I depends on what series 26R they are-of course, after fifty plus years almost everything has been changed on most of them. I owned a series one and a series two in the eighties. The series one cars were not far off stock specification but with a Cosworth built engine good for about 145 bhp. They had AR aluminium brake calipers and adjustable Girling shocks. The series ones even used the rubber dough nuts in the drive shafts but that must have been awful in racing and most were modified to sliding joint I think. The body was slightly lighter than stock.
The series two 26R was a much more serious project. The engine was a Cosworth/BRM mongrel in some cars with about 155 bhp. The suspension was fully adjustable, many components were magnesium (rear uprights, diff casing, gearbox casing...) The body was lighter again but now had flaired wheel openings to accommodate 6" wide wheels. The headlights were 5" and faired in. The drive shafts were now roller spline to avoid sticking in the splines. A series Two 26R driven by a competent driver could harass seemingly much faster cars--in their day.
Nowadays they are much faster! My series one had been fitted with and ex Bill Brack Hart 416B Twin Cam (4 cylinders, 1600cc, Formula B) These are still said by some to be the best development of the Lotus Twin Cam and can put out a relatively reliable 180bhp--they destroy the original gearbox however, so now you need a straight cut, dog-box.
Many cars have full cages which make up for the lack of stiffness in the Elan design.
Avon tires made the cars stick like a Formula Atlantic back in the eighties - God knows what they use now but I am sure they are better!
In my car I recall a race long duel with a 427 Cobra at Westwood-he would power away on the straights but I could catch him under braking and cornering--until I took "Deers Leap" at about 140 mph and the sliding spline drive shafts locked up at full droop--I communed with God at that point...
I still have a racing Elan sitting in my garage-it has a better race history than some 26Rs and has a number of original 26R parts on it but my racing days are behind me.
Brilliant cars, very fragile, a bitch to work on...
Edited by David Birchall, 03 August 2015 - 19:03.