Greetings, I owned a S2 many years ago. I drove it year round, raced it a bit in the NW US and British Columbia but sold it 25 years ago when I went vintage racing. I recently bought a 66 S2/SE and am reacquainting myself with everything. The car is pretty complete and has most of the recommended upgrades: alternator, improved cooling system, splined axles, etc; just missing the hand brake, but I understand that Lotuses are a never ending project, and I tell my wife a 4 wheeled hobby is better than a 2 legged one, and ultimately cheaper.
This is probably a stretch, but if anyone knows of a hardtop for sale I’d be very interested. I’m in the US (Oregon, where it rains) but frequently travel up and down the West Coast.
and I tell my wife a 4 wheeled hobby is better than a 2 legged one,
Telling that to your wife is not smart. Either you mean her, than you are saying you prefer a car to her, or you meant another one, than you are saying you want a car before having a lover ??
and ultimately cheaper.
In case of an Elan, I have my doubts.
Fortunately in that regards I no longer have to worry about the wife although that in itself brought on a whole litany of ongoing problems that make a Lotus Twin cam rebuild a piece of cake by comparison!
It does have many advantages though not having a handbrake. For example you can have an engine in the dining room and not have to put up with complaints. You can have dog and cat ownership of the house without complaints, you can drop screws and other small items on the floor and not have to suffer terror filled night sweats brought on by fear of them being vacuumed up, etc., etc.
It’s always a good girlfriend test having an engine in the dining room too. It was something I should have considered first time around. When they inevitably trip over it I say “careful you don’t damage my engine”. If their response to that is an explosion and to give me a black eye I can safely assume that the relationship is not going to be a long term proposition.