One of the saddest Elises I have ever seen. (updated)

"whatisthatsound" (whatisthatsound) 01/19/2015 at 17:24 • Filed to: None

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I've lived in Pensacola for a year and a half now. I have driven by this 2005/2006 midnight blue Elise parked on the street, outside of a community church. I went to check it out today, and I found a poor Elise in terrible shape.

It doesn't look horrendous from afar, but when you get closer you realize exactly what is going on, and why it hasn't moved.

If you look closely you see a homebuilt metal box where the engine goes as well as those metal sheets. I have never seen this before so this makes the mystery even larger.

The engine and radiator have been taken out of the car, the trunk is full of air duct parts that have been removed from the intakes. I'm not sure if this was an attempted project car or if something more malicious went on. The body work on the car is in good shape. It even has the original star shield Lotus installed from the factory.

The soft top is in good condition as well, but this poor car is doomed to the street. While I was checking out the car, a nearby angry homeowner walked over to me thinking I was the owner of the car, to give me a piece of his mind. He explained to me when the flood happened last April, the 30 inches of rain moved the car into his yard and broke a water main on his house. The owner snuck in at night and hand pushed the Lotus back into the spot you see it at today. The angry homeowner said it has been sitting for more than three years.

I have a question for the community, flood damage is not good, the elise is a barebones car as is. Can fiberglass be flooded and still reused or is this car not even eligible to be a parts car?

UPDATED: I reposted this on lotus forums and they were able to work their magic and crack open the history of this car. The car and owner are originally from Arizona, where he began the conversion to electric to keep it cheaper than a Tesla and homebuilt. He eventually couldn't go any further with the project and began to sell off everything. In 2012 he wanted $27,000 for it. I got in contact with the owner who began the electric conversion and he sold it to a guy in Florida. It's sat for three years now, been in a flood and the license plate never changed from AZ. I imagine he wants to unload it. I'm trying to get the new owners name so I can track down his address and see if we can make a deal. Behold the power of the internet.

Jonathan Harper > whatisthatsound 01/19/2015 at 17:29

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Someone needed a new motor in their Corolla, so they stole this and pulled the motor.

JWLane83 > whatisthatsound 01/19/2015 at 17:29

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Does it have valid tags? They tow inoperable cars by me. See if you can find the owner and buy it cheap? LS swap!

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > whatisthatsound 01/19/2015 at 17:31

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Three years, not moved? I don't know any city that wouldn't flag it and tow it at some point, especially since it can't move under its own power. They must have no policy there, doesn't look like they have any parking issues like we do here!

Flat Six > whatisthatsound 01/19/2015 at 17:32

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Maybe they were trying to build a Tesla Roadster?

E92M3 > whatisthatsound 01/19/2015 at 17:33

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They were going to convert it to electric.

whatisthatsound > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) 01/19/2015 at 17:36

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Nope this city is very driver friendly. It is slowly becoming more popular, but we don't have a lot of parking restrictions (every other day etc..) I park my Elise outside overnight without any worries.

whatisthatsound > Jonathan Harper 01/19/2015 at 17:38

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But the fiberglass is exceptionally hard not to destroy, so this was all intentional and there aren't any cracks to be found. They either are mechanics or paid a shop to take it all apart, but why!

whatisthatsound > E92M3 01/19/2015 at 17:38

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Hmm, this could be it.

CAcoalminer > whatisthatsound 01/19/2015 at 17:47

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I think it's definitely worth something as a parts car. In fact, if you hadn't mentioned the thing about flooding, I would say it's a great candidate for an engine and transmission transplant. At this point, I would only worry about the electrical.

whatisthatsound > CAcoalminer 01/19/2015 at 17:49

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It's a Lotus, we worry about the electrical from the day they are built. The subframe is aluminum which is good news. I don't know what it looks under the under tray panels in regards to hidden surprises.

whiskeybusiness NOW A DANGER TO CROWDS NEAR YOU > E92M3 01/19/2015 at 17:51

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This was my thought as well.

CAcoalminer > whatisthatsound 01/19/2015 at 17:57

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Haha very true.

Overall though, I surprised someone just left it. It looks like a very nice vehicle.

TurboSloth > whatisthatsound 01/19/2015 at 17:58

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Serious question. If I saw this on my street, and it hasn't moved in 3 years, and clearly has been abandoned, would I be able to call the cops, have them impound it or something, then buy it from the cops? Clearly the owner doesn't want it, but I sure as hell do.

whatisthatsound > TurboSloth 01/19/2015 at 18:00

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That is a question I'm trying to answer as well we need out oppo lawyers.

Alex B > whatisthatsound 01/19/2015 at 18:00

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Your Lotus on the other hand, looks great. :)

whatisthatsound > Alex B 01/19/2015 at 18:05

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Thank you, but I want two!

TurboSloth > whatisthatsound 01/19/2015 at 18:09

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I remember there was one here, but I don't remember their username.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > whatisthatsound 01/19/2015 at 18:10

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That makes 3 Elise's in Pcola. There is also a grey one I see pretty much every time I'm near the airport, pretty sure it's someone's dd. Did you ever find out about the cocaine Viper?

whatisthatsound > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 01/19/2015 at 18:22

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That guy wanted nothing to do with me. It is still for sale, he wouldn't budge on the price because the paint is custom and worth it. I told him to quiet down the grown ups are going to talk and asked to talk with his wife. He hung up on me.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > whatisthatsound 01/19/2015 at 18:23

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Buy it and LS swap it?

whatisthatsound > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 01/19/2015 at 18:26

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More like K20 swap! Nah definitely needs 8 cylinders.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > whatisthatsound 01/19/2015 at 18:29

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The paint was worth it to him, but not to anybody with a sense of taste.

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > whatisthatsound 01/19/2015 at 18:37

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Sad to see that car like that.

Receive anything in the mail to help you feel better about it?

Flavien Vidal > TurboSloth 01/19/2015 at 18:41

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Steve Lehto. ask him

Conan > whatisthatsound 01/19/2015 at 18:46

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Ask SteveLehto

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > whatisthatsound 01/19/2015 at 18:46

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MM54 > whatisthatsound 01/19/2015 at 20:22

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I see heatsinks and other electronics through the front - I bet someone was trying to do an electric conversion. I don't know why, but it seems like it. It does make me sad to see it just sitting like that, though. I'd gladly re-home it...

whatisthatsound > MM54 01/20/2015 at 00:10

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You're exactly correct.