The chassis change was planned well in advance. I'd like to say it was organisation but the reality was we needed a mountain of cash for the bits and hence a few month's salary build up.
Hmmm, we might as well do the engine bearings and piston rings, and as the differential leaks as much oil as the Torrey Canyon did we might as well do that as well.
We spent the money reserved for a colour television on bearings, bushes, nuts, bolts, springs & dampers at Chris Neils in Northwich.
Then a week later I went to my friendly motor factor and bought brake hoses, caliper overhaul kits, new unions and a roll of Kunifer brake pipe.
We bought one of the last sheet steel chassis with 26R mods to come out of Spyder before the Lotus lawyers got too heavy, strengthened a roof rack and drove home with it on the top of a Hillman Imp.
With hindsight it’s amazing we weren’t pulled over by the police.
I took a week's holiday for the task. Helen stocked up on coffee, sticking plasters and sympathy and I started on the Friday night after work.
This shot shows Helen showing just how keen she is to get cracking.....
Friday after work, Lotty enters the garage for a marathon spanner session.
I reckon if I crack on I'll have it all back together by the following weekend, but I'm still not really sure just how I'm going to get the body off the chassis. But I'm an optimistic soul at heart, and I'm sure I'll think of something.
Notice just how clean, neat and tidy the garage is.
That will change....
