Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

I have found posts and sources for the builders VIN plate that is under the bonnet but I have not found a source for the one under the windshield corner (1970 Plus2). This one is folded into a channel shape that wraps around the crash pad. I can still use mine but it's getting weak along the folds and I'd like to find a new one.


Tom

TomMull wrote:I have found posts and sources for the builders VIN plate that is under the bonnet but I have not found a source for the one under the windshield corner (1970 Plus2). This one is folded into a channel shape that wraps around the crash pad. I can still use mine but it's getting weak along the folds and I'd like to find a new one.

VIN Tag.jpg

Tom

Tom, I have never seen replacements for this tag.

Thanks, Phil. I appreciate the reply anyway. Tom

I would touch up the paint and leave it as is.

When I restored my Seven, the original plate was horrid, so I bought a repop and put it in the proper place, and attached the original behind the seat

All the repop plates are painted, not etched, so have no depth and are not as nice

I also have not seen this available

Thanks Gus, looks like that's my best option. The reservation is that the old one is getting brittle along the folds. Perhaps reinforce with epoxy? Can't see how that would do any harm or erhaps cut off the printed part and stick it to a new aluminum backing?
Tom

Or perhaps bend up a piece of aluminum that fits just so to the back of it

allows you to do it wrong several times without destruction

From memory these tags were only used on Federal cars......

Team Lotus wrote:From memory these tags were only used on Federal cars......

That makes sense, neither of my cars has one and I don't remember seeing such plates on any UK cars until many years later.

All correct, FED cars only per USA import requirements beginning in '68. Still necessary here.


" Public VIN (since January 1, 1968 visible through the windshield)

In the United States, the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 (effective January 1, 1968) mandated certain safety requirements on vehicles to be sold in the USA such as side marker lights, safety belts and Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) visible on the dash through the windshield. This is VIN location has come to be known as the “public VIN” and is probably the VIN that you are most familiar with."

http://www.vintageautomotive.net/?tag=windshield-vin

By the way, the original design allowed for the removal of the crash pad without removing the tag, which is why it was folded around the pad. I had to remove it for a bit of glasswork on the deck under the pad.

Tom

Tom- I wouldn't cut that tag down and attach it to another piece. The small cut off rectangle glued to the new piece will be pretty obvious and may raise a red flag, all while you're already explaining to DMV why all the tags don't totally match.

It will be a lot easier to explain that you had to reinforce it by gluing the whole tag, cracks and all, to another piece, because it was falling apart. If done cleanly the subject probably won't even come up.