Original Dash finish

[Greg Foster]

Does anyone know what was originally used for the wood dash finish on mid 60s elans?
Greg Foster

[marcfuller]

Series 2 through Sprints used shading lacquer.

[1964 S1]

Who knows what may come up when discussing Elans, this is Woodworking 101 for me. I know S1 and early S2 dashes (both full and half) had an "oiled" finish applied, sometimes stained? to the top natural wood surface, no high gloss "shading laquer?" as I've seen on later models. My 1969 +2 has a non glossy "natural" finish on what looks like yellowed burled birch. It may have been shiney when new but it's not the later style high gloss veneer on brown.

[frearther]

The original seems to have been some sort of cracked lacquer

I refinished mine with a urethane, clear, satin finish. Be sure to get something that's UV-resistant.

Art

[marcfuller]

I have a fairly detailed explanation of how I reveneered and refinished my dash and the materials used, together with a brief explanation of what I meant by "shading lacquer" on my Elan's website-
http://www.lotuselan.us/html/b_-_body.html#dashrefinish
Hope it might be helpful.

[1964 S1]

I've heard the original late model cracked lacquer finish can be greatly enhanced, becoming a three dimensional mosiac, if the car is left outside in climates where freezing and thawing occur regularly for six months out of the year.

[cabc26b]

If the car is an s1 the dash is teak-veneer with an oil finish, no stain needed ( I have used both teak oil and tung oil) the tranistion cars ( series 1.5) I have seen with both the small two part dash and the s2 dash. As for the gloss finish on an S2 dash - my guess is clear varnish over a stain.

[archigator]

The following vintage factory newsreel, previously noted on this forum, actually has some interior dash shots of an Elan - totally unmolested vintage stuff. (Make sure to highlight the entire address.) Suprisingly, the dash looks pretty glossy.

http://www.itnarchive.com/cgi-bin/taweb ... d&q=(lotus)&d=BPATHE&i=83863&p=1&t=doc.tmpl&v=tabbed

Gary
'71 Elan Sprint
Miami, FL