S1 Bourne Elans - history and details of known cars

[dunclentdr1]

My restoration of 26/0339 is coming towards the end and I'm going to fit a (reproduction) Bourne ID plate.

I can't find details anywhere for the body number of this car, can anyone help please?!!

Thanks

David

[Lotus14S2]

My car had what appeared to be grease pencil numbers inside the doors, and under the matting on the back wall of the cockpit.
There was also a hand painted number on the frame about under the rear of the driveshaft or the rear gear carrier.
My car is in restoration, but it was an old untouched car, except the body had been repainted from the original white to a red; no new primer, just red enamel over white.. This might have been done by a dealer.
I mention this because the stuff like numbers were all in place.and if your car has not had the frame refinished or in need of repair, you might find the number there.
Regards,
Tim
'63 Elan S1
'62 Elite S2

[rstenson]

Hello
I'm the new, second owner of an S1. Some of you may have seen it on Bring A Trailer.

Chassis# 260229
Body # 2610215
Engine # LP391

Excited to learn more about the Bourne Elans.

Cheers,
Randy

[mdwracer]

Randy,
Glad to see you in the discussion and great purchase! Your car is probably one of the best documented cars ever.
Mike Winebrenner

[collii]

Hi All,

I just purchased this car in USA and it's now being shipped back to UK:
(Pictures to follow once it arrives)

Bourne body #: 26/0094
Unit #: 3082
Chassis #: 26/0097
Engine #: LP239
Self assembly car supplied in RHD format.

I'm trying to find the history of the original Scottish owner (J.Halley of Clackmannan).
If anybody knows anything about him, please get in touch.

Thanks

It's finally landed back in UK after 38 years away!

Most of the removed parts were with the car, but I've collected up the few missing/incorrect parts, so I will start to pull it together over the coming weeks! I'm just missing the illusive gear knob now.

Hopefully i can undo some of the changes that have been made in it's early life!

A few pics:

[Mazzini]

Looks pretty damned good to me!

[Certified Lotus]

Wow Collii, where did you find that S1?

[collii]

A couple of photos now the car is much cleaner and some original parts refitted to the car.
(Shift knob not original, but believe the rest is).

Maybe useful as reference to other restorers, especially with the central ashtray.

[moxog5]

Hi,
I have chassis 181, restored from a basket case between 1989 and 1995.
John

[trw99]

[quote="dunclentdr"]Talking with some forum members there is interest in getting a thread started on very early S1 Elans, which had their body made by Bourne. One of the questions is, between us, how many can we trace that are still in existence? David[/quote]

Going back to David's original question as instigator of this thread, I thought I'd draw up a list from my records of those Bourne bodied cars that are still with us currently.

It surprised me that out of the approx. 440 Elans built by Lotus with Bourne bodies between Jan 63 and Mar 64, as many as 60 are still around in one shape or another.

Tim

[dunclentdr1]

Hi Tim

Thanks - yes, that was the original idea of the thread, has been great to see people stepping forwards with theirs - I wonder if there is a way to get a full listing of the Bourne cars and which ones are known to exist?

David

[trw99]

That?s where I got my info from, David!

Tim

[dunclentdr1]

...well let's make a list then and get it out there!!!

[dunclentdr1]

26/0339 has gone from wreck to road racer...

[nmauduit]

nice blue...

besides the VIN number and possibly matching plaque, how many parts from the former have been retained to the latter?