S3 Coupe Prototype on the market

[trw99]

H&H have an auction on 21 Feb. There are four Elans up for sale. One of them is the S3 FHC that was used as the press demonstrator on registration LNK 120C, the only Elan that ever had - briefly - chrome bumpers.

I hope this link works, probably best to cut and paste it all (it is one long address):

http://www.classiclife.de/uk/find/4100_ ... ID=1716129

Rather a nice photo of Colin, looking quite cheerful too.

Tim

[trw99]

Well blow me down, it's for sale again. And Nutley have their hands on it ... again.

See: http://www.pistonheads.com/SALES/3247367.htm

So Mr Wai-Kei of Hong Kong who bought it back then has said 'Enough already!'.

"In 1968 on Graham Arnold instructions the LNK 120C was painted Black by the Lotus factory for the legendary Motor Racing World Champion Jim Clark's funeral." Was it, really?

"LNK 120C is the most significant baby Elan in existence" Is it? Sure, it is a significant Elan but there are others too. Which is most significant though?

Tim

[Elanintheforest]

With the S3 Coupe being undoubtedly the finest Elan, and this being the first of those, it's has to be the most significant car....can't fault the logic, surely?

Mark

[ardee_selby]

"Rear compartment access as specified by Colin Chapman for his Golf clubs !"

Any more info and/or pics available on this? Cat-flap type arrangement? What golf clubs did he use?

[pharriso]

Seems to have lost it's chromed bumpers along the way.

Beautiful car!

[Robbie693]

Seems to have lost it's chromed bumpers along the way.

Beautiful car!

Also seems to be missing it's chrome trim strip around the bumper.

"Unique headlamp micro switches" - eh? Were these special ones?

Robbie

[garyeanderson]

Did anyone ever find out about these on Roberta's type 26 Elan?

[trw99]

With the S3 Coupe being undoubtedly the finest Elan, and this being the first of those, it's has to be the most significant car....can't fault the logic, surely?

Mark

Now I quote you Mark from March 2006, talking about LNK 120C: "An important Elan that must rank amongst Jim Clark's S3 and Graham Hill's S3 in significance." Ha! Hoisted by your own petard! Surely the most significant Elan would be 26/001, Lotus & Jim Clark's first. Next in the pecking order of course would be the last Elan made (happens to be a Sprint!), 73030102H.

The chrome bumpers were, according to Graham Arnold, only one set and they always had issues with the chrome peeling off the fibreglass. They were never made in pure chrome. Famous Frank was at one time offering chromed fenders; I don't know if he still does.

Tim

[gino1]

Hi All,

Looking at the details of the S3 Coup? there must be surely something wrong with the VIN as it states 26/4915, surely it must be 36/4915 which is very close to one of the S3 coupe's I have that dates back to 1965.

Gino
Milano
Italy

[Mazzini]

I looked at the car in Hong Kong a few months ago. I took a number of photos of it which I'll post if their is interest - Mark - didn't I send them to you? Perhaps you could post them?

[trw99]

Hi All,

Looking at the details of the S3 Coup? there must be surely something wrong with the VIN as it states 26/4915, surely it must be 36/4915 which is very close to one of the S3 coupe's I have that dates back to 1965.

Gino
Milano
Italy

Gino

Interesting point and it sent me scurrying to my reference books.

The Type number 36 was announced at the London Motor Show in October 1965. LNK 120C was first registered on 14 September 1965 (The Type number 45 was announced in June 1966 with the introduction of the S3 DHC)

Looking at the Parts List, it indicates in the Introduction the following change points:

S1 from Oct 62 Chas. No. 26/0001 to 26/3899
S2 from Autumn 64 Chas. No. 26/3900 to 26/5810
S3 from May 66 Chas. No. 36-45/5811 to 7399
S3 SS from Nov 67 Chas. No. 36-45/7400 to 7894

It coincidentally also indicates in the Body section that the Coupe extractor grill was fitted from chassis no. 36/5811

This would appear to point to the fact that all pre-airflow coupes were still Type 26 Elans. However, I very much stand to be corrected by someone who knows this era better than I do!

Tim

[elancoupe]

It coincidentally also indicates in the Body section that the Coupe extractor grill was fitted from chassis no. 36/5811



Tim

This info from Lotus is incorrect. No shocker, really.

I own 6138, and it does not have the extractor grills. Using information from a few sources, I am of the opinion that the grills appeared around chassis #6200.

[garyeanderson]

Coupes are always stamped (AFAIK, did I spell it correctly) type 36 on chassis and vin plate,
With the prototype who knows?

Gino, where did the 26/4915 come from and what is the body number.

If there are pictures please post them.

[Mazzini]

I have a lot more photos of the car, PM if you want high resolution photos.

[garyeanderson]

Thanks for the pictures. very nice indeed. The 26/ that Gino mentioned is not what the tag states and looks to me as a very nice original. Any clue as to the body number?

Gary