The Lotus Elan, an unsuspecting giant killer

The Lotus Elan is the unexpected giant killer, created in a time where large and heavy V12 engined machines were dominating the track, the Elan brought something completely different to the scene. It was light weight, nimble, and completely unexpected. Lotus is well known for its small and sporty models, however the Elan has always been a very underrated car. Those who know what a fantastic machine the Lotus Elan truly is have come to love it for its excellent power to weight ratio and awesome track capabilities. This Lotus was modified for the track, with an upgraded engine built by Veloce Motors along with sorted through suspension. Because the Elan was such an underrated model for so long, many of them were neglected over the years and would need a lot of work and money to bring them back to life, however this car has been sorted through already so there are none of the scary surprises, like chassis rot, that an unsuspecting potential buyer could fall prey to when purchasing an Elan. This Lotus is not only a fantastic track day car, but is also smog exempt in all 50 states and is street legal, making it the best of both worlds. Whether you are looking for a fun and amazing sounding car to take to weekend cars and coffee or a fast and lightweight track day car, the Lotus Elan is the perfect choice.
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[@05gtdriver]

" Mrs. Peel, we're needed"

[@tvrduude]

Nice video! For the uninitiated to Elans, I point out that Gordan Murray, F1 designer and force be hind McLaren cars owns 2 Elans and considers them a goal to emulate at all times. A significant seal of approval!

[@GTSCarLife]

So nice seeing something different every now and then! The car that is single handedly responsible for Mazda building the MX-5 Miata!

[@oneoldgit]

Yeah. When both in GM ownership the plans of the elan were given to a Brit design house who converted it to a steel body for Mazda

[@dickieb2233]

@@oneoldgit What a pile of , sorry you say "crock" over the pond.

[@mrdainase]

@@oneoldgit GM have never owned Mazda. The dimensions of the MX5 are nowhere near the same as the Elan. And finally, IAD in the UK created a prototype for Mazda featuring a fibreglass body. The Elan was a source of inspiration for the MX5, nothing more.

[@oneoldgit]

@@mrdainase I must admit I have always believed the story about Mazda being owned by GM. But having checked you are correct. However I worked with guys from IAD who claimed that was the case. They also said they had the drawings of the Lotus to use as guide lines.

[@Pauley_in_GP]

As an older guy, when I drive my Miata, I often fantasize an Elan, especially after watching a video like this. It's true. Sure wish my dashboard look more like that!

[@johnnysmith863]

I first got in to cars as a kid when a neighbour was rebuilding his Elan Sprint in his garage - he'd spun it on ice in to a wall. I used to 'help' by handing him tools. Anyway, I've loved Lotuses ever since and the original Elan in particular. It's one of those benchmark cars that really changed how sportscars were made ever since.

[@FerrarisOnline]

They are suprisingly quick and fun to drive!

[@maseratilotus]

Was this filmed on a trailer? Speedo and rev counter on zero!! Owned my Elan +2S 130/5 for 46 years, never let me down yet, best handling car I’ve owned. Brilliant 👍

[@michaeltb1358]

Looks like instruments are not working at all!

[@chas4life]

My Dad owned a BUNCH of British sports cars when I was growin up, but in the late 70's he bought an Elan and took me and my little brother out for a spirited drive many times. Fond memories of the sound and the style of this car. Haven't seen one on the road since, but they truly are special cars.

[@craigluhr7243]

I loved this car and wanted one when I had a '72 Triumph TR6. I look at these now and never realized how small they were. It is a beautiful car.

[@justindaley2460]

I have a 72 TR6 and a 71 Elan. I have a definite favourite!

[@AtypicalDriver]

Glad to see some Lotus coverage here!

[@gregkarkowsky967]

Gotta love the Lotus. My wife has an Elise daily driver.

[@canucklehead0]

So brilliant, that the Mazda corporation copied it almost exactly for the first generation MX-5 / Miata's.

[@oneoldgit]

Copied the plans when both in GM ownership

[@mrdainase]

@@oneoldgit Oh dear.....

[@geoffclarke3796]

Great video. These are fantastic little cats and would be in my dream garage collection for sure.

