Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

Did the scooby have a hydraulic handbrake?

Pug did.

Are you doing your BARS test as well as some tuition?

Maybe I should renew my license soon and I can co-drive for you some time

I have a MASSIVE issue...

The dude i build the racer with has offered me a Lotus Elan S4 DHC. it needs paint and putting back together, but is complete, and has a new chassis and running gear, most of it uprated. With a Lotus guru to help me do it (it is one of four)

It is insanely cheap, with the opportunity to pay it off over time.

It would sit there until the racer is complete, but i would have a car that would be close to double what it costs once complete.

it would severely hamper my ability to buy out the other half of the racer if he wanted out.

what do i do?

Spent the weekend doing the maiden voyage with this thing

Ah, dude. That is a conundrum!

But once you had the lotus stashed away you can complete the racer and the complete lotus and it's value would be equity against both? #awesomemaths

if he wanted out

Hypothetical situation, might never happen...

the problem with that is the finances and time require mean it is one at a time.

in the 17 years i have known him, he has had several elans, a brabham, a marcos, two morgans and now the b.

he will want something else after a season or two.

How much are we talking about here?

what does the enemy say?

Pardon?

Just fucking do it, Richie... Don't think, do...

In other news, I bought some new fitted floor mats and a dash mat for the Sedan of Doom... I got a full detail job done on Saturday, which is hilarious because it's dented to fuck, most of the paint has sun bleached off the bonnet, both bumpers could do with replacing and the passenger side tail light enclosure is still broken... Looks and smells terrific now tho', the inside feels really nice considering what it was like before... The front seats were filthy...

I am (officially) an old person...

I reckon if you don’t buy the lotus you’ll regret it forever more.

it is a bit complicated, but i reckon i could complete it for about 18k. i would then have an elan, with all the desireable bits (twink, webers, new chassis, tubular suspension, etc - oh, and the correct chapman steering wheel!) that is probasbly worth double that.

i could also swap my share in the b (so far) for the elan, and just race the b with him. the thing is, i don't have the time to do both.

it would be howard racing brown, for sure.

i know!

It's the inside that counts so monies well spent

Also, the opportunity to buy an incredibly priced Elan with known history and quite so peachy is really a one off.
I’m sure you’ll work your way around the stumbling blocks of two projects

How does it handle with some more weight behind the rear axle?

Sorry just want to add to the Lotus pain. 😎

*Taken in Sussex.

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Caddy looking hot now! Audi S-Line seats are magnificent!

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Sweet!

That was my main worry and it is a bit unstable. It sways if you’re not careful in corners and going over speedbumps is a slow affair.

I’ve weighed it though and the split between axles is 40/60. Far from ideal but better than I thought.

I think the high centre of gravity makes matters worse as well. We keep all our bags as far forward as possible to keep weight of the back, unfortunately this means it’s sat at the top

the Lotus is pretty but I would just stay focussed on the racer. fwiw