Lotus S4 DWY 4 H

[Daughter of Lotus]

Hello,

My father built a Lotus Elan - we think it was in 1970.

It was white and it was his dream, best years of his life. We lived in Yorkshire.

I have always wondered what lives that car went on to. Does anyone know where I could find it?

I would love to see the log book and who has owned it since.

I have been trying to get him to remember things about how he built it.

He built his, which was white, and his friend built a red one - both at the same time.

We have managed to find a photo which is how we learnt the registration plate.

I remember it coming. I think the wheels and engine were already attached and then he built the body, interior.

Then the company sent a truck to take it away and double check it.

I wondered if anyone knew where I could find the original instructions and any sort of information on what pieces it arrived in?

And does anyone know how much it would have cost? Dad thinks it was much cheaper due to not having to pay tax if you bought it as a kit.

He bought it from a garage in Sheffield.

And also can anyone give me any information about Colin Chapman?

And what you think is good about a Lotus Elan S4?

Dad said it was good at going around corners.

To help my father hold on to his memory I am writing about this for his happiest times, the main one being when he built his own car.

Many Thanks for your help

Best Wishes

Jo

[trw99]

Hi Jo and welcome.

I hope that what you are doing for your father is helpful. We have gone through similar problems with my wife's family.

I have had a look on the DVLA site and DWY 4H does still exist, it is still white and taxed until 1st July 2013. If you contact Club Lotus ([email protected]) they may be able to help you track it down - it would be wonderful for your father to see the car again, I'm sure.

Your father's Elan was first registered on 7th April 1970. You say he bought it from a Sheffield dealer, who may well have been The Hallamshire Motor Co at Broad Lane. The car would have been delivered to your father on a trailer and he would have spent time connecting the wiring, some suspension parts, and finishing it off before it being road tested and then approved. There have been a number of threads on here that I shall look out for you as they will be helpful.

The kit did not come with any instructions other than that part of the Workshop Manual that details with rebuilding after a strip down. Again, I'll dig it out for you.

Your father is quite right, the cars in kit form cost less than fully built as they did not then attract extra Purchase Tax. Many Elans were thus built from 'kit' form. In addition, there are a number of books on Colin Chapman. One that is easy to read and yet well informed is 'Colin Chapman; the Man and His Cars' by Gerard Crombac. For info on the S4 the book 'Authentic Lotus Elan and Plus 2' by Robinshaw & Ross, which is about to be re-published, is good. Club Lotus sell these books.

I'll get digging shortly.

Tim

[trw99]

Right Jo

These two threads are worth reading through for better ideas about the kits:

lotus-elan-f19/more-interesting-factory-pictures-t18212.html

lotus-elan-f19/building-kit-elan-the-60s-t23055.html

Below I have posted the Motor magzine's road test of an Elan S4, as well as an advert of one.

Tim

[trw99]

Then here is a photo of an Elan S3 in kit form, which was a Lotus press photograph, as well as the first two and last two pages of Section X of the Workshop Manual (I didn't think you would want the whole section!), which formed the only instructions that came with the kit.

Tim

[Daughter of Lotus]

That is really amazing, thank you so very much Tim.
I am doing two things - my Dad now lives in Australia and I am regularly talking to him by email and on the phone and helping him remember the time he built a car - his memory is not diabolical but, as he is 72 and all , he doesn't remember as much as he once did - and secondly, I am also writing the story for him and for me as I am doing a creative writing MA - this is going to be a piece about him building a car, it is called The Lotus Instructions - your findings have helped tremendously. And I am going to try and find the car yes. Thank you for that lead.
Dad once had a dream that he found it and the log book as well - with his name right at the top! It was his dream car of course.
And the book on Chapman - I will look for that as well although I found a link to another man called Ron Hickman - who is attributed as having designed the Lotus Elan - he lived in Jersey.
Best Wishes,
Jo

[Elanintheforest]

Hi Jo
You are absolutely right that it was Ron Hickman who was the designer of the Elan....pushed along, prodded, criticised and encouraged by Colin Chapman.

