I just got this starter from the USA, www.britishstarters.com
It looks great, weighs 3.5kg, 1.2hp.
Including all taxes and delivery it cost ?132.
The only thing that is worrying me is that it has nine teeth and the old lucas starter had ten. They tell me this will make no difference.
I will let all know how it goes when I fit it over the weekend.
Chris
Little beauty indeed Chris!
To calm your fevered brow, I got a Brise starter from 'Matty and it only had 9 teeth. It works way better that the old Lucas crap and started the car easily on a cold frosty morning (after a very wet night) on Skye, last weekend. I recon that’s one of the ultimate tests.
I think 9 teeth should be OK.
Hamish.
From a previous post I made in December 2005; nine teeth is correct…
"I have an aftermarket Gustafson starter… 9-teeth. It works really well, and Keith Gustafson (also an Elan owner) has a special interest in seeing Elan owners are satisfied with his product.
I heard also that a 10-toothed starter works better, but Keith convinced me that although he could provide a 10-toothed starter, the 9-tooth model is the one to go with. (He was so eager to please a fellow Elan owner, that he actually machined several different mounting plates for me when I was having starter/ring gear allignment problems. No charge…)
I have no financial interest, just a satisfied customer. "
Gary
'71 Elan Sprint
Hi There
A few years back there were some posts on this subject with people counting the teeth on their ring gears (inc me) etc, and it does make a difference over time. I think the cortina ring gears were different but get fitted to lotuses over the years. I myself had an early engine with an LP engine number in my plus 2. I wish I could remember, it was something like 109 teeth vs 112 or something, and either 9 or 10 teeth being right. Someone here will have noted it down.
Having said that with a powerful starter like that it probably makes little difference. With a standard starter in marginal condition I think it does.
Berni
I have a gustafson starter fitted to my car (similar the the one above) and it is brilliant. You will love it and your ring gear will be so thankfull to you. I like original cars but do not mind improving the car as well.
all the best and have fun
Robin
I have a gustafson starter fitted to my car (similar the the one above) and it is brilliant. You will love it and your ring gear will be so thankfull to you. I like original cars but do not mind improving the car as well.
all the best and have fun
Robin
Hi Chris,
I think you know that I went the same route as Hamish, quite a while ago now.
To me it does not matter which “make” of pre-engaged starter you decide to buy, in the end it is probably one of the best purchases we Elan owners could make to improve reliability which cannot be a bad thing. 
Regards,
Doug.
I have been using the same starter that Chris has purchased for the past 3+ years. I would highly recommend.
Stu
Gents it would appear from the Gistafson web site for Elan starters www.britishstarters.com are outlets for Gustafson starters !!
So maybe its one and the same ???
I seen to remember that there was a change in the wiring for this breed of starter ? Can anyone refresh my memory before I take the plunge 
Chris
Did you get charged import taxes when it cam into the UK ?
Cheers and many more Beers
Also looking at the picture seems a little “lumpier” than the Lucas model with what seems to be a “pre-engaged” solenoid,is that the case and does it cause any clearance problems.it’s a bit tight down there…
John 
Yes this is a Gustafson, Brtish starters obviously have some connection with them.
If you want to continue using the bulkhead solenoid you just have to connect the two terminals on the starter.
The guy I dealt with, Doc Martin, was very good and the vat due on the invoiced price was only ?3. However parcelforce charged ?8 to collect it for Gordon Brown! Never mind the all in price it cost me-?132- was still cheap in my opinion.
I will report back on fitting at the weekend.
Chris
My experience was fitting was very straight forward. There is a slight wiring change but all details were provided by the Doc. Can’t recall the specific details though. Starter is smaller diameter than the original so the lumps and bumps are not a problem.
Good luck with the installation Chris. I believe you will find it turns over much faster and doesn’t get stuck like the many bendix versions I used before I switched.
Stu
After years of struggling with stock starter problems, I bought a similar type starter. 23 years later, still going strong, never an issue since. 
Hi, I also purchased a starter from Doc Martin for my 67 S3 coupe and it has given me no problems and was easly installed. I believe the solenoid is built in.
He has them on EBay along with many other items. He has expanded his product line over the years.
Sarto
If you want to buy from the UK then these people appear to sell (similar?)starters, although it appears it’s cheaper to buy in the US and pay shipping and tax… 
Carl
Two years ago, I paid $150.52US plus shipping for mine. Ordered it from:
Tingle’s Lotus Center
1615 Shawsheen Street
Tewksbury, MA 01876
USA
Phone: 978-851-8370
Fax: 978-640-0889
e-mail: [email protected]
Web site: tingleslotus.com
He is going out of business and probably has none in stock, but he will order one from Gustafson for you. Most likely, he’ll want more at this point. How much more? Ask him.
Am I missing something?! I have an old ‘Prince of Darkness’ Joe Lucas starter which has never let me down, rain, snow or two week lay-up in severe frosts (over Christmas a few years back). I have been watching these starter threads with some mystification. The car ('68 +2) is and has been a daily driver for 5 years and lives outside on the street. The only modifications that I have are an alternator conversion, Lumenition, and a Magnecor cap & leads (stopped an intermittent misfire). The battery is a normal sealed unit (42Amphr I think) not a truck unit! What is the difference, regular use? Starting procedure is one firm pump on the throttle, and a firm twist of the key. Usually starts first turn. If the engine is so difficult to start, surely the problem is not the starter, but the engine. A powerful starter surely masks other problems, like using ‘Eazi Start’?
Everything else seems to go crappy after a while, but starting has always been reliable…
Jeremy
Jeremy,
I, too have watched these posts with some mystification.
Guess we’re lucky !
OTH I a have flattish battery after a couple of weeks lack of use, so probably earth leakage problems. or a carp battery.
I also have cam sprocket problems … see " A cautionary tale", soon to be posted.
Regards.
I bought one of those quick disconnect battery connectors and disconnect the battery when the car is not in use, saves any earth leakage and flat battery problems, makes the car (slightly) more difficult to steal and stops any electrical fires (hopefully)… The only time I had problems with my standard Lucas starter was when I had a dirty earth connection between the negative terminal and the chassis (in the boot / trunk).
Carl
… I want to go for one of these for “OEW”… Your opinion please…
burtonpower.com/default.aspx
But how many tooth should I pick !?!(if someone know before I have to remove the old )
Christian.