1971 S4 FHC with S3 Doors!

[Elanman99]

I have just bought a 1971 S4 in 'kit' form (lots of boxes full of rusty bits). Most of makes sense apart from the doors.

The doors are fully S3 (interior handles on the bottom chrome window frame strip, trim panel with no carpet inset, S3 locks and handles etc. The vendor did not know the reason for the door descrepancy.

I can visualise all sorts of accident damage scenarios but not one that requires two doors being changed for an earlier type. Does anyone have any thoughts?

Ian Phillips
68 S4 DHC
71 S4 FHC

[gjz30075]

Maybe they didn't pucker out so bad in the rear corners.

[marcfuller]

Are you sure it is a true S4? Not an S3 repaired with a S4 shell?

[Elanman99]

Well the chassis number is 45-9175 which was first registered in May 1971 so its not likely.

[marcfuller]

If 45-9175 is the number stamped on the right side of the chassis forward of the engine mount, I agree. I think then, gjz30075's reply that S3 doors fit better (which they do) is as good an explanation as any.

Do all the build numbers on the roof, headlamp buckets, glove box, etc. match?

[M100]

Maybe the car was gently rolled or had something drop on the door frames?

Replacing the door frames can be extremely difficult, If someone found some S3 ones it would make (some) sense to use the whole door assembly and just bolt them on.

[nebogipfel]

Perhaps one of the previous owners preferred the door handles (internal and external) on the series 3. I've always thought they were better.

[Elanman99]

Do all the build numbers on the roof, headlamp buckets, glove box, etc. match?
_________________
-Marc '66 Elan DHC (36/6025)

It will be another few days before I get the body/chassis back to my garage so I can not check the roof number (although I think I would prefer to leave the headlining in place really). I have looked at the glove box and headlight pods and cant see any numbers on them.

Ian Phillips

[marcfuller]

The build numbers I have found on cars vary. Not all cars have build numbers in all the places listed.

Inside the headlamp pods written across the top surface. The original paint was just oversprayed into the pod and usually just partially (but sometimes fully) obscured the number as will subsequent repaintings.

Also there are often build numbers on the doors (behind the cards) from which the Lotus archivist may be able to tell came from which car(s).

[prloz]

I'm confused.
You describe the car as a FHC, but chassis 45-9175 belongs to a DHC
Regards,
Peter.

[Elanman99]

[color=red]I'm confused.
You describe the car as a FHC, but chassis 45-9175 belongs to a DHC
Regards,
Peter.[/color]

Peter

It must be an age thing but I somehow in my head I converted 36 to 45 so I am not surprised I confused you!

The body identification plate shows 36-9175 which as you pointed out is a FHC, which the car is.