Mark, Posted this separately so as not to derail the Dino restoration thread. It is interesting you were looking at a 23B. I bought mine in Arizona in 1997, a 23 (not a "B") that had a twincam installed in the early 60s, along with a Hewland box. It was the Ecurie Shirlee (Bob Challman) team car. I thought it would drive like my Elan, but it was so much quicker. I found myself using more of the circuit than I used to. I loved the Hewland box - so fast to shift. Unfortunately, I could not race any more so had to let go of the 23 two years ago. I thought I might install a generator and use it on the road, but it would not clear the speed humps in the village where I live. It broke my heart. The 23 is a lovely car. Here's a picture taken in 2005 at the airport circuit in the old US Navy base in Subic. I sold a racing sailboat to buy the 23, Mark. Isn't that an amazing coincidence? Andy Image Unavailable, Please Login
Thanks, Aedo. Here are pictures of the the front and engine bays. It still has the original frame. I never thought I would post pictures of a Lotus on FerrariChat. I was quite fond of the 23. Andy Manila Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Thanks for those pics - that looks in amazing condition! I am one of the resident Lotus nuts around here and would love a 23
Interesting how the radiator coolant is run through the frame of the car. I always liked the Lotus 23. Great pics! BT
Yes, the arrangement saved weight and cost (important to Chapman). Some 23s run external tubes now, and I understand some racing rules prohibit the use of chassis tubes for this purpose. Yes, Loti are fantastic cars but very different from Ferrari.
What a lovely, lovely car, Andy! I can understand why it broke your heart to get rid of it. On coolant through the frame tubes: It is so typical of Colin Chapmans thinking. He always tried to make one component perform two different functions in his cars. It not only reduced weight and cost, but also complexity of the design - or so he thought, at least. A brilliant mind creating wonderful little cars. I am glad you brought the 23 to our attention, Andy. I had almost forgotten about it. It is a lovely car. Now, if you ever feel like posting some pictures of your Elan, I don't think anybody on this forum would mind...
Hello, I am a stranger to all of you and your conversation, but a fellow Lotus fanatic. Great photos, great 23! Thanks for posting here! Cheers, Tony K. (Esprit collector)
Thank you. I have been first (and in my heart probably foremost - let's keep this to ourselves!) a Lotus enthusiast, although the marked contrast in philosophy, design, and execution with Ferrari is refreshing and makes both marques appealing. There was a discussion in the 206/246 forum on undertaking restorations. Charley (docdozer) mentioned his on-going Europa restoration , Lars (DinoLasse) his now-sold Elan FHC, and Mark (Dinogts) his interest in a 12 and early Elite, and that led to this thread. As Lars suggested, I am posting a picture of my Lotus Elan, a Series 4 model. Its history is briefly stated in the local clubs page: http://www.manilasportscarclub.org/p...portscar2.html As you can see from the picture, it has the 26R magnesium wheels and knock-offs (you have to change the hubs to fit the wheels and KOs) and the 1960s differential cooling scoop. When the picture was taken many years ago, I was still using the Elan in vintage races, which is quite friendly here. We have both now retired from racing. That is my series 1 (1998) Elise. When I first parked the Elise next to the Elan, the Elan looked really vintage! Now the Elise looks vintage too! I still have both Loti and wish I still had the 23. Peter Egan (of Road & Track) once wrote that if he were able to buy a 23, h would just park it in his living room and watch TV sitting in it. A good idea! Andy Image Unavailable, Please Login
My first car was a Series 1 Elan. I had it in college. It broke down a lot, and I had to work on it all week so I could drive it on the weekends. That car inspired my younger brother Chris to get one, a Series 3 that he still has, and to work for Lotus as their Communications guy in the US for several years. The car that drew me to Lotus was the 23. I grew up in Dearborn, Mi--Ford's headquarters--but a local import garage put a 23 in their showroom. It looked like a spaceship at the time. I was about 12 years old. I used to ride my bike over there every day and just stare at it through the window.
Andy, great photo of a beautiful Lotus duo. Thanks for posting it. Your Elan looks like a real Lotus should (IMO), ready for the track or a show, but somewhat useable on the street. Are you in fact using it on the street sometimes? Is the all-steel twin cam engine from QED tractable enough to be used on the street? By the way, the link in your post above does not work (at least not on my computer). It is an interesting page and I am sure everyone here wants to look at it. Here is the corrected link: http://www.manilasportscarclub.org/public_html/news/sportscar2.html Lars
Beautiful Elan Andy. I had a very modified Series 3 Elan which I just recently sold. Here is a shot with my Caterham and some other shots from a magazine article I did Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Lovely photographs, Rallyguy ). I specially like the photo with the Caterham. The make a nice combination. You installed your battery cut-off switch exactly where I did. I had a Tony Thompson roll bar that looked like yours, but replaced it with a hoop when rules allowed an exception. Post a copy of the article, Rallyguy. (Those are not rally cars, so you have wide interests. ) Andy
Thanks Andy. Since buying the Caterham, the Elan just sat unused, so I sold it. It just didn't hold a candle to the Seven despite all the work I had done to it. The rollbar was from the late 60's early 70's we think, it was on the car when I bought it to restore. It looked great, but was way too low to offer any proper protection. I used to shoot rally for living, hence the username when I joined this place. Stopped doing it after nearly getting killed and realizing I wasn't getting paid enough. Still love the sport though The article was for a magazine called "0-60", I don't believe there is an online version of the article
I have this old letter in my file, regarding my 23. I hope it is still legible. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Very cool car and very cool letter from Colin Chapman. Funny how he already seems to know the future of your 23 chassis
I know you had your reasons, but I could never see selling that car. That's just amazing and priceless with a letter from the man himself! I always loved the lines of the 23.
Bob Challman was a Lotus distributor but mainly Elite models based in Manhattan Beach, CA on PCH...cool letter by the way.
old Exige new Elise Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Ignore him... he talks a lot of crap. Ask Fchat member 'andecorp' for a character reference of this guy.
