Bit of Lip

[robcall]

I'm in the middle of removing all paint back to bare glass on my '73 sprint.
As noted on Tim's website the mono coloured sprints do not have the lip painted black-despite having a black sill
a case of less is more?

[types26/36]

[quote="robcall"]sprints do not have the lip painted black-despite having a black sill quote]

Yes, mine was not originally black, I painted it several years ago.

[robcall]

My mistake Brian
Body coloured lip on mono,white for the duo-as original

[elansprint71]

I might have a "hernia" but dont think I have a "Gurney"

Are you sure that you do not have a Gurney bulge (as fitted to some GT40s) Brian?

[types26/36]

Are you sure that you do not have a Gurney bulge (as fitted to some GT40s) Brian?

Yer Pete! I should be so lucky

[trw99]

If memory servers me correctly.........I recall this being termed "the hickman flange", and was introduced to simplify/reduce cost of manufacture. I must admit is doesn't look particularly elegant. Richard

I'm not sure this is right, since Ron Hickman left Lotus in early 1967, long before the Sprint was thought of.

I guess this raises the old question of Elan body moulds, or the Unimould as Hickman called them. Since the Plus 2 also had the 'lip', it would seem to indicate that new Unimoulds for Elans and Plus 2s were introduced at the factory at some point in early 1971.

That also leaves the intriguing question of what is/was the 'Hickman Flange'? Any relation to Gurney?

Tim

[CBUEB1771]

I guess this raises the old question of Elan body moulds, or the Unimould as Hickman called them. Since the Plus 2 also had the 'lip', it would seem to indicate that new Unimoulds for Elans and Plus 2s were introduced at the factory at some point in early 1971.

Tim

Checking the VIN list here I am reminded that the Sprint and +2S 130 were both introduced in February 1971. My August 1971-build +2S has this lip. Do pre-+2S body shells not have this lip?

[Elanintheforest]

My early Plus 2 cars (#32 and #225) both have the lip...so maybe it is the Hickman lip after all?

However, my S4 has a perfectly formed smooth bottom.
Mark

[trw99]

Mark

Interesting and thanks for that info (especially about your perfect rear end); perhaps that is what the Hickman Flange is then. I shall have to do some further investigation, but it seems from what you are saying as if the Plus 2 always had the lip, whereas on the Elan it was introduced on the Sprint.

I'll let you know if I find out any more.

Tim

[trw99]

Right ho! I have done a bit of digging and found an interesting piece in Robinshaw & Ross. It is actually at the back of the second edition, which included the Hickman diaries and relates to the development of the Plus 2. I hope they won't mind me quoting from the book direct. This is written by Hickman himself:

'I had also perfected my 'Hickman-flange' for cutting the cost of mating the upper mould-portion to the lower one by trimming off rather than filling and sanding, and to save those tool edges from the damage caused by 'green-trimming' or 'knife-trimming', as we variously called it'.

Now, I have also had a look at some of the early Plus 2 road test reports and a lip is visible under the rear valance, in the same location as on the Sprint, though being a larger area of car it is not so noticeable.

Richard, you were quite correct with your recollection about the flange and I was wrong to doubt you - apologies! So it would seem that the Plus 2 had the lip all along, but that the Elan only got it later on. I agree that it looks better without and that painting it black helps to make it less obvious, though of course if you want it original....

Tim

[Mazzini]

On the vast majority of Sprint bodies from mid 1971 onwards, there is a small but none the less prominant lip around the bottom of the rear valance. My assumption is that a different mould from that used for the S4 was used for Sprints, since all S4s I remember seeing do not have this 'bit of lip'.

So - two questions. Do any S4 owners with original bodies have the lip? Do any Sprint owners with original bodies not have the lip?

Tim

PMS has rather a nice S4 for sale http://www.paulmattysportscars.co.uk/sh ... px?id=2362

Don't know if it was re-shelled during the rebuild, perhaps somebody knows? The car car has the flange. It's on an H plate so I think that means it was registered before August '70.

[nebogipfel]

However, my S4 has a perfectly formed smooth bottom.
Mark

As has mine and I don't think there is anything nicer

(My 71K Sprint had a lip)

[nebogipfel]

PMS has rather a nice S4 for sale http://www.paulmattysportscars.co.uk/sh ... px?id=2362

It does look a nice car, certainly a lippy.

On the subject of PMS. I wish he'd optimise his images so that they load a bit quicker. Browsing his site is like wading through treacle on my slowish connection ............and as for the engine sound, the first time I heard it I thought "that's cool" by the third time I was thinking "OK I've heard it now" now every time I hear it I am moved to commit an act of violence!

[Mazzini]

Angelina Jolie - lips and a great...err... where was I? Ah yes, Matty I agree completely with nebogipfel.

[Flatcap]

Hi Tim, Some more info for your records. My current Sprint has no lip, a late one owner car & never repaired - so I know it left the factory without one, it`s a 7207 chassis number. My previous Sprint (the Colorado Orange car featured in & on the front cover of Duncan Wherretts book) also did not have a lip, that car was chassis number 71090341E. This car was also very original & had never been repaired. Regards Neil