Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

It’ the way in which the fields are filled in, have used a simple hand held vibrating engraving tool that produces just this type of mark. I think it can be seen how it works, being hand guided good consistent results is quite an art. Several people must have been involved marking the plates as it can be seen on some the Engine Number is by a different hand on the same plate.
Best quality plates would by dyed anodizing.
FWIW

My MoT tester refused to test my car because the VIN had been defaced by the temperature capillary rubbing on it. They are not allowed to read the previous MoT to enter the number, which a previous post here explained is an acid etch. Certainly mine are vestigal now.

Craven wrote:My remarks are relevant to a 1967 S3.
Although reproduction VIN plates have been around for years a genuine 50 year old plate with all the ‘patina’ correct service details for year and the very characteristic hand engraved details almost to the extent for handwriting identification would take a very determined fraudster to recreate.

There was no question, once I looked at the VIN plate on this car, that it was suspect. Size of stampings were wrong. I should have looked at it before I bought it, but I did not. I am just too trusting a soul. It was just a perfect storm for me, getting sick and then the hospital stay and then the Covid-19 isolation and stay at home thing.

Wow, just wow!!

In a day of TV and YouTube and moving pictures I cant remember the last time I have been gripped by the written word!! Intrigue, suspense, mystery, conjecture, wow what a series of events.

Thanks to everyone involved for your honesty, integrity and down right “just doing the right bloody thing”!!

Classy people, classy story!! Well done...

Regards
Gareth

GHill wrote:Wow, just wow!!

In a day of TV and YouTube and moving pictures I cant remember the last time I have been gripped by the written word!! Intrigue, suspense, mystery, conjecture, wow what a series of events.

Thanks to everyone involved for your honesty, integrity and down right “just doing the right bloody thing”!!

Classy people, classy story!! Well done...

Regards
Gareth

Gareth,
When the Covid thing ends or becomes tolerable, we are only a bit south of you in Buffalo. You should join us for a LOONY breakfast sometime.

I have been out to the car and pulled both door panels. No numbers there. I have seen them written on the top of the tunnel, but since the roll over bar is attached there I cannot get the pad off. I used a camera scope to look at the headlight buckets, no numbers there. It might be under the headliner, (i have seen the VIN there on three other coupes I have owned or worked on) but the headliner is really good in this car so I am not going to tear it to check.

When I find out more info, I will let you guys all know. Thank you to everyone for all the kind words. As someone once told me. If you are going to sell your reputation, you had better get a lot for it because you can only sell it once!

All the Lotus guys I have met have been great people. There was one Caterham guy that got me, but that is another story. Again, I am just too trusting and it is always entirely my fault as I take people at their word. For me, my word is like a contract and I tend to think others are the same way.. It is a very big fault of mine, and honestly has cost me millions, but that is a very long story. You are all great here and I hope to meet some of you some day in the future.

Hi Tony,
My S4 also has the chassis/unit number written on the back of the glovebox, along with the initials JG.
Cheers,
Colin.

tvacc wrote:I have been out to the car and pulled both door panels. No numbers there. I have seen them written on the top of the tunnel, but since the roll over bar is attached there I cannot get the pad off. I used a camera scope to look at the headlight buckets, no numbers there. It might be under the headliner, (i have seen the VIN there on three other coupes I have owned or worked on) but the headliner is really good in this car so I am not going to tear it to check.

When I find out more info, I will let you guys all know. Thank you to everyone for all the kind words. As someone once told me. If you are going to sell your reputation, you had better get a lot for it because you can only sell it once!

All the Lotus guys I have met have been great people. There was one Caterham guy that got me, but that is another story. Again, I am just too trusting and it is always entirely my fault as I take people at their word. For me, my word is like a contract and I tend to think others are the same way.. It is a very big fault of mine, and honestly has cost me millions, but that is a very long story. You are all great here and I hope to meet some of you some day in the future.

[/quote]
Gareth,
When the Covid thing ends or becomes tolerable, we are only a bit south of you in Buffalo. You should join us for a LOONY breakfast sometime.[/quote]

Hey Tony

Absolutely, would love to.

Stay safe down there.

Regards
Gareth

PS GO BILLS!!

where is this item located?

wallylotuswb wrote:where is this item located?

Which item you asking about? I am in Buffalo NY.

tvacc wrote:All the Lotus guys I have met have been great people.

Likewise Tony!

Reminds me of something I was told when I was shopping for my first Lotus. I'd gone down to St. Pete Florida to look at an Esprit (which I didn't buy), and had been put in touch with a local expert to help me look at the car. I noticed a BMW motorcycle in his garage and mentioned that I was into those and he smiled and told me that I'll meet the same type of people among Lotus-enthusiasts that I'd met among BMW motorbike enthusiasts: friendly, helpful, good people with whom to share community. It's been ten years and two Lotuses owned since that conversation and I couldn't agree more!

I've even met a couple more people since then who both ride BMW and drive Lotus!

The Veg wrote:

tvacc wrote:All the Lotus guys I have met have been great people.

Likewise Tony!

Reminds me of something I was told when I was shopping for my first Lotus. I'd gone down to St. Pete Florida to look at an Esprit (which I didn't buy), and had been put in touch with a local expert to help me look at the car. I noticed a BMW motorcycle in his garage and mentioned that I was into those and he smiled and told me that I'll meet the same type of people among Lotus-enthusiasts that I'd met among BMW motorbike enthusiasts: friendly, helpful, good people with whom to share community. It's been ten years and two Lotuses owned since that conversation and I couldn't agree more!

I've even met a couple more people since then who both ride BMW and drive Lotus!

Every year (well not this year), we go to our Lotus Owners Gathering here in the USA. Honestly, we see most of the same cars every year, Yes we do see a few new ones that are great to see, but the point is that we come back every year for the friends, the people that we look forward to see every year. It is the times at the hotel bar, talking with others as we walk in the parking lot during the welcome reception, the talking at the car show and in the evening after the banquet. Those are the special times. Its the Lotus people that are special.

Definitely Tony! I've only been to one LOG but I've been to several of the BMW club's big annual rallies and it's the same idea; I always look forward to seeing friends I don't get to see anywhere else. But thanks to the online world, even that first LOG was great for being able to meet people in person whom I'd gotten to know online. Great stuff!

The Veg wrote:Definitely Tony! I've only been to one LOG but I've been to several of the BMW club's big annual rallies and it's the same idea; I always look forward to seeing friends I don't get to see anywhere else. But thanks to the online world, even that first LOG was great for being able to meet people in person whom I'd gotten to know online. Great stuff!

What LOG were you at?

Thirty-Seven.