Lotus Elan pre-airflow coupe (1966)
Sale price: US $12,000.00 Make an Offer
| Used |
| “Project that runs and drives” |
| Year: | 1966 | VIN : | 365525 |
| Mileage: | 65000 | Body Type: | Coupe |
| Make: | Lotus | Vehicle Title: | Clean |
| Model: | Elan | For Sale By: | Private Seller |
| Drive Side: | Left-hand drive |
Missoula, Montana, United States
Vehicle description
1966 Lotus Elan pre-airflow coupe. I bought the car here as a non-runner with no keys in 2017. Purchased from the estate of the original owner, Bud Grocki, a school teacher and race car driver in Massachusetts. Bud bought the car new and raced it extensively in the SCCA Solo II class, culminating in winning the "73 New England Division Solo II Championship and placing third in the national championship that year. The car comes with lots of racing and other documentation and memorabilia, including time sheets, photographs, multiple trophies and cups, dash plaques from Watkins Glen and other tracks, Grocki"s racing jackets, letters to racing officials and a speeding ticket. Documentation from Lotus as well (see pics).
It has the matching numbers original engine with original Weber 40 DCOE 18 carbs (verified by Lotus).
My goal was to get the car on the road, hit the local Cars and Coffee, and worry about the cosmetics another day. Since purchasing the car, I have added new front brake calipers, new brake master cylinder, new soft brake lines, new clutch master cylinder and slave cylinder. Carbs rebuilt. Gas tank professionally cleaned and tested. New fuel line from tank to carbs. New Nanking tires. New complete steel brake lines (uninstalled).
The car starts on the key, runs and drives, but it needs to be finished in order to be a safe driver. Rear brakes calipers need to be rebuilt. Needs to be tuned. Water pump does not weep coolant and appears to be fine. I"ve driven it to the Cars and Coffee and around the neighborhood, and that"s about it.
Before I bought the car, the Lotus was stored in a garage since the 1980s, covered with boxes. The body has cracks and spidering (the worst of which is on the passenger side, and crack at edge of trunk). The frame is solid, although it does have surface rust in spots. The front suspension towers are solid. Interior is stock but headlines has rips and center console (not pictured) is cracked. Seats are very nice.
The car comes with many extras aside from the trophies and documentation:
Raid and OEM Lotus wood wheel
extra 1598cc Kent Crossflow Block TI4 711M6015BA
Mass "LOTUS-E" License Plate
Workshop manual and master parts list
To be clear, this car should be considered a project, and not one for a beginner, unless that beginner has a budget and access to a good Lotus mechanic. I"m not sure if the engine, or anything else, has ever been rebuilt. It"s a former race car (albeit in a stock class) recently brought out of a very long slumber and is sure to have plenty of needs.
That said, it"s a neat and rare pre-airflow Elan with an interesting documented history. I"d love to complete the car, but I"m trying to raise money for a Series 1 Seven.
$500 deposit required within three days of purchase, and complete payment within a week. I have experience shipping cars both as a buyer and seller and can help with shipping, although that must be arranged by seller. Car is located in Missoula, Montana. Happy to chat with serious potential buyers. Thank you, and good luck.
On Aug-22-19 at 21:28:36 PDT, seller added the following information: To answer a few recurring questions:
- The car has never had a roll bar installed. It also does not have a safety harness. It was never a dedicate race car. Rather, it was a drive to the track and run it car in the "60s fashion. Safety equipment is limited to a lap belt. The car was used in A Stock class. I added a picture of the car from the era to the photos.
- I do have the center console. The plastic is cracked but the pad is good.
- The gauges work. Electric windows do not.
- Aftermarket steering wheels is a Raid. Original wheel is in good shape. Not perfect wood, but not in need of restoration.
- The car does not have a racing history into the "80s. The race documentation I have ends in the early 1970s. At that time, I understand Grocki moved on to A Modified class, where he won multiple SCCA titles in a Formula Saab. The car was last registered in the "80s. That"s going by the final sticker renewal on the LOTUS E license plate.
- A note on storage and shipping. I have had inquires from Europe and Japan asking if I can store the car while shipping is arranged. As long as the car is paid for, I will store it inside (in my garage) until you arrange shipping. I will work with shippers to be available for pick up on their schedule.
Thanks for looking. I"ll be sad to see it go.
It has the matching numbers original engine with original Weber 40 DCOE 18 carbs (verified by Lotus).
My goal was to get the car on the road, hit the local Cars and Coffee, and worry about the cosmetics another day. Since purchasing the car, I have added new front brake calipers, new brake master cylinder, new soft brake lines, new clutch master cylinder and slave cylinder. Carbs rebuilt. Gas tank professionally cleaned and tested. New fuel line from tank to carbs. New Nanking tires. New complete steel brake lines (uninstalled).
The car starts on the key, runs and drives, but it needs to be finished in order to be a safe driver. Rear brakes calipers need to be rebuilt. Needs to be tuned. Water pump does not weep coolant and appears to be fine. I"ve driven it to the Cars and Coffee and around the neighborhood, and that"s about it.
Before I bought the car, the Lotus was stored in a garage since the 1980s, covered with boxes. The body has cracks and spidering (the worst of which is on the passenger side, and crack at edge of trunk). The frame is solid, although it does have surface rust in spots. The front suspension towers are solid. Interior is stock but headlines has rips and center console (not pictured) is cracked. Seats are very nice.
The car comes with many extras aside from the trophies and documentation:
Raid and OEM Lotus wood wheel
extra 1598cc Kent Crossflow Block TI4 711M6015BA
Mass "LOTUS-E" License Plate
Workshop manual and master parts list
To be clear, this car should be considered a project, and not one for a beginner, unless that beginner has a budget and access to a good Lotus mechanic. I"m not sure if the engine, or anything else, has ever been rebuilt. It"s a former race car (albeit in a stock class) recently brought out of a very long slumber and is sure to have plenty of needs.
That said, it"s a neat and rare pre-airflow Elan with an interesting documented history. I"d love to complete the car, but I"m trying to raise money for a Series 1 Seven.
$500 deposit required within three days of purchase, and complete payment within a week. I have experience shipping cars both as a buyer and seller and can help with shipping, although that must be arranged by seller. Car is located in Missoula, Montana. Happy to chat with serious potential buyers. Thank you, and good luck.
On Aug-22-19 at 21:28:36 PDT, seller added the following information: To answer a few recurring questions:
- The car has never had a roll bar installed. It also does not have a safety harness. It was never a dedicate race car. Rather, it was a drive to the track and run it car in the "60s fashion. Safety equipment is limited to a lap belt. The car was used in A Stock class. I added a picture of the car from the era to the photos.
- I do have the center console. The plastic is cracked but the pad is good.
- The gauges work. Electric windows do not.
- Aftermarket steering wheels is a Raid. Original wheel is in good shape. Not perfect wood, but not in need of restoration.
- The car does not have a racing history into the "80s. The race documentation I have ends in the early 1970s. At that time, I understand Grocki moved on to A Modified class, where he won multiple SCCA titles in a Formula Saab. The car was last registered in the "80s. That"s going by the final sticker renewal on the LOTUS E license plate.
- A note on storage and shipping. I have had inquires from Europe and Japan asking if I can store the car while shipping is arranged. As long as the car is paid for, I will store it inside (in my garage) until you arrange shipping. I will work with shippers to be available for pick up on their schedule.
Thanks for looking. I"ll be sad to see it go.