very cute..
thanks Peter.. can see how the design was meant to work.
The Elan appears technically superior in the length and angles that the loads transfer to the spine from the rear suspension and diff in particular. I suspect it was a smaller, lighter car as well, which wouldn't exacerbate this inherent tendency to twist over such a long beam.
A cabin roll cage with down tubes to the suspension pick up points would no doubt eliminate most of the torsional flex from the suspension loads onto the backbone, which is actually far more resistant to vertical loads in that orientation. Will look forward to dropping past to see it and your completed Coupe..