One of the, if not the best engine ever made in my opinion (Lotus-Ford Twin Cam). Placed inside the greatest sports car. Good match. Oh, and the best automotive reviewer. Great combination!
Great show! 60's Lotus Elan, easily one of my top-five favorite cars of all time. With a little engine that could and brimming with personality that no modern car can muster.
I'm on my fourth MX-5, the newest version with upgraded power train. At age 20 in England I drove an Elan just like Harry's, and it set the standard for the Mazda sports car I'm driving in my 70th year.
You've got class Harry. From the motors you like, to the home you live in. One comment described you as a "bumbling Brit". There's a touch of the English eccentric about you, if you don't mind my saying so, but therein lies your charm - at least for me. Thanks for sharing and Oxfordshire is certainly a beautiful county. Best wishes to you.
If Harry's a bumbling brit he seems to be "bumbling" very nicely. Whoever said that I would suggest has issues with jealousy..... ............Jealous of his depth-of-knowledge and charisma
Harry. Back when I was a lad I bought my Honda CB750 for 1k pounds. My neighbour offered me his stunning Elan Sprint for 2k. BUT the insurance wanted 4k! I kept the bike.
Little nimble cars are just more fun than large supercars (I bet). It would be lovely to have that car here in rural New Hampshire but I make do the best I can with my ND Mazda MX-5.
When I was a young snot, I had a 64 Elan. It's a wonder I'm still alive to tell you about it. I drove it like a mad man. My previous ride was a TD. 😂 Just a bit of an upgrade into the Lotus.😊
Graham Arnold, Lotus Sales director and ex tyre salesman, said that with the improvements in tyre technology, the elan could run on even narrower tyres and enjoy cheaper costs and improved ride and handling
Wind up at 7:49 I have that same thing in my mothers fiat seicento 900cc. I've sometimes got to heal and toe on the downshift in that, baby blue sweet thing to look at! Only trouble is, that I learnt driving in that car, and when I drive in any other manual cars I manage to screw up the gear change a lot of the time when driving slowly which make the engine stall. Solution: drive fast! Great videos Harry, only videos I make time for to watch it. Take a cold beer, and ly down on the couch. Your roadtrips are amazing aswell.
This is why I want the new Mx5 back to the old school, low weigh 1.5 is the best engine to have & makes a nice noise, plus you don't need to worry about speeding tickets
I have a MK1 Elise but got to sit in one of these a few weeks ago - you might think the seat in an Elise is a long way down but it felt like an eternity before my ass hit the seat in one of these.
What he says reminds me of how my little 120cc '67 Kawasaki feels. It looks absolutely ancient, but then you get on it and it's got way more power than it has any right to, especially at low RPM where such a small two-stroke should have issues. And even though it's made of pig-iron, it's so small that you can just flick it through corners and around obstacles. It's absolutely fantastic. And of course there's plenty of character, like the tendency to burn your leg if you're not careful, the unconventional shift pattern, and the world-shaking levels of noise from the completely open exhaust.
I have just been up to Jim Clark Country in my Sprint but mine has a lot more modern running gear on it as it is basically a racing Elan for the road. As it is all Tony Thompson Racing Drivetrain, TTR KONI coilovers, and TTR cooling. I showed the footage to the Jim Clark Museum curators and they asked me if they could have a copy of my video footage to which I agreed. The footage of me blasting around Jim’s local roads around Duns will now be on display in the Museum. The footage is also on my Chanel totally unedited.
Small 'efficient' high power engine that also gives 30 mpg. Independent suspension, disc brakes all round, electric windows, pop up headlights in a car from the 60s?
New subscriber here. Enjoying very much the perusal of prior episodes. Harry seems to be a real enthusiast and that fact really comes through in the videos. My only criticism is the audio quality during the driving segments. One or two episodes were unintelligible and I just bailed out after the wind noise became really obtrusive. With just a little tech upgrade all the episodes would be so much more enjoyable if the wind noise wasn't so bad.
My mate bought a 71 sprint for £3k in 85. The same garage was selling a 246 Dino for £7k. Unfortunately that was too much for me then.. Eeh if we knew then what they would eventually fetch.
When Mazda designed Miata,they say that they didn"t took this car as a model.Nooooo,no way.Big respect for Miata anyways.Combination of Japanese industry and taking this car as a model,makes Miata probably one of most successful car ever.
Harry makes such a big deal about how light (by being tiny) the wheels and tires are but those wheels look like steel wheels to me. You could put slightly wider ALUMINUM wheels on there with 175 or 185 tires and keep the unsprung weight roughly the same with a LOT more grip. Just sayin'...
LoveBandit1000 surely the bigger tyre would still have some disadvantage in terms of turning the wheel at low speeds? Interesting point I know most classics have tiny tyres and most owners like to keep the "classic" look but I would love to know if lightweight modern performance tyres dramatically change the character of the Elan.
