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Author Topic: It started life as an Elise  (Read 1525 times)

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Offline BDA

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It started life as an Elise
« on: Monday,December 15, 2014, 08:14:31 PM »
I know it's not Europa related (well, the owner/builder did say he first owned a '72 Europa) but it is Lotus related...

Have you seen the latest video on Jay Leno's Garage? A guy built an amazing car starting with an Elise. There didn't seem to be many Elise parts left when he was done... Here, take a look. I don't think you'll be disappointed...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UZNDEaDlro
« Last Edit: Monday,December 15, 2014, 08:20:56 PM by BDA »
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Offline EuropaTC

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Re: It started life as an Elise
« Reply #1 on: Monday,December 15, 2014, 10:37:33 PM »
680 bhp from 1.8L ? wow, engineering development has really come along. I just can't imagine that much power going to the back wheels in such a light car.  The overall design did remind me very much of the 211, even down the the mirrors he'd used.  Nice workmanship but not the sort of thing you'd do the weekly shopping in !

Brian
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Offline BDA

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Re: It started life as an Elise
« Reply #2 on: Tuesday,December 16, 2014, 07:43:57 AM »
That was 680 hp at the wheels. It's probably closer to 700 at the flywheel! That seems like an awful lot - and it is but didn't the old turbo 1.5 litre F1 engines develop something like 1200 hp? That makes it a little more "reasonable".

You're certainly limited in how much you can carry, but what a ride!
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Offline blasterdad

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Re: It started life as an Elise
« Reply #3 on: Tuesday,December 16, 2014, 03:17:36 PM »
He said that Lotus knows of him, I think they should get to know him better!
Outstanding work!
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Offline blasterdad

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Re: It started life as an Elise
« Reply #4 on: Friday,December 19, 2014, 07:20:26 PM »
This is the same guy, different Lotus...
Arguably the fastest Lotus in the world...  8)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmscSzFurwg
His website is lotussport.org
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Offline BDA

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Re: It started life as an Elise
« Reply #5 on: Friday,December 19, 2014, 08:18:26 PM »
Amazing! It seems that he built two similar cars - even the same color! I'm surprised he didn't even mention it with Jay Leno. After all he said it took him nine years to built the car on Jay's show so he must have had them both going at the same time.

It reminds me a little of the Britten motorcycle story that was posted a while ago on this forum because of the wild machine but there was a  hint of a ridiculous time frame when the engine was fixed. If you didn't the videos about the Britten, you really ought to (even if you're not a motorcycle guy). Here they are:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyht48MAOTw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DV0FWljj6FE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTubQg_4_To
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