It may have been just because it was my first engine upgrade but it took many years to experience again the rush of the huge hike in power from 997 to 1200cc. I can still remember how it felt when I floored it along Sherwood Park Avenue for the first time (back in the days when you could). I replaced the 1200cc lump with a 1500cc one a year or so later but the buzz was nowhere near as good. I didn't experience that first buzz again until I fitted nitrous on the Lotus :-)
 

A friend at work (Greenwich Borough Council Highways Department) bought a Lotus Elan Plus 2. I didn't know about these cars at the time but thought it was pretty, so started looking for one for myself.

Driving home one afternoon I passed the garage at the corner of Bexley Road and Crown Woods Way, Avery Hill and spied what looked like an Elan in the showroom. On inspection I discovered that it was the 2 seater version but liked it more than the Plus 2. Went for a test drive and bought it on the spot. £550.

This was in November 1974 (I think as, unfortunately, the receipt isn't dated) and I drove around with the roof down no matter how cold it was :-) Great fun and the power and handling was a revelation compared to the poor old Anglebox.

Now having a car for work meant that I could take the Anglia off the road and prepare it for rallying. With nowhere to keep it I rented an underground lockup in Woolwich, a stone's throw from where I worked.

I had some great times in the Anglia with lots of memories. However, it wasn't long before I fell in love with the Elan and the Anglia got forgotten. Inevitably, the garage was broken into. The car was flipped on its roof and the interior, engine and running gear were removed. I shut the door and walked away from it, cancelling my rental contract.

The Lotus' driveshaft rubber doughnuts were replaced by sliding spline/UJ driveshafts of my own design and fabrication. I was considering marketing them but Performance Unlimited came out with their own version, bugger!

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