Page 1 of 1

Lotus elan identification

PostPosted: Mon May 22, 2023 5:28 pm
by ola portugal
Dear all
I have just bought in portugal a Lotus Elan DHC LHD 1970 and as i have no knowledge about these cars would like some help to identify if (series 3 or 4). on the chassis plate i see it`s a Type 45 and chassis ID is 7004090001 D.
Many thanks

Re: Lotus elan identification

PostPosted: Mon May 22, 2023 7:00 pm
by jcocking
It is a S4. It was Manufactured in April of 1970 and the D indicates it was a S4 DHC for export.

Re: Lotus elan identification

PostPosted: Tue May 23, 2023 8:54 am
by gjz30075
Although your car is not a Sprint, the first two paragraphs of this page should be helpful
https://www.lotuselansprint.com/index.asp?pageid=41826

Re: Lotus elan identification

PostPosted: Tue May 23, 2023 9:43 am
by ola portugal
jcocking wrote:It is a S4. It was Manufactured in April of 1970 and the D indicates it was a S4 DHC for export.


Ok thanks. beeing vin #0001 it means its the first S4 LHD unit to be built and exported?

Re: Lotus elan identification

PostPosted: Tue May 23, 2023 9:46 am
by ola portugal
ola portugal wrote:
jcocking wrote:It is a S4. It was Manufactured in April of 1970 and the D indicates it was a S4 DHC for export.


Ok thanks. beeing vin #0001 it means its the first S4 LHD unit to be built and exported?


Many thanks it was helpful!

Re: Lotus elan identification

PostPosted: Wed May 24, 2023 9:05 am
by trw99
Yours is one of only three D type Elans produced, so a rare variant. The D denotes that it is not only a Series 4 DHC for Export Elan, but that it is in Standard specification.

Your car was invoiced by the factory at the start of May 1970.

Tim