Black Lotus Badges Yet Again

[theelanman]

I can't believe this again.......
Discussed to death......it's Lotus legend.......you'll never know........
It was either a tribute or cost saving.......
Some believe one story...some the other....
Either way it looks like both stories have their followers

[rgh0]

I believe both stories are true - started as a cost saving and transformed to a tribute. What i find more interesting is why did Lotus reintroduce in later years black badges with little fanfare or reason.

cheers
Rohan

[Mazzini]

What i find more interesting is why did Lotus reintroduce in later years black badges with little fanfare or reason.

cheers
Rohan

Perhaps the bill from the original badge supplier arrived

[theelanman]

1982.....
black and gold....
ACBC tribute

[661]

We do! Let me know your VIN and I'll tell you!

Tim

Is 7005110135G what you need?
Thanks

[trw99]

Here you go Graeme:

70 = 1970
05 = May
11 = Batch no
0135 = Unit no
G = DHC Domestic market

Therefore your car could not have been first registered on 9 Jan 70; it wasn't made. If you let us know your registration no we can tell you when it was first registered and where.

Tim

[stevebroad]

Visited the Classic Car Show at the NEC, Birmingham, today. Just to muddy the waters even further

Graham Hill's 1967 DFV powered Lotus:




Esprit with a weird shaped badge:



1969 Lotus (the black badge is visible on the full photo if clicked)

[661]

Here you go Graeme:

70 = 1970
05 = May
11 = Batch no
0135 = Unit no
G = DHC Domestic market

Therefore your car could not have been first registered on 9 Jan 70; it wasn't made. If you let us know your registration no we can tell you when it was first registered and where.

Tim

Interesting. All the v5s I have state date of first registration as 9 Jan 70. ALH 661H

[nomad]

Graham had a black S3 Coupe in '67 / 68, and he showed us photos of it taken in 1967, showing the black badge on the front. Still don't believe?

The photos below show his car being tested in Autosport April 5th 1968, 2 days before Jimmy died, and it has a black badge fitted. The photo was obviously taken at some time before April 5th. The black nose badge is also mentioned in the text.

There was also a much earlier black badge fitted as the horn push for Mk1 Lotus Cortinas from August 1964, so the design certainly wasn't new for the black enamel nose badge.

So, as far as I can tell,

The design for the black Lotus badge was developed before the middle of 1964.
The black enamel nose badge did exist before Jimmy died, and was fitted to some cars.
The factory did fit black badges to more cars after Jim Clark died, probably to commemorate the best racing driver ever!

Mark Kempson

So, maybe my 67 E reg Elan was made with the black badges it came with when I bought it.

And the black horn badge on my late S1 Elan 26/3754 may have been original as well. It had obviously been there for a long time and I could see no reason for it ever being changed.

Kurt

[trw99]

Graeme

You must have an age related plate issued later. DVLA show ALH 661H as first registered on 8 Jan 70; that plate is from the London NW license office.

Clearly that plate could therefore not have been issued before your car came off the production line in May 70.

Apologies for thread drift to all.

Tim

[rgh0]

And the black horn badge on my late S1 Elan 26/3754 may have been original as well. It had obviously been there for a long time and I could see no reason for it ever being changed.

Kurt

The use of black internal badges on the horn and gear change appears to have been common over an extended period beyond where they were used on the nose.

cheers
Rohan

[richardcox_lotus]

And the black badge on the lotus 49 is irrelevant as the car is in 1969/70 variation. 1967 they weren't using Gold Leave schemes.

Round and round we go ....

[abstamaria]

I recall now that when I bought my Elan (#8439) in 1977, it had a black badge. It is a 1969 Federal model, but according to build data was manufactured in 1968. It was my first Lotus, and I so wanted the traditional yellow-and-green badge that I replaced the black badge within a month of ownership. That was when I was still in the US and before I shipped the car to Manila.

I wondered sometimes whether I should revert back to the black badge. I've kept the yellow-and-green badge because it has been on the car 38 years now. When I re-sprayed the car, I matched the green on the badge.

Andy

[theelanman]

DVLA show ALH 661H as first registered on 8 Jan 70; that plate is from the London NW license office.

I had ALH686H +2 registered Jan/Feb 70.....IIRC.......
now with Spyder......(bought from me by them...)

[stevebroad]

And the black badge on the lotus 49 is irrelevant as the car is in 1969/70 variation. 1967 they weren't using Gold Leave schemes.

Round and round we go ....

That wasn't mentioned on the info sheet. Mind you, that indicates that the badge was used after 1968, so not entirely irrelevant