Fascinating Photo Taken in Cheshunt in 1963

[Mazzini]

Just got this picture from Paul and a Super 100 badge for the Elite. A really nice guy.

[elanfan1]

What stands out to me is that the huge majority are white followed by blue think there?s only 1 red car there. The other think I noted is that there doesn?t seem to be a chrome hubcap in sight. Wonder if they were put in the car for dealer to fit later?

[Elanintheforest]

I think they were in the boot Steve.
What a stunning photo Rob. In high res that could be studied for hours!

[Mazzini]

From what I can make out -

- Four of the Elans on the transporters look as if they are in grey primer, its similar to Medici blue, but it isn't the same
- One of the Elans next to the transporter is in Primrose yellow. The Elites are, I guess, in Ford Sunburst yellow.
- Looks like the Elan, top right is in Jaguar Golden Sand.
- Never seen an all green Lotus Cortina Mk 1 before.
- Is that Anglia (bottom left) LHD? I wonder?
- BRG racing Elite at the end of the line of Cortinas

[Elanintheforest]

There were 3 green Mk1 Lotus Cortinas made Rob, along with a gold one and a couple of red ones (as well as the competition red cars).

Not sure if the Anglia is LHD or not, but it would be exciting if it was! I'm guessing that this is late '63, or even early 64 from the number of Elans and Cortinas in there. Certainly the Cortinas came out very slowly in the first 6 months of the years, and they were whisked away to the customer as soon as they were made, rather than being parked up.

Mark

[elansprint71]

According to Alan Rigarlsford, who painted all the Mike Spence Elans, many Elans were delivered to the dealers in primer, for finish-painting by the dealership.

[Mazzini]

According to Alan Rigarlsford, who painted all the Mike Spence Elans, many Elans were delivered to the dealers in primer, for finish-painting by the dealership.

I don't doubt you or Alan for a moment, but it's nice to have a colour photo as well.

[69S4]

Great to have a colour photo from 'that far back' as colour prints from the 60's didn't have the best light exposure stability. Is it a print from a transparency - Kodachrome maybe?

[JonB]

Who were "Vehicle Clearances Limited"? I was looking at the far lot and there are all sorts of cars parked there, not just Lotus related. The yard looks like a bit of a bomb site with that muddy looking dirt section - where might it be?

I was thinking about the net value if these cars, if they were found and sold off today... lots and lots.

[Mazzini]

Great to have a colour photo from 'that far back' as colour prints from the 60's didn't have the best light exposure stability. Is it a print from a transparency - Kodachrome maybe?

No idea what the original was, but I suspect you're right. I just bought a print though I haven't received it yet, but I understand it's large, hence the detail.

[Mazzini]

Who were "Vehicle Clearances Limited"? I was looking at the far lot and there are all sorts of cars parked there, not just Lotus related. The yard looks like a bit of a bomb site with that muddy looking dirt section - where might it be?

I was thinking about the net value if these cars, if they were found and sold off today... lots and lots.

I guess you're looking at the works employees car park.

[ElliottN]

According to Miles Wilkins (in his Lotus Twin-Cam Engine book), the initial twin-cam engine development vehicle was a LHD Anglia (purchased from the Belgian Embasy) - LHD was required as the webers would have fouled the master cylinders in a RHD Anglia.
So, it could be that Anglia or, it could be anything!

[Mazzini]

It's odd that it's on the 'works' side of the fence.

[pharriso]

What a wonderful picture, shame the whining has stopped Paul from posting here...

[USA64]

Reminds me that the story goes that the Lotus name came from -lot unsold- written lot/us.
I have been amazed what a scanner can do in the -restore- setting abeit best done with the original.