1969 Lotus Elan - Jay Leno's Garage

1969 Lotus Elan. In the late 1940s, engineer and RAF pilot Colin Chapman decided to utilize the experience he gained in the skies on the ground, by building a racecar in his girlfriend's garage. While still holding down his day job, Chapmen begged, borrowed and bartered to create his prototype, which he entered in a time trial as an afterthought.
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1969 Lotus Elan - Jay Leno's Garage
• 1969 Lotus Elan - Jay ...
Jay Leno's Garage
/ jaylenosgarage

[@bobfranco4993]

Randy, the original ower, was my good friend in college. We bonded over that car! I had been driving formula fords and when Randy found that out he would have me drive his pride and joy when he wanted to go really fast. Four wheel drifts in top gear! It was a blast. I'm lucky enough to have spent many hours in the car. Great fun to drive once you got used to the rubber donuts. We were such gear heads that we would take turns standing on the side of the road and drive by at full throttle so we could hear what it sounded like! A note on the Lotus badge on the hood. It was black in 1969 because that's the year Jimmy Clark died. The last time I saw ithe car was when he was showing it to me in his garage with the head off. I'm so glad to see that Jay bought this car and restored it! It brings tears to my eyes. Randy, RIP, would approve.

[@purplestingstress]

I'm so so happy to see that you have restored Randy's Lotus so wonderfully! I know that mom and Randy loved that car and it's incredible to see it in its glory. Mom always spoke highly of you in regards to how you treated her and Randy. 🤗

[@franksmith9692]

I loved the Elan. Back in 64 in high school, everyone wanted a muscle car. I wanted an Elan. Read the R&T review many times.

[@martinpye798]

Love Jay Leno. A genuine motorhead. Knows his stuff. Seems like a decent fellow, too!

[@paulredhead8603]

Agree with you Martin. Seems a genuinely nice chap.

[@MrDaiseymay]

i WOULD HAVE SAID THAT

[@DreamDosage]

The best!!

[@edwardpeterson1952]

One of the reasons that Lotus sold so many was because Diana Rigg drove one as Mrs. Peel in The Avengers. That was millions of dollars (Pounds) of free advertising. After all these years, I'm still in love with Mrs. Peel and her car.

[@crazyjay7676]

Edward Peterson Mrs Peel...mmmm.....

[@deeremeyer1749]

Yeah. Because adults are so inclined to go out and buy a car that was in a movie.

[@scottgolden2766]

Wasn't the Avengers a TV series in the 60's

[@TheVagolfer]

Driving through the English country side in a Lotus with Emma Peel in the passenger seat heading out to have a picnic. Man ! How cool would that have been in the 60's ?!

[@Dave.S.TT600]

Miss Peel. She wasn't married.

[@johnmiller2290]

i worked at the Lotus Factory for 15 years and left in 2011, I loved it

[@poopedhole]

+John Miller but you left

[@johnmiller2290]

yes I did, I was made redundant when my department was closed

[@johnmiller2290]

Loco Roco yes I did, I was made redundant when my department was closed

[@man-mq9rk]

sorry to hear

[@wordreet]

A legendary car in British motoring history. I completely love the Elan.

[@hardlyworkin3603]

Such a lucky guy to have a genius mechanic to make a great car even better. Love, love love this car. Diana Rigg and Lotus Elan. What a beautiful dream world. Hope you do a segment when the white one is finished.

[@donjohnson3701]

I was thinking the same thing the Avengers was definitely a car show with the Lotus and Bentley, but how about Honey West and the slab side Shelby.

[@Lawrence5987]

An absolutely sweet sounding engine- one of the best four cylinder engine notes of all time, up their with the Alfa's. Great job!

[@andrea22213]

As Colin Chapman was fond of saying 'If you make a car more powerful it will be faster on the straights, if you make it lighter it will be faster everywhere'.

[@TheRealSmithFamily]

I LOVE the sound of the after fire when letting off the accelerator.

