S1 Bourne Elans - history and details of known cars

[dunclentdr]

Talking with some forum members there is interest in getting a thread started on very early S1 Elans, which had their body made by Bourne.

These were, I believe, the first 350 or so cars and I hope others can add history to this thread.

One of the questions is, between us, how many can we trace that are still in existence - I am happy to offer chassis numbers 202 and 339 and will add photos and details later - in starting the thread I hope others can add lots of interesting history, pictures and along the way we can see how many cars emerge. Looking forwards to contributions...as a starter for 10 here is an article about Bourne that includes an announcement of the original contact with Lotus.

http://www.ournottinghamshire.org.uk/pa ... eld_langar

David

[pharriso]

Here's the thread I put together tracing the Bourne factory - http://www.lotuselan.net/forums/lotus-elan-f19/bourne-plastics-nottingham-t22975.html

[dunclentdr]

...here is chassis number 339...

[jonsered 11]

[jonsered 11]

Hi guys,

this is chassis number 0089, parked up in the late 60s, and just recently found!!

Jonsered

[jonsered 11]

This is chassis number 0206, it was dismantled in the 70s and dry stored, has just recently been restored to it's original specification!

Jonsered

[dunclentdr]

Here is #0202, recently and racing in 1966...

David

[Certified Lotus]

Here is mine;

[steveh]

3653765858_c602e354c0_m.jpg (41.07 KiB) Viewed 3924 times

Above at Bourne Mouldings the chap in the dark suit is Graham Roberts , he went on to establish Graham Roberts Plastics , i only found this out when buying matting and resin from them last year . Graham is no longer with us but his daughter works there. http://www.grpltd.net/About-Us.aspx

Graham on the right discussing a project with Donald Campbell.

Steve

[paddy]

This is 26/0062

[dunclentdr]

My engine bay is painted in a nice grey, it is not the original grey colour which I think was lighter - does anyone have a picture of their engine bay in original colour?

David

[trw99]

For the sake of historical accuracy, I suggest that posts in this thread are quite clear about which numbers are which. The earliest Elans had Unit No; Chassis No; Body No and of course Engine No. They were never 'matching', in the sense that each number was the same on a car.

Unit Nos are the sequential build number, though of course it should be noted cars were not built sequentially! They are the key identifying number for each and every Elan up to January 1970, when the new VIN system was introduced at Lotus.

Chassis Nos were not used throughout Elan production, though they are relevant for this thread. It was not until mid 1964 that chassis numbers began to align with unit numbers.

Body Nos were used pretty much throughout production. They are especially relevant for this thread of course. In theory Lotus started building the bodies from unit 3401 in February 1964, though there was a transition period on either side.

Tim

[dunclentdr]

Good idea Tim - I think all bar one so far are providing chassis numbers so suggest we continue with that:-

26/0062
20/0202
26/0206
26/0339

David

[bitsobrits]

As I recall from before I painted my engine bay black, the grey color appeared to be the self coloring from the gel coat. If it was paint, there was no evidence of any sort of primer below it.

I have body #170, chassis 167, unit 150, btw.

[mazlot]

"My engine bay is painted in a nice grey, it is not the original grey colour which I think was lighter"

The grey colour of #202 was sourced from colour samples taken from the body prior to stripping for painting, from both the engine bay, boot and boot lid, so as far as I am concerned is factory original.