[@friendlypiranha774]

Little cars have HUGE personalities 😍

[@dickieb2233]

Call me strange but I am currently looking for an Elan 2+2 130. Same running gear but a little larger all round and prettier too. Personal taste of course. These Elans are so desirable here in the UK, especially the 26R, not so much the 2+2..good news for me.

[@paulblouin6955]

He owned a couple +2 including an S 130. In the US the S 130 came with a Stromberg head. Get one with a Weber head. They can be converted though. The +2 is a fantastic touring car in my opinion. Plenty of space. You can bring a jacket and a hat. I sold an Esprit for lack of space inside. Not useful as a touring car at all.

[@dickieb2233]

@@paulblouin6955 That is good advice, thank you. Still looking.

[@ArthurStone]

Thanks; much appreciated. The truck at the left rear of garage looks cool : D

[@FerrarisOnline]

Thats bootstrap, im currently in the proccess of restoring.... in my spare time 😅

[@iulian2548]

My favorite classic 4 cylinder car of all time. Less is more.

[@louislottner9427]

She is absolutely right. I drive a Series 2 love it.. it is like a racing car of the 6o's

[@archsailor]

I bought a 1966 Lotus Elan in 1972 and loved it. I went around corners like paint and accelerated quickly. It was the S2 version (Stage 2) of 1, 2 and 3. Each had more horse power. I had to sell it when I went into the Peace Corp in 1973. A sad moment. I think the Mazda Miata copied the body style when they first came out.

[@primokona]

LOVE THIS CAR

[@geoffclarke8934]

Brilliant little cars. I'd have an Elan in my dream car garage.

[@LateNightCable]

Mine as well, top ten in fact. Though I wonder if I could fit in one. My knees are in the dash of my little, but comparably much larger NB Miata.

[@johnmaroulis]

I owned and raced an Elan S2 (Red!) in Australia. Best car of many that I owned and or raced!!! We compered quite successfully in theNational International Rothmans12 hour race at Surfers Paradise one year. Some great cars and drivers in that race incl a young Jackie Stewart, Paul Hawkins , Hawthorne Attwood etel and some top Aussie drivers.Cars were varied, even a mini moke with a hot Cooper S motor in ii, 250LM Ferrari AC Cobra, various Porche species, Lola Lotus super 7 and Lotus Elan, Sorry, I cant see where to put a pic here! Cheers John Maroulis

[@jamiekeeper6204]

Beautiful 😍 the car is nice too 😊

[@MrMichele1070]

So cool 😎

[@jefflavigne1747]

I can relate. I have owned a ‘67 Elan DHC for 35 years. That alone stands testament to how good they are; never felt the need to improve on it. Before you sell, could you please: 1. Put the windscreen wipers back on. 2. Reattach the interior light dangling by your head. 3. Get the tach and speedo working. Thanks for a great video!

[@FerrarisOnline]

They took the wipers off because racecar...

[@danielthomas8507]

I own a mk1 mx5 because i couldn't afford an elan....mazda done a good job using the elan as the blueprint as it too is fun to drive ........The elan is the dream the miata is reality hehe....great video Colleen...cheers.

[@paulduffin131]

I own an elan m100 miatas arch nemesis 😂 but got u wave from a miata the other day or because I'm from Scotland mx5

[@monty6545]

This was a nice surprise , i live not far from the factory that made the Elan .

[@christophergreasley9300]

I owned a 1967 Lotus Elan for nearly 14 years in the 1970,s and 80’s and rebuilt it twice on new chassis’. The wooden dashboard is made of quite thin veneered plywood and weighs virtually nothing. It adds nothing whatsoever to the structural rigidity of the car which comes almost entirely from the backbone chassis. It was (and is) a wonderful car. I now have a Mazda MX5 ND and, as best as I can recollect, it handles very much like my Lotus which is high praise to the Mazda engineers who were clearly briefed to design it to do just that.

[@upsidedowndog1256]

Real cool car! It sounds like my 84 Nissan Pickup, which is a tiny truck.

[@Andoniscars]

love this. in yellow

[@charlestesoro7902]

Emma Peel's (Diana Rigg's) favorite ride!

[@user-sv8ce7lw6t]

Want. These cars are so damn quick.

