Strange chassis and engine numbers

[Lotus36/5YN]

Folks
This is my first try at using a forum. Please bear with me. I purchased an Elan S3 in London in 1991. The car has been custumized eg flared fenders, fixed headlights, harness and a hole in the oil pan probably for an oil cooler. The engine number is LR5906LBA (LP5906). This number falls betwwen the S3 DHC and the S3 FHC but is not included in either series?? The chassis number is 36/5YN, original reg number KLF261D. It also has a brake servo which started with the Sprints. Anyone have any ideas why the numbers are so strange
Thanks f

[1964 S1]

Do you have an Ohio title for the car? Does the serial number jive with the chassis number? The unit number is how most states issue vin numbers. The numbers are probably strange because it's an Elan.

[Lotus36/5YN]

Thanks for such a quick rsponse. The car is actually titled in Texas now. I imported it from the UK so there is no US VIN number originally. We used 365YN for the lack of anything better to use.

[1964 S1]

Do you know what unit number it is? Are the servo and engine original?

[marcfuller]

Have you actually seen the unit number "36/5YN" stamped on the right side of the chassis next to the engine or scribed the data plate? Or is it possibly just someones effort to decode the sometimes sloppy hand scribing on the data plate?

With as many modifcations as you list I would not be surprised that the engine had been replaced and would not be concerned about the block number sequencing.

[curly type 26]

Hi silly question but did you get original reg document and if so what is on that you might also find unit no under roof lining if you ever have to remove have fun Curly

[Emma-Knight]

Could it be an SE car - they had brake servos fitted, as far as I know.
The engine number might be a clue. I remember there are the SE engine numbers in the Ross/Robinshaw book.

(had a look - SE production started from Engine 5282)

You could ask DVLA.gov.uk about the license plate - they kept records
from around mid seventies.

Anna

[ianf]

The S3 SE's did have servo's - it may have been an option on non-se's as well. I found the chassis number on the inside of my doors when replacing a window motor a year or so ago.

Cheers,

Ian

[garyeanderson]

Your engine number sounds fine (ie LP5906 LBA), your coupe vin number could be 36/5411 as a the 4 as scribed looks similar to a y and any old scratch in the last two digits may appear to look like an N. The owner of Sports Car World in Texas may be able to help as I believe he said he had a listing of the Vin numbers from the factory and may be able to cross referance the engine number. This is just a wild ass guess so take it for what its worth.

Gary E. Anderson

[Lotus36/5YN]

I drove to Texas to have a look for numbers. There does not appear to be any numbers under the roof lining (which was out anyway)and I could not see anything on the chassis. There is a casting number of 5L15 on the left side of the block. The engine number is LP5906LEA. The car wast first registered on 9 May 1966 to David Mitchell Wallace of Cadogan Square, London. The unit number was 5711 which might explain the current chassis number 36/5YN (36/5711). A mistake?? I am still not sure why this car has flared wheel arches with mag rims, fixed headlights and the brake servo in 1966 but it is a nice machine.
Thanks for your suggestions.
lotus36/5YN

[M100]

Go to

http://www.grouplotus.com/contact/gener ... ?section=9

Select "technical" as department, supply them with engine and chassis numbers and they will let you know any information they have on the vehicle spec.