[@kimkleiner8456]

Don't know what cams are in Jay's elan but I had 120° of overlap on my '67 SE and a custom header 4-2 pjpe exhaust system with 4 puny glass packs that were barely 1/4" wider than the pipes themselves. When you let off the throttle it barked blaaap. Ah, you had to be there. But I don't know if it was unique to mine but the sound of the starter made you feel like you were in the cockpit of a spitfire and I am not referring to the car.

[@RaeMachiavelli]

I really respect Leno and his crew for making these videos. They are very thorough and are made for auto enthusiasts that would like to learn what is out there. There is a lot of knowledge and history in his garage, I hope he always keeps the idea of it. Well done, thumbs up so Jay can see!!

[@vandigital1]

I'm so Impressed by Jim Hall, great engineer, craftsman, artist! What a pleasure to watch what he does and that he works with Jay on all these great projects. Thank you Jay and Jim ! Maarten

[@ABCDEFGHIJKELA...]

Jay and Harry(Harry's Garage) have such a genuine love, and passion of real drivers cars, it's amazing they haven't merged into a single show to dominate all. Both are humble, and extraordinarily positioned to teach the world about what's important, ethical, and right about our love of cars, as well as seat of the pants unbiased truths where makers went wrong. It's almost like they were separated at birth :)

[@nukedathlonman]

Love the sound of that motor. But I can tell Jay really enjoy's driving this drivers car - nearly every scene you hear that throaty roar! Even getting onto the interstate you can see the car pitched over and the rear end gently stepping out. It looks so graceful (and ton's of fun). It what driving is all about for sure!

[@Korokukanas]

Jay thanks again for allowing me to see your personal collection. I'm always in awe at your knowledge and ability to save all this automotive history!!! Thank all the guys in the shop too they get the job done right!

[@muchosmasfrijoles]

Wow, Jay really gets it. Each one of these I watch I gain more respect.

[@Sirgromulus]

Along with his McLaren and the GT40, this is one of my favorite cars in Jay's stable. Kudos.... but please finish the1966 Lotus Elan 26R!

[@johnmatthews1095]

absolutely loved this episode. my neighbour had an Elan and assures me it had the best steering and handling of any car ever

[@lastred888]

Keep doing the in-depth tours! I really like how you put it up on the lift to show what was done and what it looks like underneath. I hope this can be done in future episodes. I like to know how the cars work and what makes them so unique. Great episode!

[@jsugar72]

i love that i can come here and never get the pre-video ads - thanks JAY

[@joeboudreau7946]

I had a '72 Midget as well. A lot of fun to tinker with, but never wanted to drive it more than 15 miles from home! I spent far too much money on it, did some work on my own and kept it up best I could. A few weeks after I sold it, the steering box fell apart - luckily in a neighborhood, and no one was hurt. I believe it is still on the road!

[@tihspidtherekciltilc5469]

They just left the steering box laying in the road?

[@billmccaffrey1977]

Watching in 2019 - we were all so young when this was shot.

[@Chu3505]

This video is not that old maybe 10 years or less.

[@mpboi21]

Wonderful engine set up Jay you really are the man when it comes to vintage

[@earlpainter2143]

One of the best sports car designs ever!!

[@sandros949]

now that's a super sweet sounding car!

[@storyteller1749]

Very cool car. I dunno why it took me this long to see this episode. But I'm glad I've finally seen it.

[@patmartin9261]

I love that Jay isn't afraid to drive his cars

[@stephenfox966]

I was just watching 'wheeler dealers' on You Tube which shows a restoration of one of these Elans in England.Very interesting.

[@andythurlow1614]

Electric windows haha. Genuinely wasn't expecting that.

[@thurmanwatson9693]

One of my very favorites, thanks for posting.

[@paulfisker]

Thank you Kay for showing us so many beautiful machines.

