The restoration of the 71 Elan has begun

[alan.barker]

Hi Martin,
You will need to use a stick on band for the sizes and the correct Font.
I failed to identify the Font Lotus used.
I don't know the "tricks of the trade" that my paint man used sorry. Or how the Stencil was made or material used to get 100% clean lines.
You need a paint man that does "steriograph" painting or "custom" painting.
I don't think a normal paint shop will get clean enough lines.
Please post photo when the painting is finished
Alan

[Sadbrewer]

Alan, it's highly likely that Lotus didn't use a commercially available 'font' similar to what we can all access on our PC's. Often this kind of detail was drawn up by graphic design artists and suchlike.

[alan.barker]

+1

[The Veg]

I'm surprised that it's not Microgramma Bold Extended, since Lotus used that for damn near everything from circa 1970-87.

[trw99]

Pastapesto on here, who knows about these things since it is his business, has written here before:

"Re side decals for Sprints: "Eurosyle" or "Microgramma". They are not the same but they have a lot of similarities. On the "ELAN SPRINT" it has a lot of spacing added between the letters & you may have to stretch one of the above fonts to get it to look the same."

Tim

[alan.barker]

Same as my paint man who is a specialist in graphic/custom painting who insisted he painted the band/sidewinder. No stick on.
I just bought the sidewinder to use as pattern for each letter.
Alan

[MartijnElanS4]

Hi all,

I will talk to the paintshop and ask how they feel about it. If they say they can do it, then I probably will. Otherwise I will just use the sticker.

What is everyone’s opinion on clearcoat? With or without?

Alan, you said it was in the Manual that it had clearcoat from factory. I couldnt find it in the manual.

Thanks!

[alan.barker]

Hi Martin,
I made a mistake sorry.
I'm so used to people using waterbased which is finished with clear coat.
Or metallic finished in clear to protect.
On my Sprint it's been finished with 2 coats of clear. To protect Lagoon Blue, durable and easy to clean/polish.
If your paint man is not comfortable to paint "Sidewinder" best for him to put "stick on" .
Good luck
Alan

[MartijnElanS4]

No worries!

I called him today and I noticed that he wasn’t sure if he could pull it off. Better that then saying that he could and the result wouldn’t be good.
He suggested to do the sticker and then cover it with clearcoat. Choices, choises…

Anyway: am I right that the inside of the hood and bootlid should be painted black like the inside of the engine compartment?

Cheers,

Martijn

[alan.barker]

The inside of the boot on my Sprint is Lagoon Blue.
Inside Bonnet/Hood will be black.
Alan