[@bocomoto]

Need to dial in the clutch control deal,..nice presentation otherwise.

[@cliffsfolks9092]

In my experience, 90 percent of the folks driving a manual transmission don’t know how to do it with elan.

[@anthonycollingridge970]

Ouch poor clutch. Also none of the gauges work????

[@daveblock4061]

Funky shodding it with Yokohama 048s. Same as my Elise came with.

[@komradkolonel]

I've seen these and they are really tiny. One of the smallest cars I've ever seen. They weigh next to nothing so they didn't need a lot of power to get them going. Lotus cars have good engines and transmission but the frames had essentially no rust protection so you never drove them in the rain or snow. Some people wouldn't like how loud they are but to me that's better than listening to the radio.

[@SeattleSoulFan]

"Simplify, then add lightness."

[@naurybirnbaum7471]

This car, as noted, has a Dave Vegher twincam. A "Vegher Power" twincam in good shape is worth $20K alone. This car, as told to me my James McNiff (previous owner), hit a top speed of 143mph. The stock twincam on the S3 was maybe 110 bhp. A Vegher version, as in this car, could easily be 150 bhp or more. My Vegher twincam (street not race engine) makes 181 bhp in my Elan. Yields a horsepower to weight ratio of the early Viper. Pretty damn quick and will out handle most cars.

[@richarda8097]

Hmmm...street engine pushing out 181bhp, please post engine spec - you maybe able to make a fortune.

[@barryfeatherstone1616]

@@richarda8097 The 26R put out 180bhp in 1964... I think perhaps a good engine tuner could emulate that these days without too much trouble... 😊👍

[@AskewRichard]

Hi Barry Agreed. The Ian Walker prepared 26r knocked out around 180bhp in race trim, but that wouldn't be very useful for street use...as originally asserted. Imho 150bhp is about as far as you get for street use and keeping to the original 1558cc. But if someone has come up with super-duper spec that offers a tractable non-turbo'd or nitro'd 180bhp, I would love to see sight of the spec.

[@naurybirnbaum7471]

@@AskewRichard et al • New CNC Lotus Twincam Weber cylinder head. Street ported. Aluminum LM25 TF alloy. No cam bearings needed. • New Weber DCOE 40’s (151) with relatively small 32 mm chokes for better street tractability but engine still is able to develop substantial horsepower and torque at streetable rpms (7K redline). This elevated output belies the common wisdom that Weber 45’s and larger chokes are needed to generate this level of power. Horsepower and torque are similar or exceed the performance of many Lotus 26R and GTS racing variants and at lower (non-race) rpm’s. • Valves: Manley Mfg. Stainless steel with hard chrome finish on stems. 1.625” on the intake and 1.375” on the exhaust. By comparison with the Elan “Big Valve” Sprint @ 1.565” intake, 1.325” exhaust. • Cams: Kent Cams. High lift/short duration o Lift 0.440” gross vs Elan Sprint “D” cam @ 0.360” o 250deg duration measured @ .050” lift vs Sprint 232deg o 105deg lobe center on the intake and 107deg lobe center on the exhaust o 0.008” lash intake cold o 0.010” lash exhaust cold • Formula Ford SCAT crank, robust square main bearing caps • Long 4.928" rods vs standard 4.8”, ARP 2000 bolts • Custom forged CP racing pistons, 3.2765" in diameter, Engine Bore 3.2795 (83.3mm vs 82.5). Displacement: 1692 cc vs 1558 • 10.25 compression ratio, uses unleaded pump gas (US 91 (R+M)/2 octane) • Custom made Lotus 26R deep airbox and mounting plate (the smaller stock airbox reduced bhp by 7hp on the dyno) • Custom baffled engine sump to reduce cornering oil pressure losses • Lightened flywheel (Fidanza), saves 7.5 pounds and provides more dynamic response of the engine. No loss of smoothness at idle or in street driving. Dyno at the flywheel: 181.3 @ 6900, 142.9 torque @5100 . ~Flat torque 4K - 7K Thus, it is reasonable that the Vegher engine in this car could be in the 150 hp range. Lest, those doubters think that my engine is unique and not legitimately developing the stated power, please see Lotus7.com for similar examples of modern high output twin cams from another master builder, Tony Ingram. lotus7.com/1741_CC.html

[@barryfeatherstone1616]

@@AskewRichard True - then.... My point was that with today's engineering a lot more is available - reliably too... 😊

[@soaruk3697]

Always laugh when people say the Elite was 'fragile' - it won it's class at LeMans 6 times in a row - don't think any other car has done this. It also finished the Monte Carlo rally when entered.

