OK, I'm up late working but curiosity has got the better of me.

I googled Motorsport components in Bolton - a few links thrown up which highlight their skills as 'Machining, Fabrication and Welding services'. Mmmmmmmmm

And Firefox can't connect to any of their pages.

As I said, never heard of them (and I've been around long enough, researched more than most, listened to more than most and put my money where my mouth was but I've never, ever heard of these people when over the years people have asked how they can get chassis damage repaired).

Please explain Rocky (assume that's you're real name!).

I'm quiet happy to stand corrected and eat a huge portion of humble pie

Who's to say they don't have experience with aluminium and bonding. They don't have to be Elise specialists, per se.

There's nothing actually stopping the aluminium from being re-bonded, to a standard that's as strong as before. The problem is obviously ensuring the work is carried out to a safe standard, and the fact Lotus won't give consent for the work to be carried out... (as far as I'm aware).

Plenty of other companies work with bonded aluminium, and will rebond and cure parts where necessary. Obviously there aren't many car companies doing this - but of the ones that are (Jaguar, Morgan, others?) - I know full well that Morgan will offer to cut out any damaged chassis parts, and reglue / cure replacement parts on cars like the Aero 8 etc.

So they could be legit.

Not saying they are, mind, have never heard of them!!! I don't think he's Rocky, however...