[@77lassiter15]

"we didnt have to do much work on this"just a new motor new brakes and new suspension

[@russcattell955i]

In the UK these were sold as complete cars or a unfinished kit from the factory, thus avoiding purchase tax. The advert said the buyer & a friend could finish assembly in a weekend. They can still be seen in classic motorsport events in Britain, as for being slow & girly, 232 bhp per metric ton & 7 ish sec 0-60mph is no slouch.

[@sloperdude]

One winter I was up in Duluth, MN and saw some cars with racing numbers on them heading toward Lake Superior, so I followed one there. A racing course had been plowed out of the snow; they were ice racing. Almost all the cars were front wheel drive, but I saw one tiny Lotus Elan racing there too. The largest car was a Olds Toronado. When it went off the course the front end flew up the snow embankment. They towed a few cars back on the track that day. I was surprised to see such a lightweight, delicate and expensive car as the Lotus tangling it up with all the other heavier cars on the course.

[@carolyne229]

Russ Cattell Russ that's a problem is England taxes, had they no taxes they could have great cars like the Germans do, instead taxes backfired on the Brit's

[@russcattell955i]

Carolyn E Yes, I agree, I left England 13 years ago.

[@briangreen6602]

Is that correct for the Elan ? I know the Seven was available as a kit, but thought Lotus had moved away from that by the time of the Elan.

[@russcattell955i]

Brian, I remember as a boy in the 60's reading my father's car mags seeing an advert for it, the pic showed the incomplete car arriving on a trailer. Trying to persuade old dad, we could do one in the garage, but alas no joy.

[@chrispritchard4676]

Thank you Mr Leno. A lot of information and most enjoyable video. I never had an Elan, but did have two series 4 sevens, both with Big Valve 1558 engines (standard 126 bhp). The most glorious sounds both accelerating and decelerating. Recently acquired a Caterham HPC, which, although much quicker, was not the same and I didn't keep it. But, still get more enjoyment from fast bikes.

[@DeltaAnt1000]

I agree. Jay is not "rubbing" anyone noses. He is sharing his valuable collection to fellow enthusiasts. Not all his cars are really expensive (Chevy Corvair...etc) but they are all cool/or historically significant, and usually fun to drive.

[@kevinxxx1387]

I loved this video; it is my favorite. THIS is a sports car!

[@benz499]

This guy is great, he should have his own TV show!

[@dustinnop]

one of your best reviews looks like you guys are having alot of fun ! I like when Jim is in the videos

[@mindpilot72]

Circa 1965: My cousin Molly was Colin Chapman's executive admin (I think it was "personal secretary" back then.) and her company car was a white Elan EXACTLY like the one Emma Peel drove. This ten-year old would just explode with pride when she'd come to visit, and that car was in our driveway. FAB!

[@jonnytacoma_sr5]

My shop teacher from high school has one but its a hardtop fast back or gt idk...he rebuilt it from scratch when I was there I helped rebuild it they are sweet cars

[@funnyfailer99]

That exhaust burble though :D

[@captainover-tighten6729]

Over seas visiting my folks. Perfect morning to rewatch this video. Heading over to the Lotus Shop in Hethel tomorrow. Unfortunately I’m leaving before being able to do the tour on Saturday. Thanks, Jay. G

[@braberdebrabel22]

God that sound ... So goooooooood

[@Cyrstal_Rose]

The Lotus Elan, one of the greatest sports cars ever made!

[@carolyne229]

ceetee1459 CeeTee, Yes ! I had a 1969 Series III Bob Hall up on Muholland disliked my new Elan as my previous car was a BRE 5101800cc twin webers, 5 speed I sold to get the Elan, I told Bob you're Nutzo Elan's styling is timeless 54 years later still a pleasing shape. Years later Bob Hall a consultant to Mazda sold the idea that was mine I might add, and the Miata was created Hmm smart on my part ? I just last year purchased a 1966 Elan series II BRG Roadster I love the Motor Car !!!

[@QOTSAPT]

You can't expect a British car to weather the American weather and the long highways, but the Chapman cars had some weak points, immediately electrical problems and then after some thousand miles the doughnuts you've mentioned that were just a bad design would perish very quickly, resulting in a vague rear axle. I think you guys just nailed this video and the car sensibly stock with little mods.

