Central seat position.

The Oily Bits S1 Specific Topics
1

Does anybody know if there are any special parts required for this conversion. Thanks Rex.

2

Now i know how BILLY NO MATES feels.

3

Aaawwww, poor old you, Rex

I think it’s because nobody here has gone down that route, so info is somewhat sparse.

I think Plans Motorsport may have converted an S1, & Stratton Motor Co an S2.

Hope to see you at some the LMA meetings next year

4

You going racing Rob?

5

You going racing Rob?

Afraid not Rex - just continuing to be a mere groupie, enjoying the racing efforts/entertainment provided by you guys!

6

Yep plans have done a conversion recently on an s1, i would definately do one myself if it was allowed in the lot regs

7

i was going to convert mine but after speaking to plans they made it out to be very expensive and said it wouldn’t be road legal unless you get it sva’d or some crap as lotus never sold them like that. Didn’t get it myself they mentioned it would fail an MOT as it would have the central seat??? Be good for track only though.

8

As long as the car was already registered before the conversion i dont see a problem ?? fail to see why it would fail an mot as well

9

Is it definately not allowed in LOT regs Chris ?

Weren’t the original Motorsport Elises central position ? - if so I’d have thought it was difficult to exclude them from LOT regs ?

10

They weren’t all central steering not sure how many were (maybe just the Autobytel cars ??) no doubt Pesky will have the info in one of his anorak books
I looked at buying one from America a couple of years ago that was central steering, i was told at the time by the lot chaps it would have to be converted back, it also had lots of other items outside the regs though as well.
Might ask the question again though see if theres any change

11

Remember seeing a central seat car at Spa a few years back… have to say it looked great.

I’d be surprised if the LOT guys won’t allow it… especially in the new modified class as long as it conforms to the other regs.

Can’t be any weight advantage, just better from a safety point of view and balance perhaps?

12

As long as the car was already registered before the conversion i dont see a problem ?? fail to see why it would fail an mot as well

thats what i thought but im only going from what plans told me, cant remember why it would fail though.

13

Well, I don’t know who you spoke to at Plans.

The central seat position is possible, parts required are surprisingly few, altough there is a lot of labour to move the peddle box and wiper assembly.

But when it’s done it looks fantastic.

See

http://www.exiges.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=110919&page=&view=&sb=5&o=&fpart=all&vc=1

The only issue is there is no room for passengers.

I can’t see why it would fail an MOT either. Contact Plans and we would be pleased to quote. We have most of the parts to do the work in stock.

14

The only issue is there is no room for passengers.

I’m thinking I could do this and then have a kid seat either side for my boys

15

The only issue is there is no room for passengers.

I’m thinking I could do this and then have a kid seat either side for my boys

Group buy on those seats!!!

16

I have done it in the past. Great feeling (although i didn’t drive the car as much as i would like to).
Not very difficult job.
Intermediate steering column, a few holes here and there, pedal box, seat fixings on the chassis and a couple other things. Job done!


[image]http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i48/GeorgeLotus/Carbon_fibre_Elise_3.jpg[/image]
[image]http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i48/GeorgeLotus/DSC03671.jpg[/image]
[image]http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i48/GeorgeLotus/DSC08008.jpg[/image]
[image]http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i48/GeorgeLotus/DSC08457.jpg[/image]

17

Hi George !

How are you getting on back in Greece ?

Best regards

Bernard

18

Hello Bernard,
Generally speaking i am fine.
I decided to return back home as there was a good opportunity for me to start a motorsport garage. However, at the very last moment, I changed my plans and now I am running a composites fabrications factory. Luckily it is going very well, although the world economic crisis. I am building anything from a fibreglass 6m boat to a carbon fibre wheelchair chassis. The only bad thing is that i work 18 hours/day and can’t enjoy my family enough (i got married last month).
This is the reason I disappeared for so long from the Lotus community. Can you imagine that since I left UK (07/2007) I’ve only driven my Elise for about 1000 miles max!

I hope you, your family and business are fine.

Greetings to everybody. I missed UK.