Lotus Elan Vin Tool

[Grizzly]

I presume this doesn't cover the gap in the Lotus factory records?

[Terry Posma]

I presume this doesn't cover the gap in the Lotus factory records?

When was that gap as I have a particularly strange set of numbers?

[sonunet]

Sonny, I'm having a problem finding my car: 45/0243K. Tried 243K and 0243K but nothing comes up.

Are you simply linking to the already exisiting DB?
http://www.elanregistry.org/list_cars.php

This may be part of the set of data that's missing. I believe over time, I should have many of the gaps remediated.

[sonunet]

That's impressive Sonny.

Worked perfectly for my S2, with the correct engine number & factory sale date (the car was sold as a kit direct to a customer on Jersey - no dealer involved) Regularly being asked why I have a 65 manufactured S2 with a 68 registration plate - that's when the car first came back to the UK & was registered here - these days I guess it would get a date related plated - back then it was just a second hand vehicle)

Thanks for the heads up on the DOB versus Sales date. I'll make some adjustments in the next few days.

[sonunet]

Finds my elan and original engine number ( must scratch that on a block again one day !!) though the date is the sales date in December 68 not the factory build date in August 68. I remember some comments about the database thats been floating around having sales dates in it. Links nicely to the register though

cheers
Rohan

Thanks for the feedback, Rohan. I'll make some fixes to the tool over the next few days.

[sonunet]

Doesn't find my Sprint, neither VIN or engine number.
Mike

Mike, thanks for your feedback. PM/email me with your VIN and I'll do a hard query against the DB. Will let you know if anything comes up.

[trw99]

Sonny's tool takes its info primarily from the late Frank of Sportscar World's listing which was briefly available several years ago on his web site. Those records never went to the end of production for either the Elan or the +2.

Records for all post Jan 70 Elan types from units 0172 through to 0501 were destroyed in a flood of the old airfield fire station at Hethel in the late 1970s. It is these missing records that Andy Graham, I and others are attempting to replicate. The data required is the full VIN, including year and month (and batch number for 70/71 cars), the original engine no if known and the original colour code if known. Any additional info gratefully received.

As part of this process I have over the last decade built a database of all Elans and +2s ever built. Although all unit numbers are known, not all info applicable for those unit numbers is. I started with building a Sprint specific database, which now has reasonably detailed records of approx. 800 of the 1409 Sprints built, garnered from past and present owners, info in the public domain, adverts and speaking to dealers.

Why? For future generations of Elan enthusiasts, classic car historians and others with an interest in automotive history.

Tim

[sonunet]

Sonny's tool takes its info primarily from the late Frank of Sportscar World's listing which was briefly available several years ago on his web site. Those records never went to the end of production for either the Elan or the +2.

Records for all post Jan 70 Elan types from units 0172 through to 0501 were destroyed in a flood of the old airfield fire station at Hethel in the late 1970s. It is these missing records that Andy Graham, I and others are attempting to replicate. The data required is the full VIN, including year and month (and batch number for 70/71 cars), the original engine no if known and the original colour code if known. Any additional info gratefully received.

As part of this process I have over the last decade built a database of all Elans and +2s ever built. Although all unit numbers are known, not all info applicable for those unit numbers is. I started with building a Sprint specific database, which now has reasonably detailed records of approx. 800 of the 1409 Sprints built, garnered from past and present owners, info in the public domain, adverts and speaking to dealers.

Why? For future generations of Elan enthusiasts, classic car historians and others with an interest in automotive history.

Tim

Thanks Tim. Let me know if there?s something specific. I have a significant amount of Elan data that I haven?t had the chance to curate and merge. Some of those missing numbers may actually turn up.

