ELSE Europa restoration 2015 -2018

[Gmg31]

The car was re shelled in 1981 but the project was never finished and she sat here unfinished for 35 years.

[EuropaTC]

A great set of photos, just the thing to go into your restoration album.  I guess these days that fire damaged shell would appear on Ebay as a "suit enthusiast" project !

Brian

[Gmg31]

The dealer I bough this off bought the yellow shell as well off the family and sold it so someone who was planning to use it for an "Audi Conversion".  I really don't know quite what he meant by that.

[Bainford]

  Very cool. It's great finding historic pics or info on a project car.

[Gmg31]

A gentle start to the new year. I was a bit alarmed at how high I had to jack the shell but eventually I fitted the two new stainless fuel tanks.

[Gmg31]

More delays.  I couldn't stop the N/S transaxle oil seal from leaking and had to remove the box again, lessons learnt.  but its back in again now and I can start putting this all back together again this week.  I've bought some sound deadening pads off ebay partly to smarten up the look of the engine bay. Photos to follow

[jbcollier]

Factory 1500 TC extremely rare.  Only used in the first 10 or so S1 Elans.  They were pulled from cars that came in for service and replaced with 1600 as Lotus wanted the 1500s for racing.

"1500 federal engine" = either a Renault 1470 high compression, 697-04 (which was sent to the US so could be construed as "federal"); or, more likely,  1565 normal compression, 821-30 engine that was used later.  Both have similar power outputs with the 1565 being slightly torquier and 1470 revving cleaner.

[Gmg31]

That is correct this is an 821-30 engine

[Gmg31]

I normally strive towards originality but  I also value safety and when that is matched with something this pretty I couldn't resist this beautiful aluminium battery box.

[Chuck Nukem]

Awesome! Did you make it?

[blasterdad]

 

It also matches the stove, sink, & the fuel tank! TRIPLE WIN! 
Seriously though, that is cool! 

[EuropatcSPECIAL]

 That battery box looks the bees knees, could use one of them my self
looking good
 

[BDA]

That battery box is pretty snazzy gmg31!

[Gmg31]

I wish I could make stuff like that. It's from www.motorsport-tools.com it was only £44 the plastic ones from Demon Tweeeks were almost £60

[Naildriver]

Great lead, thanks for the link. Ordered one already!