[@jakublulek3261]

At least engine was pretty reliable, because it still was Ford Cortina GT's 1500 and 1600 litre with Lotus/Cosworth head, Lotus's own 900 series had much more teething problems and is much less reliable than Ford of Britain's powerplants. Also, Elan was base for another legend, Ford Lotus Cortina.

[@chrisff8303]

@คีรีวงศ์ โมระศาก British don't drink warm beer. Ale on the other hand has to be served at room temperature as that is the only way it can be stored. Just don't drink ale. Tastes like piss anyway. Drink cold beer instead.

[@R3TrackStar]

Great episode Jay, always a good time watching your videos

[@nigeh5326]

I loved these as a kid and still love them now. Along with the E type, Esprit and the DB5 just so British 😀👍

[@yedela1]

nice car one of my favorite designs !

[@kevinmoore4887]

Sounds great. Slow cars that feel fast are more fun than fast cars that need to go dangerously fast. Unless you have track access.

[@barry7608]

Thanks Jay you bought back a few memories, not that I was lucky enough to drive Lotus but my first car was an Australian Mk1 Morris Cooper S. As you said there is great satisfaction when you work on your own car. I used to club race it and was only 1/100th sec off fastest for class, beaten by another S but he was on slicks! so I could hold my head up.

[@SlowEarl1]

great sound thanks Jay for taking the time to make videos.I get up in the morning in Boston and hope you have a new video up to watch with the morning coffee,

[@adrewsona]

I am seldom jealous but having owned a good few of them over the years I can safely say that none of them were as good as this one! The pop-up headlight comment made me laugh... any leak in the vacuum system that kept the headlamps up meant they would start to drop down at high speed. A fail safe system would make lights up the default position. Driving fast at night could be very exciting. Nor did he mention one of the joys of the Elan: lift off oversteer. Not for the fainthearted but when it went well it was the most exhilarating driving experience.

[@johnfrederickcross]

I had an Elan Sprint in '72, really super on the road, sadly my ex broke it. Still married the cow.

[@btsdancestudio5691]

John you really had an original Sprint? I sell Civics for a living. Mr honda was inspired by this car when he created the Iconic Honda Civic 1976

[@jimmarcellus759]

Thanks Jay. I had a series 1 in 1967. Loved that car but for some stupid reason I sold it when I was drafted in 68. Sorta wish I had one now.

[@melodicdreamer72]

The burnout at the end of the video made me smile. It was mixed with a little bit of a laugh, but a good smile none-the-less. That looks like a very fun car.

[@fringestream990]

16:00 guy in the next car grilln hard lol....

[@PeterKKraus]

Hamburgers or Hot Dogs?

[@ZnenTitan]

OH MY GOSH!....MRS PEEL'S RIDE!

[@susanboylefanable]

Yep, right down to the color in @ least 1 season!

[@hobartbrown4441]

That was fun. A burnout at the end. Thanks Jay!

[@tetsai]

This is why your awesome Jay! Thanks for sharing all of those awesome cars! :D

[@carbonemtree]

Love how clearly jay leno is too good for shitty youtube advertisements...great channel

[@brianallen9810]

When I see this car I think of Emma Peel and the Avengers.

[@kevinmoore4887]

A cardboard image of Emma Peel should be in the garage. She really made the car stand out.

[@stevecolley6750]

@@kevinmoore4887 She (DIANA RIGG) certainly made part of me "stand out".

[@stewitr]

Great video as always. Beautiful car. As a former Lotus owner, I can relate to the passion for the car.

[@tharney8003]

What a great review of my personal all time favorite car.

[@trippplefive]

His neighbors must hate him with all those burnout marks.

