Hi folks,
I am looking for pictures of Motorsport Elises as used in the Autobytel series.
In particular interior pics and underneath the front clam.
Pesky posted a good one the other day but any more you may have will be helpful.
Cheers
Dan
Haven’t any pictures, but can answer your questions if that helps?
Spent lots of time looking into far too many of them in 6 years of looking after a couple.
OK, scrub that, I know what you’re trying to achieve, and pictures will say a thousand words!!! 
May have a wiper motor/linkage/frame that will help you out though.
Hi John,
Having had a good look at mine it all looks fairly straightforward but I’d like to keep the car fully road legal and with a working heater etc. so wasn’t sure how moving the pedal box affected the bits under the dash/front clam like the heater (air distribution) and wiper mechanism.
Got plenty spare dash panels to sort that and got a sterring column from your good self so not much else to sort.
The only other thing that concerns me is the handbrake cable routing but I don’t think that’s insurmountable.
Cheers
Dan
Hi Dan
The centre seat cars didn’t have heaters at all, so the air distribution parts were not used.
Like wise the handbrake cable. The gearcables had an extra hole cut in the rear seat rail to pass into the engine bay, either to the left or right of the seat, depending on driver preferences. To do the same with the handbrake would work, but would pull off centre, under the shear panel.
The wiper mechanism just about fits! But it is properly tight in there with the centre pedal box.
I’ll let you know if I find any photos of how everything was routed
Cheers John.
I guessed the Motorsport cars didn’t have heaters but was hoping it was possible to leave it in. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see on that one.
Yeah the gear cables looked fairly straightforward, just making another hole for them. I think to get the handbrake to work I’ll need to use two seperate cables (one long, one short) and have the pivot at the lever end, like the Esprit.
Was hoping I wouldn’t have to modify the wiper mechanism.
My plan was to move the entire centre tunnel including the footwell divider over to the left so I could still run all the wiring, throttle cable and brake lines through there to keep it nice and neat.
Is it possible to move the pedal box without removing the windscreen surround or is it much easier just to pull it off and rebond it. I’ve taken one off before and it didn’t seem that bad.
Cheers
Dan
Dan
Rex Stamp (RexS on here) converted his racecar to “central” - it may be worth contacting him, although his car won’t have a heater or handbrake. Unfortunately I don’t have his phone number, sorry.
Hi Rob,
Cheers. I have Rex’s number but as you say with his car not having a heater or handbrake I’m not sure how much help he could be. The rest is pretty straightforward I reckon.
Cheers
Dan
Dan
Perhaps Rex can help with the pedal box/windscreen issue?
Best of luck, I look forward to seeing pics as you progress with your project (wedding pressie to yourself? 
)
Yup, the pedal box and side plates come off with the screen suround in place, fiddly, but doable.
Will check the wiper mechs that we have at work, as they aren’t LHD or RHD, but definatley Elise. Could just be a random box of bits tho!! From memory, the linkage works and clears everything, but you may need to rotate the motor on the bracket to clear the pedal box.
Thanks for all your help John.
Got a good idea of what’s ahead of me now.
Just need to get a cage that fits now! 
Cheers
Dan
Surely a custom cages 6 point will fit ? The ones Randy had made?
Yes it will but I really don’t want to fit a 6 point. Trying to track down a custom cages 4 point. That’s my best bet I reckon.
Cheers
Dan
If you’re re-creating a single seat racer wouldn’t you be better off with a 6-point?
Not looking to replicate an Autobytel car as such. Just want to convert to central seat.
Most importantly, I want it to be fully reversible so that rules out a 6 point completely.
Cheers
Dan
Slightly off topic, Sorry
But what happened to the Autobytel cars? Were they returned to Lotus or currently sleeping in a collectors garage? I am sure I remember seeing one for sale at Plans ?
Aaron
Wonder where they all are now ? i know my old car is in a collection in Japan
Azreal (Steve) owns one
Seans right I do… kind of.
Mine is a Sport Elise but it was never an Autobytel car. It’s one of I think either 2 or 3 built to GT3 regulations for the British GT 2000 season so it’s never had a central seat.
I have mine still, your welcome to come and look over it, as it is stripped down right now. This was Autobytel and then used by Lotus for some long distance stuff…it then did British Gt. I love that car.