Under bonnet (hood) colours

[rodlittle]

Hi can anyone tell me what parts of the under bonnet should be body colour and which grey on an S1 (Bourn body)
a picture would be most helpful
cheers
rod

[paddy]

This is how mine is done, although I can't guarantee it's 100% correct.

Also some more pics here:

http://www.type26register.com/articles/ ... pdate9.pdf

Paddy

[garyeanderson]

I pulled these pictures off of ebay (26/0206) and Frank Bertrang's (26/0269) site back in October, 2007 and May, 2008.
I don't know how original they are, you will know more than me about the differences.

26/0206
Air and oil filters don't look stock.

Pretty obvious that the brake master isn't original.

The bourne tag looks perfect!


26/0269

[rodlittle]

Thanks guys
looks like Ive painted more in body colour than I needed to
ah well
rod

[summerinmaine]

Thanks guys
looks like Ive painted more in body colour than I needed to
ah well
rod

Rod,

I've been looking this over as I intend to re-paint my S2, and wasn't sure if I should try to do it while the engine is out. It appears that the S2 only continues the body color down across the footwells, and along the top of the "firewall." So it's nice to know that a good paint job can be had with the engine in place.

[rodlittle]

Thanks Jim
do you have another pic of the sides?
cheers
rod

[summerinmaine]

Thanks Jim
do you have another pic of the sides?
cheers
rod

Do you mean sides of the engine compartment Rod?

I can take any kinds of pics you wish, as it currently resides in my garage in the state you see here.

[Lotus14S2]

I have an early car with the grey engine bay, but so far I've not been able to find what the color code is.
I already know what it looks like under the hood, but does anyone have the code?

[rodlittle]

I think you will find that it wasnt painted grey it was the resin colour, Bourne plastics used a grey resin.

And yes please Jim the sides of the engine bay would be great
cheers
rod

[Lotus14S2]

It may be the resin gel coat color, but is there a matching paint code, as the color in my car is stained and has a brownish tinge. I have seen photos of cars with painted engine bays, I would be interested if anyone who has a car with less wear than mine has done a color match.

[summerinmaine]

And yes please Jim the sides of the engine bay would be great
cheers
rod

Here ya go Rod.

[rodlittle]

Thanks Jim
thats interesting yours is painted the same as I have done mine and I thought I had painted too much of the scuttle body colour!
Do you know if yours is as original or has it been painted since it left the factory
cheers
rod

[garyeanderson]

Hi Rod

If you haven't done so already take a look at

elan-photos-f18/elan-engine-bays-stock-modified-restored-and-26r-t21231.html

I have posted many engine bay photos there. I put them there as the "Elan Gallery" is less about questions and more about photos. I will be adding to the topic as time permits. There are close to another 40 photos waiting to be put up there. I think that it gives a fair idea of what was stock and what was done by folks to there own tastes.

Gary

[summerinmaine]

Thanks Jim
thats interesting yours is painted the same as I have done mine and I thought I had painted too much of the scuttle body colour!
Do you know if yours is as original or has it been painted since it left the factory
cheers
rod

I'm pretty sure that it's been painted, but as the entire front and rear clips have been replaced, I don't know that there's anywhere left where I could search for a reliable indication of what the factory color might have been.

At any event, I'll probably follow the existing scheme when I repaint, as originality isn't a major consideration in my hierarchy of priorities.

[garyeanderson]

It may be the resin gel coat color, but is there a matching paint code, as the color in my car is stained and has a brownish tinge. I have seen photos of cars with painted engine bays, I would be interested if anyone who has a car with less wear than mine has done a color match.

Tim

Take some time and go over to the late Tim Mees web site
http://www.type26register.com
and read the .pdf's in the section below

http://www.type26register.com/lotus_news_archive.html

There is NO other site that offers the kind of insight on originality including this one.

http://www.type26register.com/originality.html

As far as your engine bay goes. If it is early as I read in another post of yours 3235 it is likely to have a Bourne body with the Bourne Body number stamped into the tag. These were gray pigment gelcoat (mostly, as with anything Lotus there are no definite?s). If its is gelcoat it will be solvent proof and Lacquer thinner or acetone will not effect it but will take off all of the grease and grime that 47 years have imparted to it. Try a small area where it will not be seen, if it is paint the lacquer thinner will take off the paint, if gelcoat just the crud will be removed and leave behind the nice gray gelcoat.

Gary

p.s. - what's the body number?