Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

These are the gearknobs fitted to the Elan that I am aware of-
anyone care to date and apply to which series?

teardrop with yellow/green badge
round with yellow/green badge
round with black badge
round with 4-spd gate pattern(small badge)
round with 4-spd gate pattern(larger badge)
round with 5-spd gate (obviously 1972/sprint5 or dealer conversion)

I'll have a stab, Nigel!

Pear drop - S1, S2, S3 all with yellow Lotus badge

Round - S3 SS, S4, Sprint all with 4 speed gate in black

Round with yellow or black Lotus badge - after-market supplied

Happy to be corrected!

Tim

PS Happy New Year to you all

I'll agree with Tim, except, my early '69 +2 has round with black badge that I believe is factory original. Eric

My surely original S3 DHC has round with black and my most likely original 72 +2S130 has round with yellow badge. Gordon Sauer

I had a '66 S2 with the teardrop style, and now have a '66 S3 (36/5599) that had the same type, which I assumed was original, when I got it. I changed it over to a piece of polished stone I found in Cape Cod about 30 years ago.

My '65 (reg '66) S2 had the teardrop with badge. It was stolen and I replaced it with a similar-shaped piece I turned from walnut and have used ever since. No badge though. If I could find an emblem the right size I could inset it.

Are original style gearknobs available in the U.S.? (or anywhere for that matter)

I had the gearknob stolen from my DHC and trawled ebay for a replacement-yes they are out there!
Not long ago someone was selling as new/old stock a tear/yellow, a round/yellow and a round/gate-all bagged Lotus.
The black/round I find intriguing-from replies same time frame as black badge/Jim Clark period.

RotoFlexible wrote: No badge though. If I could find an emblem the right size I could inset it.

Try a Lotus cufflink or tiepin

My late 68 S4 has the round black badge gear knob and i beleive its original and matches the black nose badges and black horn push badge.

cheers
Rohan

Are original style gearknobs available in the U.S.? (or anywhere for that matter)

If you call these guys, JAE, they have the pear drop gear knobs. They did in October when I visited them anyway.

Cheers
Simon

...and rdent enterprises in Pennsylvania as well, excellent early knobs.

Round with yellow or black Lotus badge - after-market supplied

I have a S4 FHC reg. 01/01/1970 owned from new, it has the round gear knob with the yellow Lotus badge. Sorry if thats thrown a spanner in the works! Regards John.

I have seen S2 FHC and S3 DHC cars with dished tear drop knobs. (the Lotus emblem was in a dished top). Both cars were / are very original. I could add a photo, next week

Anna

I find big beefy great knobs encourage rough shifting ---I chuck a piece of aluminum in the lathe and get a light shift knob that encourages two fingers and a thumb approach -like picking up a dime [or thruppney bit ]-as the lotus ford tranny is so smooth and fast it gets the job done in a very efficient manner ---usually they are egg shaped --this one was experimental and works a treat =the Europa however appears to need a bowling ball attatched to the shift leaver ==ed