S4 (1969) confirming no boot letters

[mazlot]

Restoring my S4, it appears my boot never had LOTUS script letters, as per attached image.



Boot is original to car, same paint on guard and boot.

Is this a thing, I assumed they would have had lettering.

[rgh0]

They all should have come with the LOTUS lettering. But anything is possible with a Lotus. However most likely it had a crash at some point in the rear and the boot lid and maybe other rear body sections replaced. The replacement panels do not come with the badge holes and probably they were never drilled and badges fitted after the repairs. The paint being the same on the rear body does not guarrantee the boot lid was on the car from the factory. Keep cleaning off the paint and see if you can find if a new rear section has been fitted, it may even be a complete new body

cheers
Rohan

[vstibbard]

Hi Jeff, both my S4’s had lotus letters on boot lid.
Cheers
V

[trw99]

Usually all Series 4 Elans had the Lotus letters on the boot.

However, I did find in my collection a Lotus press photo of an early S4 with no letters on the boot, see below. Equally, I also have other Lotus press photos of S4s with the letters on the boot!

My conclusion would be that the very earliest S4s, perhaps only a handful, may have eventually been sold without the letters on the boot after they had done their press duty. How early is your S4?

Ultimately, of course, as Rohan states, Lotus could have their moments and it could be as something as simple as someone on the production line forgetting to fit them (and then quality control and final inspection failing to spot it), or the line ran out of letters for a day or two and carried on shoving the cars along!

Tim

[rgh0]

Usually all Series 4 Elans had the Lotus letters on the boot.

...... Lotus could have their moments ..........

Tim

I love the English propensity for understatement

cheers
Rohan

[mazlot]

Usually all Series 4 Elans had the Lotus letters on the boot.

However, I did find in my collection a Lotus press photo of an early S4 with no letters on the boot, see below. Equally, I also have other Lotus press photos of S4s with the letters on the boot!

My conclusion would be that the very earliest S4s, perhaps only a handful, may have eventually been sold without the letters on the boot after they had done their press duty. How early is your S4?

Ultimately, of course, as Rohan states, Lotus could have their moments and it could be as something as simple as someone on the production line forgetting to fit them (and then quality control and final inspection failing to spot it), or the line ran out of letters for a day or two and carried on shoving the cars along!

Tim

Thanks to all for the responses.

According to Andy Graham, car is late 68 early 69.

Was sold new in Australia in September 1969.