1978 Elite with a LT1 - NMNA

https://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/d/lexington-1978-lotus-elite/7222350947.html

Just saw this in passing

You still have dibs on the free starter kit to make your own.

I even have the LT1... but that would be a long trip... and I don't mean coming to get it.

We just spent a fortune on planing ahead a bit, so no road trips till I can recover some. If someone has real interest, I might have to let my dibs go, but don't write me off yet.

When I can get there, I'll have to dig up an oil cooler for the Highlander, (so wife and furry kids can come!) move junk off the likght trailer, get the lights working, and put a temp. floor on it. But all of that needs to be done anyway!

I'm not sure I'm talented enough to pull off a rear window mod, but the AMC Pacer window has GOT to go!

Just glassin' it over would be stretching my abilities!

Stampie (FS) said:

You still have dibs on the free starter kit to make your own.

Is that an accurate picture of an Elite chassis? and is yours somewhat as complete?

In reply to 03Panther :

It is and not only is mine complete but it's a brand new (seasoned but not used) chassis.  Mine was torn apart to replace the chassis.  It never got put back together.

Lotus subclass at the 2021 challenge. What a time to be alive!

I'm not versed in the ways of the Lotus Elite, are those inboard drum brakes on the rear? 

I know Jag has done inboard rear disks. I've never seen inboard rear drums. 

In reply to John Welsh (Moderate Supporter) :

Yes. Inboard brakes 

I always wanted one.

In reply to John Welsh (Moderate Supporter) :

Quite a few early formula cars had inboard drum brakes, F1 and F Jr.

Some one mentioned a eroupa roadster, so I played with my elite concept "drawings" again...

Last one even helps with adding some lightness...

If someone better than me wants to erase the glass, I have a more pixel version!

In reply to 03Panther :

One word: Elitamino

In reply to 03Panther :

I'm happy you are playing with Photoshop- if you actually cut the back off an Elite like that it will fold in half. Even the windshield is structural. 
 

As fiberglass bodies go, the Elite is really hard to add lightness to. 

03Panther said:

I'm not sure I'm talented enough to pull off a rear window mod, but the AMC Pacer window has GOT to go!

This rear window mod ALMOST looks like you could swap the windows from the right and left side. 

Pictures are deceptive. 
 

The Elite is drastically bigger than the Europa- it's 20" longer, and weighs 1200 lbs MORE than the Europa.
 

It has a back seat, and it was built to try to make it through US DOT approval in the 70's.  The fiberglass of the Europa is paper thin. The fiberglass of the Elite is at least 6-8 times as thick as the Europa. 
 

It's not the right car to add lightness to. 
 

However, it DOES have a frame that will accommodate a front engine/ RWD V8 configuration, so if you can't add lightness, add POWAH!

In reply to SVreX (Forum Supporter) :

Yep. Ton of potential in that spine chassis. My photo editing skills are pretty minor. Sadly I'm sure my fiberglass skills are prolly worse!!! Be we worked with the stuff, but my natural temprment does not bode well... I've never actually used Photoshop - I just play around with ms paint.