OWNER: Bill Kaufman, Woodinville
OCCUPATION: Retired U.S. Air Force pilot, university professor
CAR'S YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL: 1969 Lotus Elan S4
"I LOVE MY CAR BECAUSE... I purchased it new in England and brought it back to the States after a wonderful NIH fellowship. It is in the style and tradition of real English sports roadsters and drophead coupes. It is light, very fast, and handles exceptionally well."
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6 Comments
By timinator on June 13, 2009 12:36 PM
Nice Lotus, Mr. Kaufman. Looks kinda like a Mazda Miata :)
I Had a '71 Europa years ago, nothing handles like a Chapman-mobile...
By Gollum on June 13, 2009 3:54 PM
According to carfolio.com it has a curb weight of 1517 pounds and the engine has 105 horsepower and 108 foot-pounds of torque.
The wheelbase is seven feet, and the track is basically four feet (47" front, 48.5" rear... I'm guessing to induce understeer).
Wow, that must be fun to drive, especially with the top down on curvy roads with speed limits of 25 - 45 mph *wink wink, nudge nudge*.
Bill,
It looks like the car is in excellent condition. I love it. Is that an/the original color?
It looks like it has a British front license plate, but it looks like the steering wheel is on the left. Am I seeing that wrong?
Are you happy with the gear ratios? How many gears does it have? The car must do better the curvier the road is... not that you would ever speed around curves, but please provide a theoretical example of what the car could do. For instance, how fast do you think the car could theoretically go around a curve that has a sign that says the curve is a 25 mph curve?
By Gollum on June 13, 2009 4:01 PM
Bill,
You should show that car at some of the summer carshows if you have the time. I would love to see it in person.
By Peter on June 14, 2009 7:35 PM
Beautiful car Bill. I've always had a soft spot for old British sports cars and have owned a few myself.
By Christopher on June 15, 2009 8:52 AM
Bill,
Mazda finally revealed after several production years of the Miata and much specualtion amongst owners that the two cars they studied for design cues were the Lotus Elan and the Triumph Spitfire. Miatas are know for their 50/50 ballance and so is the Elan. I've owned a used '92 Miata and then bought a new one (Emerald Mica green) in 2000. Thanks to the Elan it is one iincredibley handiling car!
By Che on June 17, 2009 7:02 AM
Buy a Miata. It's a better car, and does everything the Elan will do without being job security for the British Car Center on Aurora Ave N.
An Elan is not an Elite. An Elite will run rings around any car on the road. They'll catch it on the straights and never see it again after the curves begin.