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Chassis number question

PostPosted: Thu Nov 24, 2016 12:46 am
by carfixer24
Hi all,

I'm doing some work on my father's Elan S4 this winter, and decided to try to find out more about the car. This is where the confusion arose:

The unit number is 36/8538, which I understand to be a fixed head coupe, but this car is a convertible.

Can anyone clear this up for me?

Re: Chassis number question

PostPosted: Thu Nov 24, 2016 1:23 am
by pharriso
carfixer24 wrote:The unit number is 36/8538, which I understand to be a fixed head coupe, but this car is a convertible.

Can anyone clear this up for me?


Indeed, someone chopped the roof off!

Re: Chassis number question

PostPosted: Thu Nov 24, 2016 9:00 am
by rgh0
Conversions of type 36 fixed head coupes to be type 45 drop head coupe look alikes is relatively common as the conversion just involves chopping of the fibreglass roof back to the right point and installation of the rear parcel shelf section and hood for the drop head. The DHC also normally sell for more and more people like open sports cars rather than closed ones which has been good for values of the FHC's as they have become much rarer :lol:

you car is very close to mine which is 36/8555


cheers
Rohan

Re: Chassis number question

PostPosted: Fri Nov 25, 2016 9:56 am
by trw99
Your fathers car left the factory as a Type 36, which is a Fixed Head Coupe. The Type 45 was the Drop Head Coupe.

The car, which was supplied as a SE with Webers carbs, was invoiced by the factory on 1 Jan 69.

Tim