LoveBandit1000 - To really understand this car, you must shift the thinking that wider wheels will offer better performance. Harry himself mentioned in the video that he tried it and it didn't. The Elan is not lacking in grip as is, the whole shebang weighs less than 1,600 lbs. The Elan's delicate balance is due not only to light weight, but small proportions. Regarding wheel weights, the steel Lotus center-lock wheels on Harry's car weigh only 13 lbs. a piece anyway. Popular aluminum wheel options for the Elan - such as Panasport and Minilite, shave only about 1-2 lbs. from that. And a wider variant would easily nullify the small weight savings. The 20" aluminum alloy Maserati Neptune wheels that Harry showed for comparison are between 30.6 lbs. (F) to 35.8 lbs. (R) each, before tires!
I believe the S1 3.8 E-Type with the Moss gearbox and the short rear-end will do 60mph in about 6.3 seconds, so the E-Type in that spec should, indeed, be quicker.
Yeah, your sound has improved a lot on the newer vids. Check out the Alfa Romeo Guilia review of Savagegeese to see how your sound/cinematography could be raised to the next level. The shots of the first minute are stunning. Imagine this level of cinematography combined with the lovely roads and vistas of Wales, France or Switzerland.
That's only because it's a super-light door and the only way to get it to latch properly is to close it quicker than you might do on a regular car! I've owned several Elans and they're all the same. Thanks for watching.
@@harrysgarage Now i feel really bad, annoying Harry on the last day of 2019. However, he slams all doors on all cars (bonnets too) every single time; Still love the vids! THANKS for the content.
One of the, if not the best engine ever made in my opinion (Lotus-Ford Twin Cam). Placed inside the greatest sports car. Good match. Oh, and the best automotive reviewer. Great combination!
Without this car - the MX-5 would never have been.
Great show! 60's Lotus Elan, easily one of my top-five favorite cars of all time. With a little engine that could and brimming with personality that no modern car can muster.
I'm on my fourth MX-5, the newest version with upgraded power train. At age 20 in England I drove an Elan just like Harry's, and it set the standard for the Mazda sports car I'm driving in my 70th year.
You've got class Harry. From the motors you like, to the home you live in. One comment described you as a "bumbling Brit". There's a touch of the English eccentric about you, if you don't mind my saying so, but therein lies your charm - at least for me. Thanks for sharing and Oxfordshire is certainly a beautiful county. Best wishes to you.
JFB 101 in fairness I think the full title ought to be something like "bumbling Brit" billionaire
JFB 101 in fairness I think the full title ought to be something like "bumbling Brit" billionaire
JFB 101 : you spoke for me as well...
If Harry's a bumbling brit he seems to be "bumbling" very nicely.
Whoever said that I would suggest has issues with jealousy.....
............Jealous of his depth-of-knowledge and charisma
Harry. Back when I was a lad I bought my Honda CB750 for 1k pounds. My neighbour offered me his stunning Elan Sprint for 2k. BUT the insurance wanted 4k! I kept the bike.
Thank you Harry. Exceptional car. Cheers from a Canadian fan.
Thanks so much for sharing your cars with us Harry, another wonderful video. Glad to see your happy to give the cars a good run! :)
Little nimble cars are just more fun than large supercars (I bet). It would be lovely to have that car here in rural New Hampshire but I make do the best I can with my ND Mazda MX-5.
When I was a young snot, I had a 64 Elan. It's a wonder I'm still alive to tell you about it. I drove it like a mad man. My previous ride was a TD. 😂 Just a bit of an upgrade into the Lotus.😊
Amazing seeing the difference in tyres!
Graham Arnold, Lotus Sales director and ex tyre salesman, said that with the improvements in tyre technology, the elan could run on even narrower tyres and enjoy cheaper costs and improved ride and handling
Love it, thats how this car should be driven. Brings back memories, thx for sharing:)
This is definitely one of my favourite 'Harry's Garage' episodes! Harry, could you possibly review a Mazda MX-5 ND 1.5L?
magnifique voiture qui a inspiree la voiture que je possede la MX-5
Oh there's nothing like the induction sound of a twin cam engine on twin 40's or 45's.
Loving your reviews Harry, probably my favourite one so far.
I've always loved this model with the "Big Valve" engine
Wind up at 7:49
I have that same thing in my mothers fiat seicento 900cc. I've sometimes got to heal and toe on the downshift in that, baby blue sweet thing to look at!
Only trouble is, that I learnt driving in that car, and when I drive in any other manual cars I manage to screw up the gear change a lot of the time when driving slowly which make the engine stall.
Solution: drive fast!
Great videos Harry, only videos I make time for to watch it. Take a cold beer, and ly down on the couch. Your roadtrips are amazing aswell.
This is why I want the new Mx5 back to the old school, low weigh 1.5 is the best engine to have & makes a nice noise, plus you don't need to worry about speeding tickets
@ 4:36 exhaust pipe points upward , it causes the rear bumper to be covered with a layer of soot.
the grin on harrys face at 10 mins in says it all,
What a car, if I lived in a place with better weather, this is the kind of car I would like in my drive way for the weekend.
11:00 That's a proper noise.
I have a MK1 Elise but got to sit in one of these a few weeks ago - you might think the seat in an Elise is a long way down but it felt like an eternity before my ass hit the seat in one of these.
