Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Hello,

i checked the workshop manual (technical data) but couldn't find the permissible maximum weight of the car (inkluding driver, passenger, full tank and other stuff which you can transport).
I need this data to get it registered in austria, hope that someone knows the max weight.

Thanks
Mario

Hi Mario, I don't know if that information was ever available at the time, as it would not be necessary in the UK.
I do know that other countries in the EU seem to place some importance to these statistics. I also know that the the residents of such places also make something up to please the beaurocrats! Could you not do the same?
Good luck, Lyn...

Lyn7 wrote:Hi Mario, I don't know if that information was ever available at the time, as it would not be necessary in the UK.
I do know that other countries in the EU seem to place some importance to these statistics. I also know that the the residents of such places also make something up to please the beaurocrats! Could you not do the same?
Good luck, Lyn...

If that information is not availabel i'll find a number by my self, i think 940kg is a plausible value.
I can understand that this is a very important information for a truck but i don't know why this is important for a 2 seater , anyway i need a value to please the beaurocrats...

The Robinshaw Ross book states that the magazine Motor weighed a DHC Sprint in 1971 and found it to be 1590lbs or 721kg.

I had my S3 DHC and S2 (no hardtop) on corner weights a couple of years ago and I recall they were both around that number, I was surprised at how similar the S2 and the S3 were, the S3 was slightly heavier, but by not as much as I would have thought.

The base car including liquids,tools, spare tyre and half a tank of fuel is about 720 kg. Adding two people (200kg) and a full boot of luggage ( 50 kg) and you have 970kg. As far as i know there is not officially documented maximum weight when fully loaded that I have ever seen.

Some where in the manual Lotus talk about weighting the car to set the suspension at it nominal ride height but that is something less than the maximum sort of number calculated above.

cheers
Rohan

Weight of Sprint, from Lotus:

Coupe - 1550lbs or 703kg

Convertible - 1540lbs or 698.5kg

Tim

I have the maximum weights for an Elan S1:
Max total weight 900kg
Max front weight 435kg
Max rear weight 500kg

Tim,

Those are unladen weights, the European authorities need maximum permissible weights too.

I received images from a German customer that had these unique German plates made up showing the weights. E-mail me at work or PM me with your contact details and if you want I will pass on your details, so that you can see if you can get the same.

Andy

The weights stated in the German "Mustergutachten" - for the S4 (by Behnke) dated 6.10.1971 - are the same maximum weights :
Front: 435 kg
Rear: 500 kg
Total: 900 kg

Regards

Guillermo

And same weights in the German Fahrzeigbrief for an Elan Sprint, first registered 1.7.1970
Data supplied by Brammer

gherlt wrote:The weights stated in the German "Mustergutachten" - for the S4 (by Behnke) dated 6.10.1971 - are the same maximum weights :
Front: 435 kg
Rear: 500 kg
Total: 900 kg

same values on German Fahrzeugbrief of a '71 Sprint I have here, with the addition of "empty weight" 710 kg

in case that's of help, there is also

Hubraum (engine capacity) 1539 cm3
max. speed 191 km/h
power 93 kW @ 6250 rpm
standing noise 76 dB driving noise 84 dB

gherlt wrote:The weights stated in the German "Mustergutachten" - for the S4 (by Behnke) dated 6.10.1971 - are the same maximum weights :
Front: 435 kg
Rear: 500 kg
Total: 900 kg

Regards

Guillermo

Thanks Guillermo, the 900kg i also found on the "Fahrzeugbrief" which you send me few month ago.
Would it be possible to upload the "Mustergutachten" or by email?

Thanks.
Mario

I will try to get the full copy and send it to you.