Lotus Elan

How do I know if mine is an SE?

PostPost by: JerryBoone » Fri Jul 21, 2023 4:52 am

I'm working on the body of my Federal '69 (built late in '68) S4. I noticed the remnants of a single hole in the rear passenger fender. I assumed it was for a world champion badge or such, but now I'm wondering if it is where an SE badge should go. It's a '69 with the recessed switches in the dash and the chrome trim strips below the doors. Are there other things I should be looking for?

The car had been repainted decades ago and whoever did the work then filled in the hole, so the fender has been unadorned for most of the car's life.

Thanks for any insight you can offer.
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PostPost by: trw99 » Fri Jul 21, 2023 8:01 am

All Federal Elans were to SE spec by the time your Elan rolled off the production line at Hethel. Early 1968 was when the factory introduced that spec, from memory.

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PostPost by: smo17003 » Fri Jul 21, 2023 8:19 am

This old topic should cover S4 badges for you. viewtopic.php?f=36&t=17649

Put "S4 badges" in the search box and there's a few more.

The rear fender badges are fixed with two pins, not one. Sometimes you can find their original locations by looking inside the boot, at the inner fenders, while shining a torch (flashlight) through from outside.

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PostPost by: JonB » Fri Jul 21, 2023 8:23 am

This thread will help. Note the S4 sales sheet which lists S/E specific extras.

viewtopic.php?f=19&t=22182

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PostPost by: skyarch » Fri Jul 21, 2023 12:17 pm

Actually SE was also 1967
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PostPost by: JerryBoone » Sat Jul 22, 2023 4:09 am

Thanks everyone. Looking at the list of things included on an SE, I can say, without reservation, that isn't what I've got. She's just an everyday mixed breed of S3 and S4 parts that seem to play well together. Now, back to sanding.
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PostPost by: Quart Meg Miles » Sat Jul 22, 2023 10:36 pm

When (!) you remove the cam cover, a single groove round the boss that the sprockets bolt to will define it to be an SE engine. Here's the picture from the master of the Twin Cam engine's book: Miles Wilkins.

Cam i.d. (Wilkins).jpg and
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PostPost by: DrinkMan » Sun Sep 10, 2023 6:59 pm

There were a few 1966 S2 S/E Roadsters as well. (we have one with the original sales paperwork)
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