Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Hi Meg, Can you please clarify:
"The S2 SE was also the first model to fit repeat flashers on the front wings, Lucas 539, and I soon fitted a pair to my very un-SE." Are you referring to the side marker repeaters behind the front wheels, or the round lamps below the front bumpers? Every S1 and S2 Elan picture I have seen shows 691 front indicators. I know the 539 was the standard rear lamp on S1 and S1 1/2 though I believe some of those left the factory with 671 rear lamps too, so I wouldnt be at all surpirsed is S1 and S1/2 cars had 539 front indicators below the bumper. I have an S3, and S2 as well as an S1 that I am trying to put back to stock condition, so I am very interested to understand the details of these early lamp changes.

There is a whole thread about the wheel arch indicators. Carellos were fitted to S2 S/E's and early S3 S/E's. Around '66 Lotus did a deal with the Italians, so +2's, 47's and early Europas had Carello tail lights too.

knockoffnut wrote:Hi Meg, Can you please clarify:
"The S2 SE was also the first model to fit repeat flashers on the front wings, Lucas 539, and I soon fitted a pair to my very un-SE." Are you referring to the side marker repeaters behind the front wheels, or the round lamps below the front bumpers? Every S1 and S2 Elan picture I have seen shows 691 front indicators. I know the 539 was the standard rear lamp on S1 and S1 1/2 though I believe some of those left the factory with 671 rear lamps too, so I wouldnt be at all surpirsed is S1 and S1/2 cars had 539 front indicators below the bumper. I have an S3, and S2 as well as an S1 that I am trying to put back to stock condition, so I am very interested to understand the details of these early lamp changes.

Silly boy, I quoted the wrong lamp number which should be 734, the 539 being the rear turns indicators (and the others I fitted on the back). Here's my fitment:


I know the maker of the repeater changed on later models as did the rear lamps and the USA and others had their own prescriptions. All UK Elans had the same front lamps and perhaps the 539 wasn't waterproof enough on the front (more likely not as cheap).

Ahhh, that makes sense. Thank you for the clarification.