Building Instructions

[Barney]

Out of curiosity, are there any original building instructions remaining, if so could they be posted?

Cheers
Barney

[trw99]

It is my understanding that no building instructions as such came with the Elan. This was something to do with the law regarding purchase tax and it's avoidance in relation to 'kit cars' in the UK.

However, apparently the factory helpfully supplied a copy of Section X of the Workshop Manual, 'Overhaul and Rebuild'!

Tim

[1964 S1]

...currently on eBay...

[hatman]

...currently on eBay...

What's that then - a morning's work, would you say?

[saildrive2001]

I bought my S4 SE in 1969 as a kit & the only instructions provided was a copy of the 5 pages from the manual "Rebuild instructions". It took two of us one weekend to assemble the car with regular tools & the use of an engine hoist. We put the engine in three times before we got brutal & got it to finally drop into place (my car has the fabricated manifold). We figured that if we had to do another one we could have completed it in a day working around 14 hours. Lotus offered a free inspection of your car & indeed you had to have this done within the first 500 miles for the warranty to be valid. Apparently the biggest problems was with people assembling the knock on hubs on the wrong sides.

[robertverhey]

Must remember to wear a tie when I next pull my engine out

Robert

[Barney]

Thanks all for the replies.

So just how "complete" were the kits?

Barney

[saildrive2001]

The body was completly finished with everything installed & mounted on the chassis. The engine & gearbox were complete including exhaust & carbs & had been bench tested. Basically you had to install the diff & the drive train, build up the front & rear suspension including fitting the springs on the rear. Install the radiator & connect all hoses, fuel lines etc. You had to install & connect the brake calipers & of course then bleed the brake & clutch systems. Add all fluids, fill the tank & whilst keeping your fingers crossed turn the ignition key. After a few turns of the starter to fill the carbs you heard that lovely twink sound, then panicked as you saw smoke coming from the engine bay. Calmed down when you realized it was only oil on the headers that was burning off. You then spent the next 500 miles frustratingly travelling at a max 3500 rpm to run in the engine as per Lotus instructions after which the fun began. In 1969 I saved 500GBP by buying it as a kit which cost 1500GBP.

[Bruce Crowthorne]

Is there a way to know if the car we own now was supplied as a kit or fully assembled?
I would be nice to find the original owner or builder, but slim chance on a 1969 car .....

[marklowe]

Bruce,
I wrote to Chris Brown, Lotus Company Archivist last year when I acquired my 1969 S4 Elan, asking what information was available.
I quote from Chris?s letter.
?It is listed that your car was supplied with engine number K18535 and supplied in kit form as the entry shows two invoices, one for the engine and one for the body/chassis.?
The letter also says who the car was first supplied to, I kick myself for not copying the name of previous owner from the V5 when I purchased the car as I?m only the third owner it would have been nice to see it all tie together.

Mark