I have the same model and colour Elan to your fathers, and it came from the same part of the world, with a similar registration number. As there were car clubs and a Lotus club, he may have come across it. The registration number is DWW10H, and it was built by a chap in Leeds called James McCulloch. He kept the car for 10 years, and sold it to Jonathan Harrison. Jonathan was a doctor at Jimmy's in Leeds when he bought it (1980), and when I bought the car from him (2006) , he was a Consultant Oncologist at Harrogate. Typical consultant, he'd lost the keys and log book!

So my car had always lived in Yorkshire up until 2006....your father may well have come across it!

Send him this photos....it will remind him of his car at least.

If you click on the picture it will enlarge....you can then right click to save a copy to your PC.

All the best with your hunt for information.

Mark

[Daughter of Lotus]

Fantastic, thank you so much Mick!

Your car looks in such great condition.

My father is also a doctor - must have been a doctor thing to have an Elan!

What is the background on your logo/ tag 'Elan in the Forest'?

Best Wishes

Jo

[Daughter of Lotus]

Dear Tim and Mark and any other Lotus Elan owners ...

My brother remembers something used to fall off - he thinks it was the exhaust - and we would stop the car so he could jump out and run back for it. ( I was always squashed on a small ledge my father had installed behind the passenger seat - lucky me!)

Dad doesn't remember my brother doing that but he says it can't have been the exhaust as it would have been too hot.

He said he only once remembers being on a house call on his own and having to stop because the silencer came off.

It must have happened more than he remembers. Do you think it would have been the silencer my brother remembers coming off? Is there anything else it could have been?

He also remembers that sometimes the electronics didn't work so the electric headlights and windows didn't always open or close when you wanted them to. he said the engineering was excellent but the superficial things were not yet perfected.

Have you heard of, or do you still have, those sort of problems?

It's funny, the old advertisement featuring Dr Hammond. Doctors tend to have few DIY skills, Dad says he thinks it took him a few months and he had help! That Dr Hammond must have been a quite amazing guy!



Best Wishes

Jo

[trw99]

Hi Jo

Yes, well, now you're asking! Elans did have a certain reputation for unreliability. Not helped by both the poor Lucas electrics (Lucas - prince of darkness) and the fact that earthing always presented a problem in a fibreglass car. This did sometimes lead to things like headlights not working.

It may well have been the exhaust silencer falling off. Fully loaded with two adults, luggage and a full petrol tank, the Elan's ground clearance was reduced and the silencer tended to be the first thing that grounded. Always impressive watching the sparks flying out of the back of the car when it was dark! Worrying too as fire was a problem on some cars.

In fact, if the Elan was well prepared, well maintained and serviced and not driven too daftly, they were capable of being reliable cars.

Please bear in mind the Dr Hammond in the ads had nothing whatsoever to do with a certain vertically challenged member of the Top Gear team.

Tim

[Daughter of Lotus]

Thanks very much for adding that info Tim, what is Lucas electrics?

[holywood3645]

Jo the good news is your Dads car is still on the roads in the UK today, with current registration. You can purchase a HPI check on the car and it will cost you about 12UKP. It will not tell you who owns the car. Maybe this board is the best way to do that. Or, if you have a friend in the police you could maybe ask them to do a check.

You can do a download car status check app for an i-phone that can provide the same information i have gave you.

Good luck with your hunt, keep us informed of you progress, If you are determined enough you will find it,

The suppliers such as Chris Neil, Paul Matty, SJ Sports cars etc may be able to help you with a lease a phone number.

We all need parts for these cars.

James

[PeterK]

Hi Jo
DVLA have a form (V888 I think) for requesting history on your car, providing you have good reason.

This is normally used to fnd the past history on a vehicle you have just purchased, but I see no reason why you couldn't request the subsequent history on the car your dad originally purchased new.
Peter

[vstibbard]

Hi Jo, where in Australia does your Dad live? Theres a very active Lotus Club, which has its annual gathering from 25th April in Canberra.
Cheers V

[holywood3645]

See attached.

Good Luck

[Daughter of Lotus]

Hello

Thank you everyone for being so helpful.

What is that green form? Thank you for that.

I'm hoping to track down the owner and photocopy the first page of the log book if it still exists and perhaps get a photo of the car if the owner is willing.

Dad lives in the north of Aus - not good weather for a Lotus as they're too low to the ground, so he told me.