Early Elan coupe license plate lamp

[zog]

I went to install my new license plate lamps on my early Elan coupe and the did not fit. The rectangular holes are too small for the lamp bases. I looked in the parts book and it shows a different part. Does anyone have a picture of what I should be looking for and where I can get them?

Thanks,

Bob

[sveris]

You might try this one, Bob. Made by Hella, although it might not be exactly what Lotus used for your early Elan Coupe.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CHPCXQ/ref=pe_vfe_td1

Cheers,

Steve in Ohio

[RichardHawkins]

Bob,
The licence plate lamp that you show in the photograph looks just like mine (S4 fixed head 1968). Mine are Hella, but I am not sure of the number. Both lamps are the same, but the numbers on the outside of the boxes are different. Both lamp lenses have the following marks

K 12813

E1 (in a circle)

12958R4

HLO (Or HL0)

I went out to the garage to see if they fit. They do, perhaps that one of the differences between an S4 and your car.

I have rummaged through my paperwork and found the invoice that shows Part No 2K 001 378-041

I assume this is the Hella part number.

Richard Hawkins

[Unibrain]

I have rummaged through my paperwork and found the invoice that shows Part No 2K 001 378-041

Google shows this part as available from here http://www.sparepartstore24.co.uk/933534-hella

The drawing looks like the lamp.

I also found them on ebay for about $12 and $195 shipping to the US. Yikes!

[pharriso]

I covered the license plate light used on later cars in this posting - http://www.lotuselan.net/forums/electrical-instruments-f38/source-license-plate-lights-sprints-t27227.html

Isn't Bob's point that this light too large for his early car?

[AHM]

I have seen a flat lense light .... checked the parts manual also.

The later lamp as shown originally had a different terminal arrangement - Having one 'horizontal' terminal and using the mounting screw for the other. ie one blade and one eye.