Is this an S3 or an S4?

[danielmo]

This car is (and has been for a while) for sale in Vancouver, BC. It is being advertised as an S3, but has rocker switches and rectangular tail lights. It also has the earlier round rear wheel arches. Was there some crossover between the S3 and S4? The other thought I had, was maybe the rear half of the car was replaced at some point?

http://vancouver.craigslist.ca/van/ctd/5400059130.html

Dan

[Mazzini]

I think its mostly S3 Can you find out the chassis number?

[pharriso]

Definitely S3 body, Is this one of the S3 Super Safeties? I'm not too up on them but my understanding is that they included some S4 features in the S3.... looks nice...

[roblotus79]

I've seen this car up close and have given it a test drive as I was considering purchasing it. I think it is a Super Safety. The car is in great shape, everything mechanically good, paint and body is great. It was just a matter of price.

I've met the owner too at car shows previously, very nice guy. Did a lot of the work himself and has owned it since 1969!

[stevebroad]

I don't think it is an SS as the knock on nuts are the original UK variant. Also, the interior door handles are also the original style and it has been mentioned in another thread that these were changed in the SS model

Engine cam cover is the original/early one.

Lotus had a habit of using up surplus stock at model changeovers. My friend has an S1/2 and it is recorded as such with Lotus.

Or, as I did, someone decided to update their S3 A quote from the advert is telling:

body-off backbone chassis restoration and upgrades

As mentioned above, the VIN would help.

[RogerFrench]

Taill lights and switches are S4, but the dash is an 'Upgrade" so switches might easily have been changed at that time, and same with the tail lights. S4 type are much more readily available than S3!

[nigelrbfurness]

Without a doubt a modified S3. The "SS" model did have rocker switches and the absence of the dash mounted ashtray might point to it being an SS dash. S3 interior door handles are visible too. A non-original steering wheel points to a car that's been "personalised" as do the wheels. It could have originated as an SS model because the spinners can easily be changed, perhaps the SS spinners won't work with those wheels? However, if I remember correctly the SS had reflectors let into the front bumpers just ahead of the front wheelarches.

Finding the original spec is going to be hardest part of restoring this one!

Nigel F.

[trw99]

That dash is not Lotus original, it is a burr walnut replacement from the looks of it. The SS dashes had red rather than white switch labelling.

SS models are always tricky to pin down. Many of them have some, but not all, of the features that the later ones had. Although destined for the Federal market, some ended up being sold in the UK after appropriate rectification.

Tim

[Elan45]

It is not an SS. Interior door handles are early S3 and the pull handles as part of the window frame is more telling. SS have plastic door pulls mounted in the door recessed panel. Yes, SS had reflectors, but they were just mounted on a normal S3 body, At the front, just above the bumper.

I'd guess this was a normal (maybe S/E) S3 Elan that was hit from behind and repaired with an S4 rear panel, which back in the 70s was all that was available from Lotus. The dash is obviously not original, I would assume this was the upgrade. I'd guess this car had aa vin in the 6000 range.

Roger

[Elan45]

Notice the car has single circuit brakes. The biggest safety feature of the SS was dual circuit brakes and this car does not have that.

Roger