Made largely of fiberglass. Engine in front with drive wheels out back. Not just one, but two flip-up fuel fill caps. Styling that hatches theories of Richard Teague getting a call from MI5 with a request to report to Norwich, UK in secret with the original plans for his 1968 AMC AMX GT concept. This is the Lotus Elite in all its 1974 splendor. Only about 2600 or so fiberglass-bodied Elites were made over the four year production run. This one belongs to one Dag Midtskog, who picked up the car in less than elite condition from a pal who had already parted the Lotus of a few spares for his own Elite. What Dag got was a transmissionless Elite missing more than a few parts. He’s spent the last five years locating a set of factory aluminum wheels, trim bits, missing glass, and a new-to-him transmission that’s currently bolted up to the original engine with only 38K miles of use.
The Elite scales in at a mere 2150 pounds thanks to fiberglass body and lightweight Lotus construction throughout the car. Like its cousins Europa and Elan, the Elite has a steel backbone chassis smack in the center of the all fiberglass body, and features a fully-independent front and rear suspension – presumably employing Chapman struts. With disc brakes up front to scrub off velocity, the rear suspension houses the sort of thing that frightens most potential vintage car owners from purchasing anything made in England. Rear braking force is provided by a set of inboard drum brakes.
“Those are pain in the ass to work on”, said Dag.
The high transmission tunnel in the middle is a dead giveaway of the Lotus steel backbone under the ‘glass floor tub. Dag drives the car on a regular basis, and motored the Elite into the Lotus section of the Queen’s English All British Meet 2010 in Van Nuys, California. Along with working on the ongoing restification of the Elite, Dag is also a member of ’60s garage rock band Electric Pickles, who are available for weddings, parties, and other more or less exotic venues.
About time you posted that!