ElanRegistry - How to represent the 26R

[twincamman]

Hi Tim=== I see the plates stamped, scribed, cut off at the information area ,wrong plant designations its just there are too Many variables and variations of these cars Plates and number systems some with R some without some ;with dashes between numbers and letters some with oblique strokes . some stamped some scribed with a nail all claiming to be the correct thing . To attempt to claim a real solid conclusion is just overwhelming and to claim one knows all about the car is just not believable to me =====but life is never simple and Lotus is dumfounding --TVR and other small car manufactures don't seem to have this confusion about production , but the cost of the other small manufacturers cars is not as over inflated as these cars and of course the Lotus factory is at a loss for everything involved in the cars production ==but this has all been said before I just don't accept hearsay as fact -and beating ones chest and loudly proclaiming to the world ones expertise doesn;t work for me either [Im not referring to you ] but its just all conjecture till the factory sings ---going fishing or maybe a little hand to hand with a moose or a bear .good idea Dave and if rumours of a microfilm record are circulating you can be assured some one is producing it as we speak the same as the squared paper lists flashed around based on 50 year old memories and questionable statements of 'fact' --'probably' means nothing and to accept on blind faith some ones 'expert' opinion will bite you in the pocket book every time -ed

[elj221c]

A few people have pointed out that the Elan Registry does not accurately represent the Elan 26R. How should I record the 26R?

Jim,

As Ed has said, there is very little factory data and what there seems closely guarded by those that have it, which is why I italicised your quote. If it's not in the public domain then it can't be cross referenced and commented on. How can it be made accurate? A similar thing has happened with Chevron, for instance, despite, or maybe because of, the factory and other interested parties. The whole thing is a mine field and would seem to have been fueled by greed. I'm not sure I would believe a micro from Lotus after all this time unless there was a significant correlation with the 'historic' records.

For me, 'genuine' 26Rs, 26R clones and GTS cars are 26 based. That's enough in my book. Some people 'know' cars, though, Ed, and in absence of further documentation, some credence has to be given to the information that those people have, 50 years notwithstanding. I just wished I had documented all the 26Rs that I played with in the '70 when they were just cheap racing cars and not objects of avarice.

Is it really necessary to grind this old chestnut and have people getting upset and leaving the forum yet again?

Finally (for me at least, I hope!) credit should be given to those that have made the effort to obtain information even if they chose not to make it generally available. Sadly it would seem they have to take this stance because of its potential misuse.

[twincamman]

well said Roy .

[elansprint71]

I'm wondering how Jim will deal with the duplication which currently exists, where two folks are claiming to have the same car?
I asked him this question a while back and maybe that is what prompted this thread?

[Unibrain]

I'm not going to deal with the duplicates. Who am I to say what is the truth? The premise of the registry is the official, and unofficial, records are not correct. The registry is a place to record not judge.

[stugilmour]

Well said Jim. Thanks for your work on the Registry.