Lotus v. Lotus article

Nice comparison of the two cars- but it made me think of one question- are the molds still available for the Elan?

I know the subframe can be fabricated.

So I was wondering if anyone thought of making a body in carbon fiber- using less materials. And trying to itegrate the subframe to make it stiffer.

Then the choice would be, what engine? Maybe a 1.0l from a Fiesta?

Linky?

alfadriver wrote: Nice comparison of the two cars- but it made me think of one question- are the molds still available for the Elan? I know the subframe can be fabricated. So I was wondering if anyone thought of making a body in carbon fiber- using less materials. And trying to itegrate the subframe to make it stiffer. Then the choice would be, what engine? Maybe a 1.0l from a Fiesta?

I'd think NA Miata motor would be appropriate.

In reply to Rupert:

I agree.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: Linky?

??

I got my recent CM last week- with an article about driving the first Cobra (which I have to say is a very, very light article- not much in actual driving impressions- more about dreaming of the history). And a comparison of a 7 vs. an Elan.

The comarison was interesting- but just made me think of the Elan chassis, and if it could be made using the same molds but with pre-preg CF properly. It would be interesting to see if it could be lighter.

I remember seeing the Lotus production line when they were still doing the last Esprts and the first Elies, and the improvement of technique was a pretty big step- just for fiberglass. Took a lot of weight out (on a relative basis).

So going back and making a properly done CF Elan would be really interesting to see how good and light it could be.

Rupert wrote:

alfadriver wrote: Nice comparison of the two cars- but it made me think of one question- are the molds still available for the Elan? I know the subframe can be fabricated. So I was wondering if anyone thought of making a body in carbon fiber- using less materials. And trying to itegrate the subframe to make it stiffer. Then the choice would be, what engine? Maybe a 1.0l from a Fiesta?

I'd think NA Miata motor would be appropriate.

I actually completely disagree. Too heavy. I'd rather go with a lighter aluminum block. And vs. a NA Miata motor, would choose an Alfa 1600 or 1750 over it- which, of course, is totally the wrong motor.

Maybe if one could find a Duratec/MZR 1.8 somewhere.

In reply to alfadriver: Your dream = your choice.

In reply to alfadriver:

all the body parts are available - from small stuff to full shells - mostly from the UK from original tooling/molds

oldtin wrote: In reply to alfadriver: all the body parts are available - from small stuff to full shells - mostly from the UK from original tooling/molds

Anyone know if the owners of the molds every tried to make a CF body?

alfadriver wrote:

oldtin wrote: In reply to alfadriver: all the body parts are available - from small stuff to full shells - mostly from the UK from original tooling/molds

Anyone know if the owners of the molds every tried to make a CF body?

Using a decent thermoset epoxy base with CF should be REALLY similar to fiberglass in process ability. This is of course using the current molds without the aforementioned structural improvements. I love where this thread is going but I'm simply amazed the VW guy is the one to propose the obvious LS7 power option?

In reply to 84FSP:

Even without any structural improvements to the design, pre-preg CF adds a lot vs. fiberglass/epoxy. So just doing it with the same amount of materials should result in a much stronger/stiffer body. Or the same structural body that is lighter.

BUT, noting how much better the process was for the Elise vs. the Esprit, using less material and getting a stronger body- just updating the process to be the same as the Elise would be a step forward.

Seems like.

If your plan is a Miata mill.... a 4AGE(or 7AGE) would make a far better engine option. More power capability, compact(21" long), and closer to the original design.....

Why go for an obsolete engine? Something like the Skyactiv out of the newest Miata or some fireworks-shooting modern Honda engine. S2000 mills don't count, neither do antique 4AGEs or BPs. Is there a current Honda engine worthy of the car?

The turbo Suzuki three cylinder used in the current Lotus - sorry, Caterham - would be worth a look as well.

As far as replicas go, I would rock an elan in a heartbeat.

I thought I once saw someone making new Elan bodies--of course, this might have been 20 year ago. Still, very cool idea.

I currently DD a 1995 Miata, a completely stock car. It is sitting on a fresh set of KYB shocks, stock springs and Falken 195 60 14 615K's on the stock 14X6 Mazda rims.

I owned a 1964 Series One Lotus Elan running SE cams, sliding spline half shafts and 145SR 13 tires on stock 13X4.5 steel rims. To fit more tire under the car you need to blister the fenders. Fiberglass fenders. That you end up adding 26R to your "have to have" that requires heaver springs that .....

The only thing I truly miss from the Lotus is the gear box. To be precise, the action of shifting from gear to gear. Any gear. Up, or down. And yes that sweet twin cam breathing thru twin Weber DCOE 40's, wishing I had one more gear to shift into. And more tire to .....

Cosworth makes a very very nice duratec...Or some kind of tec, which is what I would want since it would be a Lotus powered by Cosworth, the way God would want it!

BRG with a yellow strip of course.

Leo

I'm still curous about the idea of an actual properly made CF Elan. Would it be stronger, lighter, or both? And would it make it an even better car?

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: Linky?

http://classicmotorsports.com/news/try-classic-motorsports-for-free/

IF the basic Elan configuration is used... the engine MUST be small... there isn't a lot of room in the front for many different engines... and their ancillaries... I have moderately intimate knowledge of 26R-52

You have the right idea but are executing on the wrong car.

The full potential of the CF switch would best be found by doing the Elite; it was a full fiberglass monocoque to start with. A CF variant would weight practically nothing.

As for an engine, I will reiterate my "classic swap for classic cars" mantra and remind people that the Miata 1600 is officially a classic and comes with one hell of a nice box. There were a lot of them made and they will be supported for a long time. That is a wining formula.

In reply to NOHOME:

And the Elite is even better looking than the Elan!

My dad races a 64 elan and he is having a new light weight body shipped from England. So there are still some molds floating around over there