[@sloperdude]

My 1982 Fiat X1/9 weighed only 1800 lbs., and was originally built as a safety car prototype with a heavy steel body, which carried over to the production car. It had big heavy aluminum front and rear 5 mph bumpers. The engine was 1500cc. Not bad. As it rusted, it got even lighter. ;) I know what you mean by go-kart handling. I pulled up on a green light once in the far right lane going 35 or so with cars to my left blocking the view to the left of the intersection, when a police car with his lights on but no siren travelling perpendicular to the street I was on blew through his red light, and I was on a collision course with him. I yanked the wheel hard right and the car hugged the curb around the corner doing 30 mph. I didn't have time to touch the brakes. If I had been driving an American car I would have T-boned that police car. Instead I ended up parallel with the police car with me in the parking lane and him in the right lane.

[@rurocking]

I worked has a British car salesman back in 1973 and I sold one of these. I will never forget the day I drove this for the first time. I did not expect this kind of power out of a 4 cylinder.

[@wuziduzi]

Thanks for the answers and: Wow, that's just amazing. I mean not that this concept leads anywhere but it's astonishing to see how they built it and what effort they made for this thing!!!

[@jamesthornton9399]

There is no radiator shielding. Half of the air coming in the radiator intake misses the radiator. Of course the thing will over heat.

[@alro2434]

Yes, complete useless heavy overkill that inadvertently fixes a problem that's only a problem when standing still.

[@hugochavez4382]

"60 feels like 100 as opposed to a modern car where 100 feels like 60"

[@LiveMusicOntario]

It's true. I was the passenger in a BMW 320i going between cities on a major highway. Judging by the feel of the ride I thought, God, I wish he'd pick up the pace a bit; this is going to take us all day. I always owned cheap used stuff to get me from A to B. Then I got a glimpse of the speedometer and we were going 40 miles per hour faster than what I guessed from the sensation. All right! Those suckers are planted onto the road and nothing moves that isn't supposed to.

[@barryervin8536]

Back around 1969 a friend of mine had a 64 Elan. It had the twin Weber side drafts and manual (not roll-up) windows. It was an amazingly fun car to drive but not actually as fast as people think they were. And it was incredibly fragile. It was rare that we'd go out in it and not have something break before we got back. He hit a telephone pole in it one day and it was totaled, fortunately he wasn't seriously injured. Great memories.

[@artbysteve215]

Thanks Jay, that brought back memories. I never owned one, but I sure did want one after driving one that was left off at my friend's shop to be "converted" from generator to a GM alternator.

[@Steffo225]

Fantastic ........love my elan ....my wife and pals think I should sell mine. .....no way.......

[@chipper442]

I swear that right front tire came off the ground on that entrance ramp

[@sammolloy1]

chipper442 IT DID

[@davidgillettuk9638]

Love these vids, many thanks Jay. 👍🏻🇬🇧 Great respect for your knowledge of British cars.

[@MrDaiseymay]

WISH HE'D CALL IT ELAN, AS IN ANNE, NOT LARN.

[@davidgillettuk9638]

Philip Croft Fair point

[@Saintini007]

Thank you Jay! Bought one 2 years ago on a trip to the UK and don't have the time to restore it. Wanted to sell it but still didn't came around to do it. Now I never will! Thank for the videos

[@therrydicule]

4:40 : OMG It's Jay Leno and mini-Jay!

[@zzzhuh]

+therrydicule Dude... I was just about to say that lol.

[@therrydicule]

zzzhuh Luckily, Jay is a good guy... Otherwise, he might start to ask for 1 million cars.

[@pgtmr2713]

Triumph, meh. MG, eh. This is my type of British Roadster. Light, powerful, high revving. Glad to see Jay gets how it should be driven.

[@TheLARRYSUGGS]

MG made some great sports cars in the day!

[@racketman2u]

pointless comment - the Lotus would have cost twice what the TR or MG would have.

[@PeterKKraus]

MGB GT was a nice looking car, no power though.

[@jerrycraig6522]

Love Leno, I'm very jealous he gets to drive so many AWESOME cars!!!