Here are some examples:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/bli349opgf69ky4/686G.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/9u8rl3pc5vmomm1/686G-1.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/fq7ds5fyfw8krlz/686G-4.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/jys8stvm82tkf86/3252.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/1xxso02t3dd8qis/3252-1.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/13w9nnliksgwkt1/3252-6.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/x55qlcp28obb2c7/3252-7.jpg?dl=0

Sonny

[Certified Lotus]

I tried your database for my 69 Elan S1 (26/0379) and the info that came up was incorrect. It shows an engine number with this serial number sequence?

[TroonSprint]

Sonny, you have a PM.

Mike

[sonunet]

I tried your database for my 69 Elan S1 (26/0379) and the info that came up was incorrect. It shows an engine number with this serial number sequence?

Hey Glen - thanks for providing some feedback. A 69, S1 flagged some concern to me so I looked into it. Here's what I came up with, early cars specifically born as S1's had chassis numbers as 26 0### (e.g: 26 0269) but usually had a Lotus serial number scribed 3### (e.g: 3235). If you have that Lotus serial number, 3### the result set at the site should work.

It looks like when I extended the search to include the 'Engine ID', it picked up the 0379 (G20379) as part of the Engine Serial number citing it as a 1969.

reference link: http://www.lotuselan.net/forums/lotus-elan-f19/elan-identity-t23639.html

Hopefully this helps.

[trw99]

This is a well known issue chaps.

1600 Elans, now called S1s, had an initial Unit no run of 0001 through to 0049.

Lotus then added a spurious 3000 numbers so what would have been 0050 became 3050. However, VIN plates continued to be marked with the 00## sequence for quite some time. The exact change to include the 3 is not known. Meanwhile in the sales and accounts office the 30## sequence was immediately adopted.

Tim

[sonunet]

I tried your database for my 69 Elan S1 (26/0379) and the info that came up was incorrect. It shows an engine number with this serial number sequence?

Hey Glen - thanks for providing some feedback. A 69, S1 flagged some concern to me so I looked into it. Here's what I came up with, early cars specifically born as S1's had chassis numbers as 26 0### (e.g: 26 0269) but usually had a Lotus serial number scribed 3### (e.g: 3235). If you have that Lotus serial number, 3### the result set at the site should work.

It looks like when I extended the search to include the 'Engine ID', it picked up the 0379 (G20379) as part of the Engine Serial number citing it as a 1969.

reference link: http://www.lotuselan.net/forums/lotus-elan-f19/elan-identity-t23639.html

Hopefully this helps.

Hey Glen, as luck would have it your Serial No is: 3331 w/Engine No: LP1006

It looks like my image processing script picked up your VIN but hasn't processed it yet. Here's a copy of your vin:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/yjeiy4atelvm3nk/0379.jpg?dl=0

Sonny

[Certified Lotus]

I tried your database for my 69 Elan S1 (26/0379) and the info that came up was incorrect. It shows an engine number with this serial number sequence?

Hey Glen - thanks for providing some feedback. A 69, S1 flagged some concern to me so I looked into it. Here's what I came up with, early cars specifically born as S1's had chassis numbers as 26 0### (e.g: 26 0269) but usually had a Lotus serial number scribed 3### (e.g: 3235). If you have that Lotus serial number, 3### the result set at the site should work.

It looks like when I extended the search to include the 'Engine ID', it picked up the 0379 (G20379) as part of the Engine Serial number citing it as a 1969.

reference link: http://www.lotuselan.net/forums/lotus-elan-f19/elan-identity-t23639.html

Hopefully this helps.

Sorry Sonny, a slip of the finger. I meant my 1964 Elan S1. I'm in the midst of rebuilding a 69 S4 and its on my mind So what do you have on a 1964 Elan S1 with SN 26/0379 ? I am told I have the third oldest S1 in the States. I'm not sure I believe that, but you never know

[bitsobrits]

Hmm.... I've seen several S1's over the years at LOG events with lower serial numbers. I have unit #150, chassis #167, body #170, which is pretty early, but not the earliest I've seen.

As I'm sure others will better remember, there is a substantial gap in serial numbers between the very early cars like mine and the later S1's with chassis numbers 300 and up.