Ferrari Mailing List: Lotus Elan

[Douglas Anderson (dnt]

Ah yesh - Lotus.  Picture this - September 1965, Bob Challman's Lotus 
dealership in Manhattan Beach, CA.  I go over there to see a Lotus Elite in 
their showroom which I was in love with.  Never did get one - (someone 
commented that the rear shocks go thru the rear fiberglass - dunno about that - 
is that a fact?) - 

BUT in the mechanics bay in the back is an all out green race car.  Wazzat I 
inquire?  To one of the tech's.  It's a Lotus what ever (much later if find out 
it was a Lotus 30) We're prepping it for the up coming Can Am race at 
Riverside.  Ya don’t say.  It has a Ford engine?  Yep.  Is the driver the same 
Clark guy that races at Indy?  Yep.  (didn’t see him)  I had my ever fine 
camera - my exquisite  Kodak Instamatic with me - can I take a picture of it?  
No.  Thus endeth my visit.  The guy was nice but protective.

Then flash forward to 1966. Ferrari Willi and I are at some Riverside race and 
we're poking about MG Mitten's stuff Mariann brings from her shop in Pasadena.  
She totes the stuff about in her blue VW Microbus on race weekends.  I wanted 
to get a Porsche patch - as if I have a Porsche.  Bill says get a Lotus patch - 
that has more class with a smaller elite group.  Done.  I sowed that patch on 
my black nylon jacket and kept it for 10 years even tho it turned a faded 
blackish/greenish color.  

Honorable first wife wanted me to toss my blackish green nylon Lotus jacket - 
never.  Her mother convinced her that the jacket could disappear when I was 
away on my two week Army Reserve summer camp.  The jacket, fell out of sight 
and out of mind, and I never did find out what happened to it.  Insurance 
company's call that loss "mysterious disappearance."  A few years later she 
disappeared but it was no mystery.  Ran off with a guy who eventually became a 
two star admiral - Best thing that ever happened for both of us.

Onward
Doug

-----Original Message-----
From: Ferrari <ferrari-bounces+dnt=dock.net [at] ferrarilist.com> On Behalf Of 
scott saidel
Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2020 10:13 AM
To: DOUG <dnt [at] dock.net>
Cc: The FerrariList <ferrari [at] ferrarilist.com>
Subject: Re: [Ferrari] OT: Lotus Elan

Hans

Parts easier than you might think. 

Haven’t had one since high school. Back then had no internet but was able to 
source what I needed. 

Engine is Ford with lotus top end on it

Most electrical components were off the shelf - useless British garbage - but 
common to MG / Jag / Austin of the era. 

They ARE a hoot to drive. 

Scottie 

Sent from my iPhone

> On Oct 14, 2020, at 12:43 PM, Hans E. Hansen <hans [at] hanshansen.org> wrote:
> 
> Hey, if Lash can bring up weird stuff, it's my turn.......
> 
> There is a Lotus Elan (the original series, not the Isuzu FWD later
> ones) in storage here in my small town more or less abandoned by it's 
> owner.  I haven't seen it yet, nor do I know anything about it's 
> condition.  It's likely I could pick it up on the cheap.  How cheap 
> depending upon condition, of course.  I've always kind of liked them, 
> supposedly the handling is superb given it's 1500lbs - ish weight.
> Not really sure why I'm interested, but I think it might be a hoot to 
> drive.
> 
> So...  Anybody here have any experience?  I'm sure there are horror 
> stories - bring them on.  Anyone know about parts availability?  Would 
> my Quattroporte be willing to share the garage?
> 
> Hans.
> _________________________________________________________________
> To unsubscribe or modify your subscription options, please visit:
> https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flist
> s.ferrarilist.com%2Fmailman%2Foptions%2Fferrari%2Fscott_saidel%2540hot
> mail.com&amp;data=04%7C01%7C%7Cb156cd5a168645de534d08d870603b5c%7C84df
> 9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637382905901478407%7CUnknown%7C
> TWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVC
> I6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=yZBvWOXqyrQBd4Phqe1Ms5Lc2DK3iaDaWHp9S0rbCc0%
> 3D&amp;reserved=0
> 
> Sponsored by BooyahMedia.com
> and F1 Headlines
> https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.f
> 1headlines.com%2F&amp;data=04%7C01%7C%7Cb156cd5a168645de534d08d870603b
> 5c%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637382905901483401%7CU
> nknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1ha
> WwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=m8xklwZ7Q%2Fp4yhjXoGZcDP6m9rUiKGTuu
> 5Hk1nF41Yo%3D&amp;reserved=0
_________________________________________________________________
To unsubscribe or modify your subscription options, please visit:
https://lists.ferrarilist.com/mailman/options/ferrari/dnt%40dock.net

Sponsored by BooyahMedia.com
and F1 Headlines
http://www.F1Headlines.com/