Wauters importer

[LotusArchives]

Hi to all, Andy from Lotus seeking assistance again.

Does anyone have any old dealer lists for Europe from the 1960s? (also would be interested in any from 70s-90s, for any country)

I am trying to trace J et P Wauters, I believe they may have been the importer into Belgium, but Lotus has no dealer lists for Europe from this period, can anyone help?

[trw99]

Andy

These are the ones I know about:

USA
Lotus North West - ABC Motors Inc; 8233 So Tacoma Way Tacoma Washington 98499 USA
Lotus South West - British Motor Car Distributors; 19100 Susana Rd Compton California 90221 USA
Lotus Central; 35093 Schoolcraft Rd Livonia Detroit Michigan 48150 USA
Lotus East - Dutchess Auto Co; Millerton New York USA
Lotus South - Benton Inc; 3835 Airline Highway Metairie Louisiana 70001 USA

Europe
Lars Wendl; Sweden
Autohaus Paul Behnke; Munich Germany
Autobahn Wangi; St Gallen Switzerland

Others mentioned in sales book:
Lotus Suisse
Lotus Canada
Lotus Holland

Tokyo Shoji, Japan
Ecurie Shirlee, USA
Geoghegan & Sons Pty, Australia or South Africa
Holiday Cars Import
Universal Cars
J et P Wauters
Royal Elysees SA, Spain?
Danlo Imports
Peter Lindner Auto
Foyo Trading Co, Japan?
DE Jolly Imports
Alton SA
Autosport Equipment, Canada
Sports Cars Unlimited
Per Brandstrom, Scananavia?
Automobile Verkauf

Anyone else have additional info?

Tim

[LotusArchives]

Thanks Tim,

I am pretty sure Geoghegan was Australia

I think Royal Elysees SA is France, but not seen anything in English to confirm

I have a feeling Sports Cars Unlimited could be Canada, I have something on this at work.

I bet Lotus back in the 60s Lotus would never have guessed something as simple as a dealer list would be needed 40+ years on, as knowing where the dealer/distributor is located also helps identify if LHD/RHD.

[elansprint71]

This might possibly be Wauters, looks like it was founded by Jules Wauters back in 1927. Got to be worth an e-mail.

http://www.garagewauters.be/garage.htm

[elansprint71]

Looking through the Elite production sheets, Lotus invoiced Ets. J&P Wauters on 9/8/62, 22/8/62, 12/12/62 (2 units) & 14/2/63. Of course the records are hand-written, difficult to read and some bits are missing from the bottom of pages, so there may be a few more. Some of the entries have obviously been inserted into the chronological chassis numbers at a later date and these do not show any chassis number at all!

[terryp]

I think Royal Elysees SA is France, but not seen anything in English to confirm

I have an old advert from a French Magazine to back this up. Also some type approval documents

Terry

[Robbie693]

Geoghegan was definitely Australia

Robbie

[c.garde]

Hi there,

I have a list early -70s.
If You are interested let me have an adress for shipment.
( no wauter mentioned)

Best regards c.garde

[LotusArchives]

The address is:
Andy Graham
Lotus Aftersales Department
Units 6&7 John Hyne Way
Longwater Business Park
Costessey
Norwich
Norfolk
NR5 0AF

01603 602178

[email protected]

(I know this differs from the main address on this site, but it took me so long to get that updated, I have left it as is, incase we get moved again as aftersales are currently away from the main factory, but all post is being re-directed here).

[DavidLB]

I have some paperwork from the 70's together with some original factory photo's I was a dealer in the Channel Islands 71 to 85. I can scan these for you if interested

[LotusArchives]

Anything official from Lotus, marketing etc. would be very much appreciated. I am slowly recovering lost data.

[Elan45]

Hi Andy,

At some point, Lotus came into western US through Jay Chamberlan. I was surprised earlier this year, when tracing history on my Lotus 20, that Jay was not listed in the chassis records, but Briggs Enterprises was. I believe this was a branch of Briggs Cunningham's automotive holdings, probably in Florida. The other serious importer at the time was Sy Kaback in the New York area.

Roger Sieling

[syrius]

yes Royal elys?es was in France.
A+
Serge

[john knight]

In the original service-voucher-book I can see, my S2 of 1965 was sold by Bob Challman Lotus, 2301 Sepulveda Blvd., Manhattan Baech, Cal.

John

[Mazzini]

yes Royal elys?es was in France.
A+
Serge

That's an interesting translation of 'grace, space and pace'