Repair and servicing of a Lotus Elan Sprint

I have recently bought a Lotus Elan Sprint. I know nothing about cars and need someone to service it and generally look after it for me in North East Surrey. (Dorking/Reigate)
Colville and Bell are good but too expensive for me!
Does anyone know of a small garage or an enthusiast who would kook after my car at a reasonable rate?
As I am nearly 70 and car ignorant I can’t do it myself!

Regards,

Tony

Tony

Welcome and congratulations on your Sprint purchase.

It might be worth your while contacting Bell & Colvill to ask them if they know of any of their older ex-mechanics, who will have experience of Elans and have set up shop on their own.

Otherwise you might like to consider Miles Wilkins, who is just outside Arundel at Fibreglass Services. It would be a nice run for you and the Sprint. See fibreglassservices.co.uk/index.html

Please also look at www.lotuselansprint.com and see if your car is listed on the database. If not, I would welcome hearing from you.

Tim

I haven’t used them myself but I’ve heard good things of Lakeside Engineering. They are near Woking, not too far from you.

lakesideengineering.com

–Antonio

Many, many years ago I used to bring my S2 to Eddie Bennett, a Lotus specialist who if I recall correctly was in Windlesham, near Bagshot, not too far from you. I thought Eddie was pretty good and at the time quite reasonable. Definitely a low-overhead shop.

I just googled him and couldn’t find anything on him so he may have left the business, hopefully not the planet.

Steve

Tony,

I have a sprint and am based in Ripley. There is CT cars who are on a farm opposite Bell & Colville, I think the chap there is ex B&C I had some work done there a few years ago no probs. Also when I bought my car 11 years ago it needed suspension work and water pump doing. I used a chap called Gary at D&H Automotive on Monument Way trading estate in Woking (01483 768664). Gary I believe is ex B&C and was an apprentice in the 70’s working on our cars. He is good but I haven’t used him for years as I do all my own servicing these days. I will be calling on him soon if he’s still around as the rear wheel bearings he fitted surely must be getting ready after 11 years and 30K!

When he did the water pump and exhaust valves 10 years ago (they are also still going strong) the engine had changed colour from blue to the correct colour grey when I picked the car up - “I couldn’t leave it blue!”

Good luck

Ian

I can vouch for Gary at D&H Aotomotive - he’s still there (it’s his own business) and he’s great - extremely knowledgeable, helpful and enthusiastic about Elans.