Description:

Lotus Elan S3 FHC – 1966

I bought this car from a lovely old lady whose husband had owned the car from new. It was his pride and joy apparently. Unfortunately, he had passed away and after holding onto it for a few years for sentimental reasons, she finally decided to sell it. I have owned the car since 2019.

Prior to me buying the car, it hadn’t moved for roughly twenty years due to age and ill health. I bought it as a restoration project and the work was carried out by me and various specialist companies during 2019 and 2020.
I was aiming for a complete refresh of all the mechanical parts on the car, as you can see below, I got a bit carried away. It has a few sensible upgrades where warranted for reliability etc. I wanted a very clean under bonnet look with minimal wires and hoses showing. I also wanted a subtly upgraded interior with a few more accurate gauges and a decent radio etc.

As I got into the restoration, I could tell that pretty much everything needed replacing or refurbishing, so that is what I did.

Since completing the car it has covered approximately 750 miles without fault. My reason for selling is that I just don’t use it enough. It was all about the project for me and I am itching to do another one now, so the Elan must go in order to fund that.

If you have any questions feel free to give me a call on: 07967662294

The restoration consisted of the following, I am sure I have probably forgotten a load of things, but the highlights are below. I have receipts for all of the following:

Mechanical
• Complete engine rebuild including new valves, valve guides and valve seats, new bearings and seals throughout
• Brand New 40DCOE Webbers with new K&N filters
• New water pump – Paul Matty
• New ‘H&H Ignition Solutions’ electronic distributor
• New oil pump – Paul Matty
• New alloy radiator with electric fan – Tony Thompson
• New alloy header tank / swirl pot – Tony Thompson
• New water hoses and heater hoses
• New MSD super conductor ignition leads
• New Paul Matty stainless Steel exhaust system and manifold
• New Paul Matty alloy fuel tank with upgraded baffles
• New Weber electric fuel pump
• New starter motor
• The engine was set up at Northamptonshire Motorsport and anyone who knows Troy, knows he does a great job. The result is a very sweet running little engine that still has every one of its factory 100BHP.

Suspension and Brakes
• New Ball joints and bushes throughout the whole car
• New Trunions
• New wheel bearings all round
• Rebuilt gearbox – McMillan Motorsport
• Rebuilt diff – McMillan Motorsport
• Tony Thompson diff brace bar
• Rebuilt prop shaft with new UJ’s
• Rebuilt solid drive shafts with new UJ’s
• 4 new ‘Minilite’ alloy wheels
• 4 refurbished spinners
• 5 new Dunlop Streetresponse 2 tyres – 175/70 R13
• Complete new rear hubs and uprights with height adjustable spring platforms – Tony Thompson
• New Tony Thompson adjustable Koni shock absorbers
• New track rod ends
• New brake master cylinder
• New clutch master cylinder
• New clutch slave cylinder
• New braided clutch hose
• New uprated plus 2 front brake kit including bigger disks and callipers
• New rear disks
• Refurbished rear callipers
• New handbrake cable and handbrake rods
• New braided brake hoses throughout

Interior
• New carpet set throughout
• New crash pad
• New Tony Thompson 26R Carbon seats
• New ‘Retro Sound’ DAB / Bluetooth / FM radio
• New dashboard
• New Smiths electronic gauges
• New wiring loom
• Programable power distribution module to replace fuses and relays
• New head lining
• New battery
• New window rubbers
• New door seals
• New interior lamps
• New ‘Sabelt’ harnesses
• New washer bottle with electric pump, mounted in the boot

Body
• New boot hinges
• New boot stay
• New door ball and socket hinges
• New front bumper
• New rear bumper
• New headlights with 26R style fixed light covers
• New side lights
• New indicators
• New grill
• New horn
• New badges
• New locking fuel cap

Keyword Search Terms:

Lotus, Elan,