[@andrewpolasek5524]

I love these cars. I think my NA Miata has Elan envy. 😅

[@robertlloyd7493]

Used to be built 5 miles from where I live....sold in kit form if you wanted to avoid car tax !

[@anthonycollingridge970]

Correct. In actual fact Colin Chapman managed to provide a completed car, less the road wheels fitted. That got round the car sales tax for a while until the government cottoned on...

[@paulblouin6955]

According to Isac Newton you don't have to slow down a Elan or Seven to turn. The gearbox is straight out of a British Ford but with closer gear ratios. I drive a Cortina GT because the Elan was so much fun to shift.

[@me-also-youtuber]

Kia from ROK also released KIA-version Elan for Korean domestic market.

[@12dougreed]

Now one can see why you get clutch problems. In England we call it riding the clutch . 😂😂

[@richarda8097]

Maybe it's still has its original Rotoflex couplings, which need a different technique to avoid kangaroo starts

[@FerrarisOnline]

And or one is trying not to run over their videographer 😆

[@timgosling6189]

FYI, that lovely gearbox started life in the Ford Anglia of Harry Potter fame. UK Ford manual boxes in the 1960s were awesome!

[@AskewRichard]

...I think you'll find it was from a Ford Corsair GB not Anglia.

[@erepsekahs]

"Here we go loopdi-loo, Here we go loopdi-li, Here we go loopdi-loo, All on a Saturday night." Thanks for the tour Loopy. What the ding-a-ling is failing to tell you, because whoever told her didn't know either, is that the instruction booklet telling you how to put it together was written in reverse order because simply selling it as a kit with instructions on how to put it together, did not avoid the tax, so it actually gave detailed instructions on how to take it apart. That is a fact. I know because I lived in the UK at the time.

[@berlinetta____2680]

I'm not into the look, but it sounds awesome and I bet an absolute hoot to drive!!

[@AskewRichard]

Ah, imho there's no better sound than an brace of 40DCOE's wide open responding to a lumpy cam on a clear road !!!

[@AskewRichard]

Neither was I so I bought +2s 130, which has better lines and more room.

[@paulduffin131]

Pop up headlights rule

[@thomasveierd9696]

"Corners like it's on rails" Nice li'l reference there some Lotus aficionados might recognize. Was it deliberate, though?

[@abogoni]

omg - your that cool chick from Donut Media - great video ❤ nice camara work - the video filter thing - im starting a channel and i like your style 😎 im like 6 foot (182cm) and 130kg (i do strongman) - do you think id fit in the car 😊

[@kev-the-windsurfer.]

What a hoot of a car!! soooooooo many interesting things to look at in the background, did I see what appears to be a Ferrari 330P4 replica? Or maybe its even real?

[@FerrarisOnline]

If your talking about the project car in primer, it is a replica Ferrari 512M (the racecar not the street car.) 🙂

[@kev-the-windsurfer.]

@@FerrarisOnline yes that’s the one!! You have some very interesting projects on the go!!

[@grahaminkpen5436]

I had a Europa Twin Cam. Best fun I have ever had in any car I have owned. Should never have sold it.

[@FerrarisOnline]

We just got a frame off resto europa. :) I just have to assembled it. Should be fun.

[@grahaminkpen5436]

@@FerrarisOnline well they are easy to take apart - as in body off chassis. The S2 wasn’t so good with its Renault engine but the twin cam is good fun. The ones destined for the states lacked the same performance due to emissions regs. Fitted with rubbish Strombergs aligned to paired up inlet ports on the cylinder heads. That Elan you have is how we got them in the U.K.

[@michaeltb1358]

I wonder how those wheels and tyres were squeezed in. Original tyres were 145 - 13. Later cars used 155-13 but wheel arches were extended. This looks like an S3 shell but tyres are wider than 145.

