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I
picked up an issue of Automobile magazine at the airport and thumbed through
it. One of the more entertaining sections of this magazine is Keith Martin's
report on recent auto auctions. Along with Martin's auction reports,
he highlights an interesting car that crosses the auction block and comments
on its condition and selling price. Many of you may recognize Martin's
byline with a similar column in AutoWeek.
Many of us Lotus-philes
have often cringed as Martin reviews the sale or condition of some forlorn
Lotus. In the past, he has murdered the Gen 2 Elite, and has been terribly
uncomplimentary of the S1 Esprit. And yet he seemingly fawns over anything
Italian in red. So, when I saw an entire page of Automobile with Martin's
byline and a photo of a bright yellow M100 Elan, I stopped thumbing and
expected to read the |
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worst.
Martin first
admits to having owned two Lotus in the past, an Elan and an Type 14 Elite.
I'm somewhat surprised. Is Martin really one of us? I read further…
Martin shares
his story of attending an auction in Portland Oregon and seeing the yellow
M100 Elan going unsold, not meeting its reserve. The story goes he's with
friends walking past the car after the auction and over hears the owner
say to someone that he'd take $12,500 even though the reserve was $16,000.
Martin says the car was clean with minor problems, bad
A/C and passenger
window.
Long story short,
Martin offers the seller $12,500 and ends up buying the car for $12,650.
The window fix is a $400 motor and the A/C is a bad relay (cheap). He drives
the M100 to a social function and it's the hit of |
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