Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Can anyone tell me which model these are off ? .. thanks Gino

Gino,
They look exactly like the one on my S2.

Excuse my lack of knowledge, but what are these specimen? Thank you.

Hi,
These specimen be the original window runners on an S1 or S2 Elan
Have you not got them on your S1 ?

I have a different version on my S2 ; original but less elaborate.

Gino

Ah yes, thanks Gino.

It must be the front runner as the rear one is tapered (on mine) but what is all that kit on it?

Interesting brain teaser from Gino.

Are these very smart looking parts for sale everywhere? I will be needing a set for my S2 as well!

Andrew

They don't look like anything I've ever seen on an S1 or S2 Elan (either with my own eyes or in books)?

They can only be a redesign of the rear runner / door mechanism part, but are nothing like the original.

Is the OP sure that they're even early Elan parts?

Sorry. Got to disagree with that! They're the same as those on my current '65 S2 and are the same as my previously owned S2 that I had in the 60s.

Hi Geoff,
My S2 is september '65 and the ones I have fitted are slightly different, they don't have the built-in top spring that locates into two notches and the threaded hole where you can screw-in the push/pull knob...

These are spare but now pondering whether I should fit these and remove the other ones...

I can only presume that the more elaborate window runners were more expensive to produce so a more simple version was introduced on later S2 cars...

Oh well ..I shall have to think about this one..
To respond to Andrew's question ; I think these parts are rather rare now....rocking horse poo

Thanks for your comments
Gino
Milano Italy

All I can say is that they look nothing like the parts (original) fitted to my S2 (a September 65 sold kit) or any other S2's that I have seen in the UK in over 30 years ownership of / looking closely at early Elans. I can't even see how they would fit with the door mechanism. The return (hidden when the door is shut) on the part follows the external profile of the door i.e. it is curved, & the door mechanism sits on top of this. As has been posted above, the two internal (visible when the door is shut) surfaces are basically triangular shaped, & the one that mates with the door card follows the door shape as well.

The only S1's that I have seen are basically the same shape, but the door operating lever is different (sticks out horizontally further) & they don't have the little lever that operates a plate inside which locates under the door glass to stop the window coming down as you drive along.

If they are Elan then perhaps they were used at some stage on the S1 & then fitted to some very early S2's to use up stock (a normal Lotus practice)?

Any S1 owners here able to comment?

Have a look at the front window guide; I believe the mystery part is the folded metal that the front window extrusion is riveted to. I bent up a piece of steel to replace it (them) and painted it black so it was must have been the 70s! I don't recognise the fiddly bits at the top (of Gino's photo) but the basic shape is very familiar. The wide flange with the large holes bolts to the door (my right finger) and the narrow flange (my left finger) forms the slot for the door internal panel against the extrusion which rivets to the small holes in between the flanges.

Could you photo those fiddly bits, please Gino? It is difficult to see what they are with all the reflections from the chrome.

Mmmm! I've found a photo of mine taken when I was restoring the current S2, and I cede there may be slight differences, but not massive. See below:


I'm not sure if the differences are very clear to me, but they clearly fit with the rest of the door furniture and I'm not sure what you mean that there must be a curve, there certainly isn't with mine. Maybe we're talking at cross purposes about different things? I dunno

Hi Geoff,
Mine are exaclty the same as the one's in your pics...
So, question answered they're of an S2
Thank you.

Gino

Hi Meg,

This runner is on the lock side of the door not the front.
It's the lever that prevents the window from being pushed down and vice versa.

Gino
Milano
Italy