GEB193N on Ebay

[igg-hiss]

Another Elite surfaces after 25 years in hibernation. October 1974 possibly registered in Glasgow when new but now down south. Asking an awful lot for a restoration project.

[Hawaiis0]

The location is on my doorstep if correct. May have a look

[MetBlue]

Looks a very complete and original car, but what a price. .
Original radio, but will it clean up? Also original trim (well at least what's left after the mice have dined out). Would bet it still has original non galvanised chassis also based on fact rest of car doesn't looked messed with.
Be an interesting watch.
Tony

[neilbennet]

Hi guys,

I am the lucky new owner

Please could anyone help me as I have no idea what to do next. I have some more photos and I will have back home when the lockdown finishes.

But until then, all I can do is plan, plan, plan and prepare - First - Is there an article how to split body from chassis - Task No. 1

cheers
Neil

[Hawaiis0]

Hi Neil, welcome.

Where are you located?

Stu

[Pete Boole]

Hi Neil. Welcome to the forum! Another Elite restoration - excellent! I shall look forward to following it.

Pete

[MetBlue]

Welcome Neil. You'll find plenty of information within the site. You have a very original car from what I saw of the advert pictures.
Tony

[igg-hiss]

Hi Neil Welcolme to the forum:

Its a bit of a task to separate the subframe (chassis) from the body. I took the engine and interior out to do it and had access to a two poster.

Best of luck and thank you for saving an early car.

Ian

[MetBlue]

Neil. At the other extreme, mine was done in a single garage, with two trolley jacks and a good few concrete blocks. And a lot of patience and juggling around of brick piles. I don't recall removing the interior or engine, but it was a good while ago.
Tony

[igg-hiss]

Tony I applaud your ingenuity, I believe that the body needed inclining to clear the engine so during manufacture the bodies were angled at the factory. As you were jacking up most likely you replicated the 16 or so degrees needed to clear. I was going straight up on the ramp so out came the motor. My car had sat for 16 years in a feild and before that it had languished in a garage for 8 years. None of the pins would come out! (Indeed you will see a plasma cutter in the back ground) I was a bit pushed for time so to gain easier access out came the seats to get at the centre bolts (not to much of a bind as because the hinge had seized solid the drivers door had needed to been torn off). If I remember rightly Angus asked if it was true that I had a 75 éclat (1 of 20) in the February and could I have it at the NEC in November for the eclats 40 birthday. At least Neil doesn't have to do my first job which was landscaping to get it out from where I had left it 16 years before!

[MetBlue]

Seams there's always a prep job to do before starting the restoration. Mine was to build the garage needed to put the body shell in whilst doing the chassis further down the drive. On the plus side, it did mean I had 100's of bricks lying around, which were pressed into use to build the piers (loose build - I must have had confidence in their sturdiness). Also, because I didn't have the width in the garage, I had to build the stacks within the wheel base and keep moving them for and aft around the front wheels to roll the chassis out. Took time, but needs must. Neil : If you possibly can, do the job in a wide space, so you can put the supports wider than the wheel track, then chassis just rolls out. Simples
Looking back at old pictures taken ( pre digital) the 16 degree issue was resolved by removing the Exhaust Cam carrier, clear to see in the picture below. The body just went straight up with this off.


Tony

[neilbennet]

Hi all,

I will listing the progress, my first step is to investigate the state of the engine, both crank and camshaft turn, but no cam belt so need to fit one before anything. The antifreeze is still green and as we can ascertain the Elite was just parked up indoors a very long time ago, parked next to a Rolls Royce, so hope location was good.

The Elite is one owner, first company owned and then purchased by the owner, but seems parked for ever.

I am really hoping everything exists on the Elite, as nothing looks to have been disturbed in all of this time. So when I remove the body to repair/replace the chassis, I maybe the first

I have many photos from under the Elite, but no idea how to add photos

cheers all, Neil
Neil
Burgess Hill, West Sussex

[TAR]

Congratulations on your purchase. Looks like a good restoration project and very complete.

I'm looking forward to your progress being posted here.

[MetBlue]

Neil
I use dropbox to post pictures. If you already have or use Dropbox as a directory, it's not too difficult although the photo's do need resizing to keep reasonably small. There are instructions within the forum on full detail or I'll happily share my method.
Looking forward to seeing your progress. Is it going to be a long term project, or are you planning on a reasonably fast turn around?

Tony

[neilbennet]

Hi Tony,

My method is rolling restoration - First get on the road and then work on improvements on the way especially inside the car.

But this one could take many years to get on the road. My Bentley took 8 years of solid work after being off of the road for 50 years.

I recon I have engine, suspension, brakes, chassis, fuel system, electrics to work on. Not much left !

But, I am so excited, I have been waiting this moment since 1984 when I first loved the Lotus Elite.

I really wanted a 503, but maybe I will be happy with the Badge on the B pillar, as there is no badge on this 502, maybe there were no badges on 1974.

I will need help with someone who can do interior in original material as this is not so good, especially the rear seat.

cheers
Neil
West Sussex