The Lotus Grand Tourers

https://www.facebook.com/groups/eliteec ... 413191430/

1974 Elite S1 503 (a/c removed), 32k miles, £16k. Red.
Massive history, new tyres & spare. JPL 861N.
Non standard alloys & steering wheel.
Sevenoaks area.
Looks fab in the photos.
I have no connection to the seller.

Merits:

• cut-down bumpers ( looks more elegant and brings it closer to the original minimal-bumbered prototype)
  paint finish
  original dash
  black window trims surprisingly look 'ok'
  steering wheel (looks contemporary)
  air box still available to re-fit ASAP
  larger tyre diameter easier to source

De-merits:

• Modern Wheels (prefer 14 inch originals despite tyre sourcing difficulty and are likely to be ligher in weight)
  black window trims ( devalue car - particularly if not robustly powder-coated)
  steering wheel (obscures dials)
  missing front lip spoiler in black (original spoiler essential for low cd 0.33)
  missing cam belt guard
  missing air-con on a 503 (but OK for a 501 or 502)
  907 '74 engine is gut-less (D-cams) esp. with PAS and air-con compared to 907 '76 onwards engines (E-cams)
  prefer 501 without PAS or air con (engine driveability benefit)
  Miss-matched centre console trim in rear

I only like Elite´s that are close to original. If the bumpers are cut down they at least could have been painted black.
No black waist strips loses so much aesthetics. Radio aerial another no like. Those wheels compared with the exclusive originals which are truly beautiful.
Without the front spoiler you can have some moments, not just Cd.
The back end looks like a babie´s bum!, albeit clean.
I also prefer the Elite in original Blue.

I think the price is right, I wonder what Pete´s completely refurbed Elite is worth, although it won´t be truly original underneath.


Dave the cog.