Lotus Elite Period Race Car Project
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History
Former early 1960’s period racing car, later converted for street use. Disassembled for restoration decades ago.
Description
Below are some of the racing modifications discovered on the car:
Oil cooler cutout in front lower body
NACA ducts in rear rocker panels to funnel cold air to rear brake
Alloy rear brake calipers
Stage III Climax engine. Five bearing, high lift cam. Steel timing gear. Dual Weber carburetors. Derrington intake manifolds. Tubular four branch exhaust header. The engine also has unique aluminum breathers of differing heights specially made to fit under the bonnet. It also has a braided external oil line.
Close ratio competition MG gearbox
All aluminum differential
Plexiglass rear window
Old, period, competition seat belts and mounting brackets
Special wide access hole cut into fiberglass above differential for quick changes
Old safety wired nuts and bolts throughout
Koni shocks all the way around
Diaphragm clutch
NACA duct in hood
Fiberglass removed from behind radiator to increase air flow
Ride height adjusters on front shocks and rear shock towers to lower the ride height
Trunk-mounted Electric fuel pump
Gusseted front suspension A-arms
Higher number of spokes/stiffer wire wheels than standard
Set of alloy Borrani racing wheels with three bladed knockoff spinners
There may be more modifications under closer inspection
Other interesting notes:
The car has the “double dimples” in the body, apparently designating this as a Series 2 car.
This car has a tunnel mounted handbrake assembly found on the Series 1 cars, not the umbrella handbrake normally found on the Series 2.
This Elite has the early 16 inch steering wheel of the Series 1 cars, not the 15 inch, thicker, Series 2 steering wheel.
The known downsides of the car are the following:
Missing rear bumper, windshield, side windows, sway bar, one of two steering column brackets, and gas pedal. Other thing may be missing, but I think these are the major ones.
Engine needs rebuilding, but turns over.
The body needs attention all the way around, but is in good overall shape.
I recently bolted the main pieces to the car to make sure they fit, and to make it easier to transport. Probably the rest of the parts can be put inside the car to transport everything as one lump. Of course the car will need to be taken apart to paint and fix the engine. The good news is that it everything is very clean and will be easy to take back out.
This is a nice, clean, quite complete, rust free, project that can be driven on the street, or used in historic racing. You can decide whichever is best for you. The original color is red. Selling for health reasons
