Vehicles:
http://www2.ravensoft.com/users/mmajernik/misctuts/respawningvehicles.htm)
The targetname and npc_target keys for the entity can be whatever you like, but must be the same and otherwise unique. You'd also be better off writing your own spawnscript with BehavEd.
Otherwise, this description should be clear.
As for lifts, do you want an auto lift (which won't come up if a player is at the top) or a button activated lift?
The former is quite easy, the latter unpleasant and needs to be scripted. I'll let someone else explain that :)