Sprint 5 And Final Chassis Numbers
Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2004 11:01 am
I was prompted to contact Jacob Cronstedt via the forum having seen his Sprint chassis number, 73030097H, listed on Unibrain?s Elan Register, which indicated a build date of March 73. In Graham Arnold?s Buyers Guide he lists the final DHC number as 73020899 and FHC number as 73020665, ie. February 73. This appears to be another Lotus conundrum, as is the exact number of Sprint 5s that left the factory. His is one of them.
Jacob says that he has never come closer than 7 to 17 examples. As far as he knows there are currently 2 Elan Sprint/5's in Sweden. The third was exported to Germany last autumn.
From the web I have gleaned that ?The last 3 Elan Sprints delivered from Lotus in 1973 were actually equipped with the 5-speed gearbox from the +2. Furthermore a Lotus parts bulletin of 04.09.1974 was issued, describing a 5-speed conversion kit for the Elan Sprint and the Elan +2S 130. One of the above mentioned last 3 original 5 speed Elan Sprints produced in 1973 was actually exported to Denmark and bought by Mr. Claus Gaarde; a long time Danish Lotus enthusiast? and ?chassis number 73010092H, one of the five or so Elan Sprint 5's that were built to special order for the Swedish Lotus agents Wendel's? and also that ?In his book, John Bolster says Lotus fitted 5 speed boxes to the "last five or six Elans". Regarding factory-built Sprint 5s: there are apparently no records regarding the number made. These were only cursorily kept and a couple of years ago destroyed during a flood at the factory. It appears Lotus supplied LHD Elans (Europe Export models, as indicated by the H) from the time - October 1972 - that they offered the 5 speed box as an option on Plus 2s?
It would be interesting to track down how many Sprints did leave the factory with 5 speed boxes, if only for the sake of historical accuracy. Similarly, it would be interesting to see if any one has a chassis number later than Jacob?s. Given the discrepancy in total numbers built and the apparently poor record keeping at the factory, this may just not be possible!
Any one have more information?
Jacob says that he has never come closer than 7 to 17 examples. As far as he knows there are currently 2 Elan Sprint/5's in Sweden. The third was exported to Germany last autumn.
From the web I have gleaned that ?The last 3 Elan Sprints delivered from Lotus in 1973 were actually equipped with the 5-speed gearbox from the +2. Furthermore a Lotus parts bulletin of 04.09.1974 was issued, describing a 5-speed conversion kit for the Elan Sprint and the Elan +2S 130. One of the above mentioned last 3 original 5 speed Elan Sprints produced in 1973 was actually exported to Denmark and bought by Mr. Claus Gaarde; a long time Danish Lotus enthusiast? and ?chassis number 73010092H, one of the five or so Elan Sprint 5's that were built to special order for the Swedish Lotus agents Wendel's? and also that ?In his book, John Bolster says Lotus fitted 5 speed boxes to the "last five or six Elans". Regarding factory-built Sprint 5s: there are apparently no records regarding the number made. These were only cursorily kept and a couple of years ago destroyed during a flood at the factory. It appears Lotus supplied LHD Elans (Europe Export models, as indicated by the H) from the time - October 1972 - that they offered the 5 speed box as an option on Plus 2s?
It would be interesting to track down how many Sprints did leave the factory with 5 speed boxes, if only for the sake of historical accuracy. Similarly, it would be interesting to see if any one has a chassis number later than Jacob?s. Given the discrepancy in total numbers built and the apparently poor record keeping at the factory, this may just not be possible!
Any one have more information?