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All Elem wood was finished with multiple coats of PPG clear automotive paint. Connolly leather interior is really what this car needed from the start. In 1974 with the fake news of the shortage, the oil companies made Lotus put a small 2.0 liter engine fearing expensive fuel prices would hurt their new line. Instead, they should have made a small V8 or even a V6 for such an expensive sports GT car. Expensive as the Elite was to make, the factory had to find ways to lower the cost and quality of fit and finish suffered a lot as did the choice of drive train components. Why else is the price of these cars so cheap? No other Lotus has the falling out that the second generation 4 seat Lotus has. A real shame as this car out handles all of the Lotus street cars to it's inception and even is much easier to drive at the limit than the mid engine cars to follow.