1978 Lotus Other

Type-75 Coupe

Lotus 907 slant 4-cylinder

Manual

78/060508B

Clear

Gasoline

1978 Lotus Elite. Background Based on a VIN search, I know this Lotus was once titled in Arizona in 2001, and was then sold to a dealer in the mid-west and then to an older gentleman in NY who began reconditioning the car with OEM pieces. Due to health concerns, he sold the car half way through the reconditioning to a Machinist in Pennsylvania, where it sat in a barn, untouched, for 7 years. I purchased the car and put it in climate-controlled storage. Specifications This is the desirable 503 specification with leather, and it's a later Type-75 model, by which point Lotus had sorted out some of the various issues such as cooling and corrosion. Condition The chassis appears to be in good condition (the shock towers look good). It's hard to find an Elite with a chassis that isn't rusted through, and this one appears to be in good shape, suggesting it's been dry-stored. The gel-coat is the best I've seen on an Elite, further suggesting the car has not been jacked-up incorrectly. If you're familiar with Lotus cars, you're aware that a bad gel coat or a bad chassis often spells the end of a project. I looked at four other Elites before this one, passing on all of them because of either the fiberglass, chassis, or issues with molested engines, bodywork of the foam tombstones. Exterior Chrome bits are complete, but with small dings. Fasteners need to be replaced. Tires are dry-rotted after 20 years but hold air Glass is excellent The car is mostly complete. There are some missing pieces: rear deck-lid letteringwiper armsbrake linesclutch cable foam bumperssteering wheel horn covermetal spare tire coverturn signal lens coverheadliner Most of those pieces I have tracked down from Sports Car World and SJ SportsCars. They're readily available, NOS, and inexpensive. One can assume that once you begin to restore it, there will be other pieces that are not accounted for. InteriorThe dash has a small bit of cracking, but the leather is in good shape. It needs to be cleaned with a steamer, leather conditioner, and a brush. The bolsters need to be replaced with the correct foam and leather, but the rear seat and console are in good shape, just dirty. interior headliner is missingwindow motors are defectivecarpet is worn outone wheel hub cover is missing projector spotlight is in a box, but not sure it's completecigar lighter is missing Mechanical I know little about the engine, but there are duplicate water pumps along with other duplicate pieces. The exhaust has some cold patch, but a NOS exhausts are available and cheap. The engine came disassembled, but given the age and mileage, I'm assuming the belt went around 2000-2001. Original Service Parts manual included. Title and Documentation Clear Pennsylvania Title in hand, in my name. Some provenance in the Bill of Sale documentation history.