[@dragosgalben]

Beautiful car. Thank you Jay

[@brianprentice9501]

The elan was far superior to the lotus Europa,better quality. Use to work on lotus on the docks when they arrived in canada

[@andrewbethell9013]

Jay will you ever own a cortina lotus quick car for its day.

[@Lensman864]

Lotus Cortina!

[@bpdawg61]

Thumbs up on the Capri reccomendation! I owned a V6 73 back in the late 90's, LOVED IT! First one I drove was my own dad's 76 Capri II (V6) while pulling a 24' Butterfly sailboat (was the first time pulling a trailer, and first time driving a manual transmission) The Ford/Mercury Capri was an exceptional car for it's time. Very under-rated. My 73 v6 was a BLAST to drive!!!

[@garymcaleer6112]

Having owned a '74 Elite, chassis #57 I made my passengers nervous as I pressed the g-force in corners. And yes, it broke down when driving a long distance. But with a motorcycle masterlink and a couple of nuts and bolts, ...back on the road again. Thanks, Jay.

[@Primetime94]

Is that a Fram oil filter? You guys cheaped out on your oil filter? That's the last thing I expected to see in one of Jay Leno's engines.

[@46danz]

Who gives a toss about aero dynamics,i want pop up headlights.

[@sammolloy1]

The vacuum lifted lights sink back into the body up a long hill

[@46danz]

sammolloy1 perfect,i wonder if i can fit them on my alfa,also good for downhill braking.

[@sammolloy1]

nonp LOL

[@therainforest4314]

Jay, you hit the proverbial nail right on the head, regarding the mindset people(Collectively), have where their definition of a light weight sports car is concerned. You mentioned that this little gem only weighs 1550 pounds, kind of like a 550 Porsche Spider. Now, 3000 pounds seems to be considered light weight where sports cars are concerned, but the tires, rims, and brakes have to keep getting wider, bigger, and heavier in order to compensate for all that mass. Nimble, folks, that's the operative word for true sports cars, light weight and nimble. Jay Leno's Garage, thanks for sharing. :)

[@samspace81]

Sure sounds good Jay, looks like a lot of fun to drive, especially with that Cali sun

[@octemberfury]

Haha, how can all of Jay's cars be 'everyday' cars? He must hire people to drive them each on a daily basis.

[@susanboylefanable]

It's a job I wouldn't mind having!

[@hobmoor2042]

I think Jay means that he doesn't restore them for the showroom. They go out on the road and are not kept in bubble wrap, under a dust sheet.

[@ghraffydd5275]

No mention of Emma peel?

[@Doctor_Robert]

+ghraffydd Mrs. Peel; we're needed.

[@geosutube]

See above, more than once. Emma Peel mmmmmm

[@66craftyglenn]

Love the reviews with all of the finer points of the vehicles. Love the choice of cars and the nostalgia talk. I'd invite Jay to see my one car garage with my mustang restoration lurking in it. He's a down to earth car guy. Very Cool Jay!

[@deancostello14]

I want one so bad. This and a Cortina! Gotta love a twincam.

[@MrLeewsee]

Dude, get some new lighting in your garage. We just switched to LED lighting in our hangar...its way better!

[@BloodstainedSinner]

Anyone else notice that creepy guy standing in the background?

[@aeropilot4419]

BloodstainedSinner lol, it’s a cardboard cutout of Jay

[@groovyhippie1165]

That looks like so much fun to drive. Great little car with big personality.

[@johnnyboy1586]

Beautiful car in amazing condition, would love one to blast around our NZ back roads!

[@GodEqualstheSquaRootof-1]

Wow Jay, the car is Badly leaning to the drivers side. Lay off the Pizza.

[@rustyfordsutube]

Neat little car Jay. Every time I watch one of your videos, I find yet another car that I can't live without. Curse you Jay Leno!

[@ABCDEFGHIJKELA...]

can we get a LIKE for Jay's loyal friend, and mechanic, Jim... for so many years, the man helping our buddy, Jay's dreams come true!?

[@Porsche996driver]

Somehow I never saw this one before. Every car guy should watch Jay with this important car.