[@LateNightCable]

I’ve wanted an early Elan for a long time, and try to fathom how tiny it is as I’ve never seen one in person . I know my ‘99 Miata is considerably larger externally, so I wonder if I could still fit into an Elan, being 6’6” but lanky.

[@bradleypease2492]

There’s two positions for the seats - second one is designed so someone more your height can fit into one

[@GeoffBottoms]

When you are driving the Elan why is the Tack and Speedo and temp gage reading 0 ? Owner of S1 and S2 Elan's

[@timsbike4887]

As soon as someone puts their hand on the inside of the wheel to steer i cant watch..

[@michaelreis4789]

What is this green colour called?? Looks Stunning!

[@FerrarisOnline]

British racing green.

[@michaelreis4789]

@@FerrarisOnline Must be a darker shade of BRG... looks much richer and deeper than the typical Lotus BRG - Either way pretty awesome car, nice review!

[@FerrarisOnline]

@@michaelreis4789 thanks.

[@anthonycollingridge970]

Webber DCOE carbs came as standard on the "Big Value" models (around 130 ish bhp), else the car came fitted with a pair of Strongberg carbs with slightly less power. Not a straight forward upgrade as the Lotus heads are different on the Ford Kent cross flow derived twin cam or "Twink" engine. Colin Chapmans ethos "Engineer in Lightness"

[@melvynwoodman5787]

Not true.The Webber dcoe was fitted to all series elans from the start although engine output was gradually increased as the years went by. The Strombergs only appeared on some series 4 cars mainly for US emission versions but not exclusively so. Some Sprints were supplied with Dellorto carbs similar to the Webbers but I am not sure why this was done, possibly supply issues.

[@andrewpolasek5524]

Big Value engine? I think it was Big Valve.

[@PeterRichter-mm6jh]

But the lamp for the interior could at least have been screwed on, because it really doesn't look good that way 😞

[@oneoldgit]

I had a 1966 elan S3 and when it went well it was brilliant. However it was a nightmare when things went wrong

[@benhur_9377]

❤

[@MrStegerhoek]

I'll teach you how to drive this queen.....

[@hoedemakerbart]

Colleen 😍🤪

[@jamiekeeper6204]

I have noticed it’s British engineers who are the best 😊 I’m slightly biased I suppose 😜🤪

[@wheelsfetish]

Still for sale? Price?

[@FerrarisOnline]

This elan sold, however we do have a europa undergoing a restoration at the moment.

[@automotiveaffairsshorts]

So gorgeous… and we don’t mean the car 😍

[@gilligan80]

They were treated like saturn ions

[@wesleycardinal8869]

If you want a car to be seen, get a Ferrari. If you want a car to drive, get a Lotus 👍🇦🇺

[@kurtappley4550]

1280# homologated race weight....

[@johnpoulter8611]

Pity none of the visible gauges were working - deliberate or poor restoration? Don't ride the clutch when you change gear.

[@johnnyfuglestad349]

dellorto carbs was and is prefered, weber is only second choice. the elan is the best sportscar ever.

[@cva1122]

Race car? No harness or even belts?

[@FerrarisOnline]

Cage is currently out of the car. As it was in the proccess of being restored

[@robertoferrari5397]

...i like my Fiat 500.🙂

[@garydunn7014]

None of the gauges working.....

[@visekual6248]

Driving a right hand car is easy until you need to overtake a truck on a two-lane road.

[@AskewRichard]

The trick is to always have a passenger. Then, when you pull out, you glance across to their face. If it's stark horror, you know something's coming the other way.

[@FerrarisOnline]

Exactly!

[@berockization]

What is a Lotus Elon? For crying out loud! Say it correctly. Elan rhymes with pan and can and man.

[@phillipwyatt7370]

if only you could pronounce the name better its an elan not elarn

[@jeffhildreth9244]

To add,, the gyrating and gesticulating and hair flipping is annoying.

[@richarda8097]

And also across the pond, they call them Jagwar not JagUar

[@mrdainase]

If you want to be a pronunciation Nazi, it's actually spoken as Eylarn. You're welcome.

[@mrdainase]

@@jeffhildreth9244 Well, you should stop doing it then.