Elan S3 colours

[Dieschelan]

Hi Jim

My car is a Dhc with chassis number 45 6529. The car has also the air vents in the sides.
Ir would be great If someone put pictures of their cars to see the colours.

Regards

[trw99]

Here is the 1967 Lotus colour chart. It is the earliest one I have a record of.

Tim

[trw99]

And here are some examples. Bear in mind that the colour reproduction of the photo and then on the screen distorts the true colour.

Tim

[Mazzini]

My April '67 built S3 S/E was supplied in Wedgwood blue, but since '74 its been Ford Windsor white,

[trw99]

And some more

[nmauduit]

If I may cirrus white does not have the purple haze of the first photo in my eyes... the following photos found here on the forum are closer of my perception of that (lovely) color :

[gino1]

Here's another Green...came from USA with this colour in 1990.
Gino Milano
Italy

[gino1]

Here's a Medici blue S2 1965

Gino
Milano
Italy

[knockoffnut]

That's a very good looking car, Gino. Thanks for posting. I have been wondering what a 26R would look like in Medici blue. Would you have any other pictures of it? The blue looks perhaps a little lighter in this picture than other Medici blue cars and I am wondering if it is due to the lighting in this picture?

[gino1]

Hi Frank,
This is another photo...
It might not be exactly Medici blue as this is a colour I made up that was very similar but maybe a little darker.
Here's another pic that shows its true colour.

Gino
Milano Italy

[knockoffnut]

Che bella machinna, Gino.
I like your car in that blue very much.

[Dieschelan]

Thank you Tim for all the pictures. But I have a question. I'm confused, in your colour list most colours from S3 beginn in mid 1967. My car was built in Novembre 1966 and I don't know which colour is correct for this period.

Regards

[trw99]

In November 1966 the colour palate, as far as we can tell at this remove, was:

Medici Blue
Carmen Red
Fiesta Yellow
Sunburst Yellow
British Racing Green
Cirrus White

However, please do bear in mind two things, that a customer could choose any colour they wished and that no accurate records exist for Elans of this era with regard to the colour that they left the factory.

Therefore, you have two options. Firstly, provided your car has not been stripped back to the gel coat and re-painted, sand down through the layers to reveal the colours that it has been. If you wish to remain original, go with what you find as the first hue. Secondly, you have the car finished in whatever colour you wish; your car, your choice.

Tim

[nomad]

Tim sounds as if he has the best plan!

Also believe that Gino's car is far closer to a Wedgewood blue than Medici blue. I have been fighting to match my original Medici and simply can't believe in this computer age how much difficulty I have had in getting someone to match it. Beautiful color and I can't bring myself to cover up what little original reference I have with something that isn't quite right.

Kurt
26/3754

[StressCraxx]

In November 1966 the colour palate, as far as we can tell at this remove, was:

Medici Blue
Carmen Red
Fiesta Yellow
Sunburst Yellow
British Racing Green
Cirrus White

However, please do bear in mind two things, that a customer could choose any colour they wished and that no accurate records exist for Elans of this era with regard to the colour that they left the factory.

Therefore, you have two options. Firstly, provided your car has not been stripped back to the gel coat and re-painted, sand down through the layers to reveal the colours that it has been. If you wish to remain original, go with what you find as the first hue. Secondly, you have the car finished in whatever colour you wish; your car, your choice.

Tim

My 67 S3 Super Safety was painted Carnival Red according to Andy Graham.