What he says reminds me of how my little 120cc '67 Kawasaki feels. It looks absolutely ancient, but then you get on it and it's got way more power than it has any right to, especially at low RPM where such a small two-stroke should have issues. And even though it's made of pig-iron, it's so small that you can just flick it through corners and around obstacles. It's absolutely fantastic. And of course there's plenty of character, like the tendency to burn your leg if you're not careful, the unconventional shift pattern, and the world-shaking levels of noise from the completely open exhaust.
Harry, any chance of a review of the Esprit V8 in the future or any Esprit for that matter?
great, now I want an elan on top of a range rover, an old jag and a tractor
I have just been up to Jim Clark Country in my Sprint but mine has a lot more modern running gear on it as it is basically a racing Elan for
the road. As it is all Tony Thompson Racing Drivetrain, TTR KONI coilovers, and TTR cooling. I showed the footage to the Jim Clark Museum curators and they asked me if they could have a copy of my video footage to which I agreed. The footage of me blasting around Jim’s local roads around Duns will now be on display in the Museum. The footage is also on my Chanel totally unedited.
Small 'efficient' high power engine that also gives 30 mpg. Independent suspension, disc brakes all round, electric windows, pop up headlights in a car from the 60s?
I like the wind noise. 😉
New subscriber here. Enjoying very much the perusal of prior episodes. Harry seems to be a real enthusiast and that fact really comes through in the videos. My only criticism is the audio quality during the driving segments. One or two episodes were unintelligible and I just bailed out after the wind noise became really obtrusive. With just a little tech upgrade all the episodes would be so much more enjoyable if the wind noise wasn't so bad.
Harry great review. Why don't you have a 1st gen miata to match it? All it will need is a little more power.
Superb little macchina
My mate bought a 71 sprint for £3k in 85. The same garage was selling a 246 Dino for £7k. Unfortunately that was too much for me then.. Eeh if we knew then what they would eventually fetch.
love the twin dellortos
UOGH! Webber carbs! Do you have electronic ignition on her Harry?
PMSL when he put the Maserati wheel next to the Elan.
Where does the ODO stand now on this? Great vid!
Odometer.
Harry should be on Tv
When Mazda designed Miata,they say that they didn"t took this car as a model.Nooooo,no way.Big respect for Miata anyways.Combination of Japanese industry and taking this car as a model,makes Miata probably one of most successful car ever.
Where are the side repeaters :)
I'm cryin
Harry makes such a big deal about how light (by being tiny) the wheels and tires are but those wheels look like steel wheels to me. You could put slightly wider ALUMINUM wheels on there with 175 or 185 tires and keep the unsprung weight roughly the same with a LOT more grip. Just sayin'...
LoveBandit1000 surely the bigger tyre would still have some disadvantage in terms of turning the wheel at low speeds?
Interesting point I know most classics have tiny tyres and most owners like to keep the "classic" look but I would love to know if lightweight modern performance tyres dramatically change the character of the Elan.
LoveBandit1000 - To really understand this car, you must shift the thinking that wider wheels will offer better performance. Harry himself mentioned in the video that he tried it and it didn't. The Elan is not lacking in grip as is, the whole shebang weighs less than 1,600 lbs. The Elan's delicate balance is due not only to light weight, but small proportions.
Regarding wheel weights, the steel Lotus center-lock wheels on Harry's car weigh only 13 lbs. a piece anyway. Popular aluminum wheel options for the Elan - such as Panasport and Minilite, shave only about 1-2 lbs. from that. And a wider variant would easily nullify the small weight savings.
The 20" aluminum alloy Maserati Neptune wheels that Harry showed for comparison are between 30.6 lbs. (F) to 35.8 lbs. (R) each, before tires!
Hmmm.. found this video difficult to watch - I kept getting distracted by the Countach in the background...
I believe the S1 3.8 E-Type with the Moss gearbox and the short rear-end will do 60mph in about 6.3 seconds, so the E-Type in that spec should, indeed, be quicker.
Yeah but if you roll that Mr M it's the last thing you'll do....
700kg - it's as light as a Morris Minor.
Don’t SLAM the doors shut, please!!
Welcome to Harrys Channel of annoying windnoises.
Recorded ages ago, before I knew sound quality was quite important!
Yeah, your sound has improved a lot on the newer vids.
Check out the Alfa Romeo Guilia review of Savagegeese to see how your sound/cinematography could be raised to the next level. The shots of the first minute are stunning. Imagine this level of cinematography combined with the lovely roads and vistas of Wales, France or Switzerland.
great car. too small though.
Harry loves slamming doors , all the time, every time. Jesus eg 6:56
That's only because it's a super-light door and the only way to get it to latch properly is to close it quicker than you might do on a regular car! I've owned several Elans and they're all the same. Thanks for watching.
@@harrysgarage Now i feel really bad, annoying Harry on the last day of 2019. However, he slams all doors on all cars (bonnets too) every single time; Still love the vids! THANKS for the content.
@@harrysgarage you tell hem Harry🤣🤣
Proper squeeks