Since I am pretty committed to selling my Formula ford I have been thinking about alternatives. I spotted a lotus elise yesterday which has damage to its front suspension, body and frame. it appears to have been "Dukes of Hazard"ed over a creek or something. I am pretty certain that Michael, the metal artisan and race car builder who is working on my 39 Stude could make it all new again.

The undamaged ones are too rich for my blood.

I guess the first thing is to go test drive one and see if I can get in and out without a handicap crane.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Most fun car you can buy. Not sure if I would buy one with damaged suspension and bent frame. After it's fixed you will always ask your self: is this the way it's supposed to drive, is that rattle normal...?

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1979 Black on Black, 300CD (sold), 1990 Black 300SE, Silver 1989 Volvo 780, 1988 300CE (vanished by the hands of a girlfriend), 1992 300CE (Rescue).

Oh, I think I'd be able to tell if its right or not. ....and I am confident that Michael could fix things correctly. I might take him out to look at it before purchase.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Some consider it good news and others consider it bad that the Elise has a Toyota rather than a Lotus engine. The beauty of the car from a handling standpoint is it's incredibly light weight.

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2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

I've never heard anyone say the Toyota engine is bad. Yeah, the early cars are in the 1600s range and the later ones in the 1800s range. I'd prefer the lighter one but the damaged car is I believe the later version. I have yet to drive one but I hear the handling is laser like.

I believe most of the engines carrying Lotus on the valve cover are Ford blocks with lotus or Cosworth heads.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Yes, the Lotus part is the head. Since the flow of the head is the key to power, and the fact that Lotus has exhibited expertise in that area over the years, the head makes the Lotus motor. In years past, most low priced engines had very basic flow configurations, so Lotus had a lot of room for improvement with their designs. Now that many low priced production engines utilize four valves in all sorts of configurations, there's not as much room for improvement. Not only low priced engines. As I recall, Lotus made the head for the Mercedes 190 special four cylinder, the exact designation I don't recall.

I was not saying there is anything wrong with the Toyota engine. I expect that it's bullet proof and in such a light vehicle, I expect that it makes adequate power. I was only pointing out that there are two schools of thought among the purists.

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2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

"111R / Federal Elise[edit]This Series 2 Elise model comes in European 111R version or a version sold in North America, called the Federal Elise. It is powered by the all-aluminium 189 horsepower (141 kW) 1.8L DOHC Toyota ZZ engine with a Yamaha designed twin-cam head offering variable valve timing on both intake and exhaust valvetrain, and a 6 speed manual Lotus gearbox. The Series 2 model is acclaimed as the best version of the Elise to date, with tremendous performance numbers. Many tests show 0–60 miles per hour (97 km/h) in approximately 4.9 seconds, or 4.7 seconds with the Sport Package. The engine management computer is a Lotus programmed unit."

Lotus Elise - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

With the details Tx provided, I think that is the same engine they used in the later MR2, or Celica or something.

Tom, look into the year model, because in the first couple of years of the last generation MR2 engines, they had some internal issues and became oil burners very prematurely. I think they had that worked out by about 2005 or something. It would be worth doing some research on though. Maybe you'll find that it's not the same engine.

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2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

The Mercedes 16v engine had a cosworth head I am pretty sure.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Lotus Seven.

Long time ago a buddy had a Lotus Europa. The car was as enjoyable as sex with a young hottie, but lasts longer.

and just as tight to get into....

^Yep.

yes, it did. There were some Isuzus in the US that had Lotus tuned suspension I recall.

oh, right, here it is: Forgotten Cars: The Isuzu Piazza/Impulse Was An Ace Turbo Hatchback

I used to want one of those but after autocrossing in a couple I want something with a mid engine. The 7 was always on my bucket list til I drove one in anger. You are so close to the rear axle your back really takes a beating....too much for my old bulging disc back I am afraid.

I want something with a mid engine like my formula ford has.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.