Lotus Elan Federal Vin Plate

[gearbox]

In the process of restoring the body on my 1969 SE S4 and just removed the two vin plates on the car. Unfortunately, the plates have seen better days now with holes and the numbers are barely readable. I have sourced the main plate, but was looking for the Federal plate for the car. I check all of the usual suspects but no luck. Anyone know if these are being made and how I can get one? Thanks Allan

[pharriso]

I have not seen one like that before, might be difficult to source.

[gearbox]

Hi Phil, Yeah, these were only on the Federal Cars, so don't think anyone in the UK would have them. I could make these, but doubt anyone else would need one lol. Thanks Allan

[pharriso]

Allan, where was this plate?

I have this plate in the driver's side door opening:

Federal plate

Only gives the vin number though.

[Bud English]

Phil - I know the actual official weight of our cars is nebulous at best but 2080 seems a bit high. It looks like your plate lists the curb weight of the +2S. Are you missing the added lightness???

[pharriso]

Phil - I know the actual official weight of our cars is nebulous at best but 2080 seems a bit high. It looks like your plate lists the curb weight of the +2S. Are you missing the added lightness???

Bud, there's no weight anywhere!

That's the Vin #, shown as +0260/K ; caused all sorts of fun with NYS DMV...

[Bud English]

"GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING (POUNDS) 2080"
The printed line right under the month and year of mfg line.

The plate on my +2 is the same plate as Allan's.

[pharriso]

duh... not noticed that before!

Gross vehicle weight, maybe with 2 (heavy) passengers & a full tank of gas?

[Bud English]

Allan- I don't know if you searched or saw this thread but it looks like Gordon sourced a new VIN plate.
lotus-chassis-f36/tatty-vin-plates-t18747.html
I can't tell of it's the one on the door or the one on the dash but a PM to him might answer that question (if he doesn't spot this thread).

[gearbox]

Allan, where was this plate?

I have this plate in the driver's side door opening:

The attachment IMG_7539rotated.jpg is no longer available

Only gives the vin number though.

Hi Phil;

The Federal Plate I have was mounted right above the vin plate in the engine compartment, but that was on both my 1969 and 1970 SE's, not sure where the 72 was mounted. Thanks Allan

[gearbox]

Allan- I don't know if you searched or saw this thread but it looks like Gordon sourced a new VIN plate.
lotus-chassis-f36/tatty-vin-plates-t18747.html
I can't tell of it's the one on the door or the one on the dash but a PM to him might answer that question (if he doesn't spot this thread).

Hey Bud;

Thanks, yes I did see that thread, but I think they were talking about the main vin plate. I sourced that from Lotus parts guy in Australia, but it looks so shiney and new compared to my old Federal plate, I couldn't see how I could put them together and still make it look about right. I would have normally just used my old plates, but they have become very thin and fragile, with holes stating to form in various spots. Tried washing them a bit and saw that the black print would have just washed off. Better framed and on the garage wall than on the car. Maybe I'll just laminate them somehow and just use them. Making a new Federal plate is not a big deal, some graphics work on my part and a few hundreds of dollars for the laser ectching, but the stamps used for the vin and engine numbers are something I have never seen in size and font. Yeah, I'm a bit anal with this stuff, but that is half the fun lol, Allan

[trw99]

Federal Elan Sprints: In addition to the VIN plate in the engine compartment, there was a vehicle identity plate fitted at the base of the windscreen, which gave just the unit number, as well as a manufacturers plate located on the inside of the drivers door opening, which gave the month and year of manufacture, as well as the unit number and a Federal emmissions plate on the intake side of the engine compartment.

Tim