Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Hi All,
Too much time available to surf the web....I found some pics of chrome vinyl wrapped cars. Looks pretty convincing. Has anyone tried wrapping elan bumpers? I'd give it a go but I'm a few decades behind on my rebuild....

I have not but I have a friend who has years of experience as a professional car-wrapper. It's not just peel-n-stick; there are lots of different techniques and tricks that pros use to get a good smooth finish and as with paint, prep is everything. The wrap doesn't hide much.

Liquid Chrome does a nice job
I've used the Duplicolor with success from afar
If you wrap it, don't use heat

I actually did enquire at local companies that advertised car wraps and was told any colour except chrome! Far too difficult and expensive they said so we don’t do it!
I have the bumpers painted now!

Interesting that the Didn't want to use chrome but the rest was ok. Thinking about the bumper shapes I wonder if concentrating on the upper half and fudging the lower might give a decent result? Maybe accepting some seams on the lower would give a good result on the upper?

Lotus did chrome a few sets of Elan bumpers. Apparently it was very hard to get it right and the one decent set was used on the press S3 which Graham Arnold had as his company car.



Note the reflection in the rear bumper - looks good in the picture! Must be worth a try to replicate with wrapping?

Maybe Glenn of this parish could do it with his early S3 Restoration?

Also note the ill fitting right door-"they were all like that".

At least mine is "factory correct".

Years ago I came across LNK 120C, which was the prototype or development S3 fhc, it had lost it's chrome bumpers but still had it's chromed wheels.

I will be attempting to wrap the chrome bezels for my S2 tail lights. If it works, maybe I will delay finding someone to replate them. I got some replacement newly made bezels, but they turned out to be pot metal and heavy. Anyway, I'm rather hopeful on wrapping the old ones.

John

baileyman wrote:I will be attempting to wrap the chrome bezels for my S2 tail lights. If it works, maybe I will delay finding someone to replate them. I got some replacement newly made bezels, but they turned out to be pot metal and heavy. Anyway, I'm rather hopeful on wrapping the old ones.

John

A local chrome shop replaced my bezels some 25 years ago - still look great.