1993 Evante Gran Turismo Convertible

Lot details
Registration No: L845NCH
Chassis No: SA9CG21Y1PA026005
Mot Expiry: Sept 2009

It looks like an Elan - and it is. nearly. The Evante was produced in limited numbers as a complete car, after Vegantune had for many years made replacement Spyder chassis for these sought-after Lotus sports cars. Vegantune became Evante Cars Ltd in 1986. But it improved upon the original, using a tougher chassis, plusher interior and more power from Evante's own engine. From 1990, the company switched to the Ford Zetec twin-cam, 16-valve engine. This necessitated a revised chassis, and at the same time the rear end was restyled. By the time the final 15 cars were built, of which this is one, they were powered by 1800cc Zetec engines with Ford five-speed gearboxes, and the company was owned by Fleur de Lys Automobiles. With fuel injection, and complete with catalytic converter, this engine produces 130bhp at 6250rpm - more than the best Big Valve Elans, but with much more torque. "All the reliability and no oil leaks", says the vendor, adding that the car is "very lively".
Well appointed with leather trim and electric windows, this car was built for the chairman of the company when the list price was £23,000 and was barely used, having covered only 1300 miles. The car has always been dry stored, so the condition is commensurate with the mileage - as the vendor says: "As new". In a nutshell: "Same as an Elan but without the problems".