Back to back: Elan vs 3000ME

• 
• 
• 
• 

Wow! Brightwells Leominster sale is quite something with 130 classic cars going under the block and quite a few we like. So what to choose for our classic back to back here? Well, that wasn’t too easy. How about Camaro versus Celica? Or Husky versus A30? Or GAZ versus Riley? All very nice comparisons, we think. However, we opted for a pair of British sports cars instead. Both come from relatively small but highly respected makes with very well known sports cars in their past. These two, however, aren’t too much respected by the majority.

The 1979 AC 3000ME started life as a predecessor to the Unipower GT, developed by Lola engineers Peter Bohanna and Robin Stables. Behind the seats they placed a Ford 3-litre V6 mated to a 5-speed Hewland gearbox. Mixing exotic looks with thrilling performance, it was bound to become the Cobra of the 1980s but sadly this was not to be. All sorts of troubles meant that AC went bust in 1985 after just 106 3000MEs had been built in two different factories in two very different places: Surrey and Scotland. This one comes from Surrey and had three owners and just over 15,000 miles from new. The current owner bought the car in 1985 with damage and painstakingly restored it. Estimated at 12- to 15,000 GBP it seems cheap to us.

The Lotus will be a lot cheaper (estimate 3,500 to 4,000 GBP) but has perhaps a similar story. Launched in 1989, the new generation Lotus Elan marked a radical departure for the company. It had an engine and gearbox sourced from Isuzu, but chassis, body and suspension were all typical for the Norfolk sports car manufacturer: a lightweight GRP bodyshell, bolted directly to the backbone chassis. Car magazine called it ‘the best handling front-wheel drive car in the world.’ Like the AC, this Lotus has three owners since it was new, with the current caretaker having it since 1994. It has just over 66,000 miles on the odometer and “will doubtless benefit from a thorough recommissioning before being pressed back into use.” It seems like a nice car to us, though. Which of the two would you prefer?

(Words editor, pictures courtesy Brightwells auctioneers)

Make a comment, ask a question, give your opinion, share additional information or start a discussion by filling in the fields below.