S3 SE Spec

[jmp]

Is there anyone in the Staffordshire, West Midlands or Derbyshire areas of the Uk owning a completely standard s3 se.?
I would like to take the car that I have recently purchased with the exception of a few updates like an alternator, high torque starter motor and spyder chassis with roll cage back to original spec. It will be on the road winter and summer hence sticking with those modifications It will be a lot easier to have a look at the vehicle than just look at pictures in books. Mine is an early FHC car without the vents in the rear Quarter panel and although it sports the se badges I'm not sure that it came out of the factory as an se model. Two things it hasn't got are the brake servo or inertia reel seat belts. It has been restored by the previous owner and when he bought it, it didn't have the twin cam engine but a 1300 ford unit.
Should the s3 have a door pull handle as mine just has the opening lever and non of the pictures in books that I've got show a complete s3 door interior? I know the later cars had mgb pull handles should the s3?
Thanks,

John

[garyeanderson]

I don't know but I would start by looking at this

http://www.lotuselan.net/publish/car_type_by_vin.shtml

July 1966 36/5977 S3 FHC SE Introduced

If your Coupe was invoiced before than I doubt that it is.
p.s. - I think you shroud refer to your Coupe as an Elan Coupe maybe with the describer of "pre-airflow". Just my opinion ya know.

[Coupe]

My 'pre-airflow' Elan is Feb 66 and door handles are as photo below:

[jmp]

Thanks for the link. It is chassis no 6037 July 66 which indicates it could be one of the early s3 'pre-airflow' cars.

Thanks for the photo I am missing those door handles. Are they like hens teeth to get hold off?

I've also not got the electric window switch in the door it is on the dash.

[Mazzini]

Thanks for the link. It is chassis no 6037 July 66 which indicates it could be one of the early s3 'pre-airflow' cars.

Thanks for the photo I am missing those door handles. Are they like hens teeth to get hold off?

I've also not got the electric window switch in the door it is on the dash.

I think the handle is off a Hilman Imp, don't think they're particularly hard to get hold of (groan door handle), unlike the outside handle which is.

[adigra]

John,

By the sound of it, I think you are right about your car not being an SE originally as some of the features which made an SE are the belts and the servo, although they could've been removed at a later stage.

If you don't find a car closer to home, I am in West Yorkshire and have a S3 SE coupe (airflow), with a completely standard interior with all of its original instruments, trim, etc. I have newer belts fitted, but I have the rotten originals saved. I also removed the radio, but also have it saved somewhere.

Regards,
Adi

[Mazzini]

Hi Adi,

Did your car come with static or inertia reel seat belts? If you read the blurb and look at the road tests from '66 and '67 S3 SE's had Teleflex inertia reel belts, the reel mechanism was contained in a large off white plastic casing which sat on the rear bulkhead. I don't think they were very effective and I've only ever seen one set still attached to a car. The attachment point for the buckle, down by the chassis, was made out of plastic and I think in time they fell apart. Teleflex may have had the patent on the design.

Cheerio,

Mazzini

[adigra]

Yes, my car came with the Teleflex ones. Ugly white cases taking up a lot of room behind the seats. I would've kept them were they not completely rotten and seized. I replaced them with static belts, but still have them with the idea of making them work down the line.

My car was incredibly complete with absolutely everything original still on it. The unfortunate thing was that almost everything was rotten, mouldy or rusty after 10 years in a damp garage.

Regards,
Adi

[Mazzini]

Cor! which is what people you'd to say before 'wow' was invented, I'm seriously impressed.

[jimj]

I have a `67 S3 SE and live at Foolow S32 5PZ. There are some mechanical upgrades from standard but the stuff you`d want to check is as ex-factory. No servo and no inertia reel belts and I don`t recall my `68 SE having them in period.
Jim

[Mazzini]

'Allo Jim,

I don't think the Teleflexs lasted into '68, I think they were all done by mid '67, but with Lotus who knows.

There were a lot of small, or sometimes not so small, running changes during the S3 production run.

Cheerio,

Mazzini

[skelteanema]

unlike the outside handle which is

Hi Mazzini and others.
I thought the exterior handle on the S3 was from the Austin/Morris 1100/1300 range of cars. These used to be a dime a dozen over here in New Zealand, markedly more common than the Hillman Imp. If I recall correctly from Brian Bucklands book, Unless the S3-SE had different exterior handles to my standard S3, I I don't believe that these would be particularly difficult to come by.

[Mazzini]

The supply of new old stock of the handles has dried up. I don't know why, perhaps their are difficulties in plating old handles? Currently NOS carries a quite a premium.