S2 Dash questions

[Tahoe]

I didn't find the answers to these questions in the archives so here we go.

My car has a home made dash I'm going to replace and after looking at various dashes on the here and elsewhere my questions are:

1. My car didn't originally have a radio so did early S2's all have radio delete plates, or did some come without any provision to install a radio at all? A radio was added later andan antena was added in a non original location. There is no evidense of an antena hole being plugged up in the original location.

2. Along the bottom of the dash where the wiper switch/ignition switch/headlamp vacuum switch/headlight switch reside. I've seen dashes where the wiper switch and headlight vacuum switch were on the outside and I've seen where they are both on the inside. Was this random or was their an early and late configuration?

3. Just to the right of the steering wheel on RHD cars their is sometimes a small light. In the Elan workshop manual of the dash layout it doesn't show this light but I've seen it on many S2 cars. What's it for? My harness doesn't appear to have a wire for this so I'm thinking it never had one originally.

4. Did S2's have more than one kind of glove box handle?

Thanks in advance

[Mazzini]

I believe this to be quite an original car.

[Famous Frank]

Russ, you have a bunch of questions. I may be able to help with one or two. And Mazzini, .............nice car and pics. That looks like an S2 SE Steering Wheel.

I have owned 4 S2's and 3 other Elan's. They all had a radio blanking plate or a radio. If they had a radio, I was able to look in the radio cutout and could tell the opening was not made after the dash was installed. It was varnished. And the Washer Wiper Controls on the S2's have always been as shown in Mazzini' s photos.

Here is another pic from my old S2.

[Mazzini]

And Mazzini, .............nice car and pics. That looks like an S2 SE Steering Wheel.

It's not my car, I wish it were, I pulled the pictures off eBay. I'd love a wheel like that.

[types26/36]

3. Just to the right of the steering wheel on RHD cars their is sometimes a small light. In the Elan workshop manual of the dash layout it doesn't show this light but I've seen it on many S2 cars. What's it for? My harness doesn't appear to have a wire for this so I'm thinking it never had one originally.

Handbrake light....... dont think the wiring is part of the harness as its wired separately.

[Tahoe]

Thanks all!

I don't plan on having a radio so I'll make sure the new dash has the blanking plate, and I'll arrange the switches per the S2 dash as shown. Only question left unanswered is the glove box handle. 99% sure mine is not original as their are 2 sets of holes on my glove box door. One set is covered up by the current handle. I also have an original glove box door from another S2, and the handle holes don't line up with that one either. My handle appears to slightly wider and looks more like drawer pull then something the car would come with. I've also seen pictures similar to TR6's which look like they use the same lock with a finger pull under the lock. See pic in the file below of what I mean. Was this ever on any Elans?

[mac5777]

Hi Russ, here is what was original on my 36/5785 66 coupe glove box. Pic 3 and 4 had just a pull, a piano hinge at the bottom with a cord the keep the door level when open. Pictures 1 and 2 had a locking door with the hinges at the corners.
I don't know when the door hinge styles changed.
i now have a adjustable glue on mirror that is wider than the original.
Sarto

[garyeanderson]

Here are some pictures of dashes

[Tahoe]

Okay, I'm 100% sure of everything now. I do know that I don't have an original glove box handle though. Anyone know if it was common to another car, or does anyone have a spare? If not mine looks fine and I'll just reuse it.

Thanks to all who replied.

[ftsoft]

While we are talking about it--- I lost my blanking plate sometime after I refinished the dash 30 years ago. Does anyone know where another might be had? Thanks.

Frank

[neilslade]

Prestige Woods in California sent me a new unfinished burl walnut dash in 2019to replace my previous one (from them) which I had for about 15 years. The old one had a million cracks in it- as it happened I needed one pronto, as my mechanic had removed the old one already. Just my good luck, Randy had a spare unfinished one sitting around that had been made for a customer by mistake (the customer needed a Europa S2 dash, not an Elan.)

Given that this was my second replacement, I knew that the old marine epoxy dashes would eventually crack, so I decided to use catalyzed urethane clear (same as used on the body), and what I had used to refinish my steering wheel. The steering wheel still looked like new after 15 years, so that's what I used on the new dash. I haven't yet seen a nicer looking dash. My Lotus story: https://www.neilslade.com/elan.html

[The Veg]

Neil, I love the non-bookmatched look of that- it gives it some character!

[neilslade]

Yes, me too. Randy (Pretige Autowoods) has made 3 dashboards for me over 21 years- the first one he replaced because the change in color after a couple of years was not good. That second one cracked badly after 15 years (it was marine epoxy coated) and the third one as I said, I did the catalyzed clear urethane myself. All of his dashboards are (were) a single dashboard wide piece of walnut, all were very nice, but this last one absolutely the nicest. I just lucked out, as he already had it made and in stock, and I am experienced in doing urethane. Thanks for your comment.

[The Veg]

I re-veneered my Plus 2's dashboard (my first time applying veneer!) and I used a non-bookmatched piece too. Came out smashing!

[elated]

The glove box "pull" is the same as that fitted to the Vanden Plas 1100 / 1300
Gordon