Stupid question but I cant find the answer

[torsinadoc]

I am looking at getting my first elan in the next few weeks-months. Is there any location/book that will describe the changes between the model years (body work, seats, dash, championship plate, etc)? I have looked at a few elan's online but they don't seem to have been restored to original spec. The best I can do is get out my books and compare pics which doesn't appear to be the most accurate plan.

[paddy]

I think the book that is usually regarded as the best reference is Robinshaw and Ross:

Robinshaw, P. and Ross, C. 1995. Authentic Lotus Elan and Plus 2. Motor Racing Publications LTD. ISBN 0 947981 950.

It has quite a bit of the kind of information youi're after but still doesn't give complete information on the badges and their location at different times. These kinds of questions are quite often asked on this forum, so searching for specific information is the best way to find it.

Unfortunately the book is out of print. Copies come up from time to time on Ebay. Where are you? There might be someone not far from you who can load a copy.

Paddy

[Jason1]

Hi

For the Elan +2 its the lotus parts manual, this shows you pictures of the parts and lists on which chassis numbers they were fitted.
Which Elan are you buying?

Jason

[torsinadoc]

Hi

For the Elan +2 its the lotus parts manual, this shows you pictures of the parts and lists on which chassis numbers they were fitted.
Which Elan are you buying?

Jason

I would like an S3

I think the book that is usually regarded as the best reference is Robinshaw and Ross:

Robinshaw, P. and Ross, C. 1995. Authentic Lotus Elan and Plus 2. Motor Racing Publications LTD. ISBN 0 947981 950.

It has quite a bit of the kind of information youi're after but still doesn't give complete information on the badges and their location at different times. These kinds of questions are quite often asked on this forum, so searching for specific information is the best way to find it.

Unfortunately the book is out of print. Copies come up from time to time on Ebay. Where are you? There might be someone not far from you who can load a copy.

Paddy

Im in Arkansas. Thanks for the reference. Also did lotus produce some without badges (championship)? Most that are for sale dont seem to have those.

[adigra]

To my knowledge S3 Elans didn't have championship badges. They had Elan, or Elan Coupe, or Elan Coupe S/E (my '67 S3 FHC has the latter). I've actually only seen the championship badges on Sprints, so I'd be quite interested if someone here could confirm if S4's had them as well. As far as Sprints go, they had one Championship, and one matching Sprint badge, but which goes on which side seems to be a bit foggy (I believe the championship is on the left side, but I've seen them reversed...).

[elancoupe]

My S3 Coupe (non airflow) has the 63 and 65 championship badge on one roof sail panel, and the Indy 500 winner badge on the other. These are original.

[Elanintheforest]

Adiga, there were three shapes of Championship badges. The S2 and S3 had a 'shield' shape, pinched from a Hillman Imp, with a combination of '63 Championship', '63 / 65 Championship' and 'Indy 500 winner', as appropriate to the year of the car. The S4 and early Plus 2 S had the curvy rectangular championship badge for 63, 65 and 68 on the rear wing, the same shape as the S4 or S4 S/E or 'S' badge on the other wing. Then the Sprint and later Plus 2 S had the long, thin rectangular badges on the front wing, and there were 3 of these, for 70, 72 and 73. Finally, the rarest of all, and worth Millions, is the 50th GP win badge, only fitted to the JPS Plus 2.

Lots to choose from but only one or two are right for a given car.

Mark

[adigra]

Oh, of course, I'm an idiot. I wasn't thinking of the shield badges at the rear at all.

[Vanden Perre]

Hello,
I agree with Mike. My S3 coupe (pre airflow) has the same badges. I suppose they are original.
Olivier.

[stugilmour]

Welcome to the list.

Was just going to post recommendation to get the book from Bruce Brammer in Germany, but I see he has closed down until September or so. Anyway, here is the link for future reference.

I think the book that is usually regarded as the best reference is Robinshaw and Ross:

Robinshaw, P. and Ross, C. 1995. Authentic Lotus Elan and Plus 2. Motor Racing Publications LTD. ISBN 0 947981 950.

Unfortunately the book is out of print. Copies come up from time to time on Ebay. Where are you? There might be someone not far from you who can load a copy.

Paddy

I got a copy of the book from here:

http://www.lotus-books.com/elan.html

Good shipment to NA (Canada). Also has the workshop and parts manuals. Very good source of Lotus literature.

[peterako]

Just a second recommondation for Bruce Brammer.

I've bought a few books from hinm in the past and found service, price and posatge great.

Peter

[trw99]

As far as Sprints go, they had one Championship, and one matching Sprint badge, but which goes on which side seems to be a bit foggy (I believe the championship is on the left side, but I've seen them reversed...).

Info for the Sprint on my site. The World Champions Constructors badge, reflecting Lotus championships up to 1970, was fixed to the right hand front wing. A redesigned badge, reflecting the 1972 World Championship, was also produced. Since that was won in September of that year, it may be that these badges appeared on Sprints produced from mid to late November 1972 onwards. The Lotus Elan Sprint badge was fixed to the left hand front wing. In the case of the handful of Sprint/5s produced at the factory, a Sprint/5 badge replaced the Lotus Elan Sprint badge. The only badges to the rear of the car were the Lotus letters on the boot lid.

Tim

[robcall]

Hi Tim
according to the Lotus parts bulletin for gearbox conversion of 4-speed to 5-speed, badge position depended on colour scheme-

Mono sprints-replace elan sprint with sprint/5
Duo sprints-replace world champion with sprint/5

[adigra]

As far as Sprints go, they had one Championship, and one matching Sprint badge, but which goes on which side seems to be a bit foggy (I believe the championship is on the left side, but I've seen them reversed...).

Info for the Sprint on my site. The World Champions Constructors badge, reflecting Lotus championships up to 1970, was fixed to the right hand front wing. A redesigned badge, reflecting the 1972 World Championship, was also produced. Since that was won in September of that year, it may be that these badges appeared on Sprints produced from mid to late November 1972 onwards. The Lotus Elan Sprint badge was fixed to the left hand front wing. In the case of the handful of Sprint/5s produced at the factory, a Sprint/5 badge replaced the Lotus Elan Sprint badge. The only badges to the rear of the car were the Lotus letters on the boot lid.

Tim

Ah, fantastic. Thanks for that. A friend with a Sprint has been wondering about this for a while since when he bought the car the Championship badge was on the left, but when he had it restored it was put on the right, which we assumed was wrong (based on the previous position). It's great to know (as sad as that might make us seem!) that the badges are indeed in the right places.

[trw99]

Hi Tim
according to the Lotus parts bulletin for gearbox conversion of 4-speed to 5-speed, badge position depended on colour scheme-

Mono sprints-replace elan sprint with sprint/5
Duo sprints-replace world champion with sprint/5

Nigel

Found it and you are quite correct:

"14. Fit the new badge. On +2 cars remove the existing 'S130' badge, replacing with the new 'S130/5' badge; on Elan single-tone cars, remove existing 'Sprint' badge and replace with 'Sprint/5' badge; on Elan duo-tone cars, remove an existing 'World Champion' badge and replace with 'Sprint/5' badge."


I am surprised that you did not pick me up on that point when you first read the web site! Which, incidentally, I have now corrected. Thank you

Tim