Engine/Chassis colour?

[Grizzly]

Hi,

Does anyone know the BS or Ral code for the Grey Lotus used on the engines and chassis? I'm just at the point of cleaning up and painting ready to fit but have i can only find little 250ml tins of the color and its engine paint (takes an age to dry) so i really need a code where i can get some mixed up and spray it on? its only cosmetic as i bought a Galvanized chassis but unfortunately it came unpainted....

I have done a bit of reading old threads and it seems Massey Ferguson Grey is not a bad match but i can't find the codes for that either (not having much luck).

Any ideas?

[jono]

It's Massey grey with a touch of blue.

I don't think they actually used it on the chassis, just the engine - but I may be wrong.

QED do small tins for painting engines etc.

Sorry, can't help with the codes

[gjz30075]

The chassis color (on a late Elan, anyway) is much like a semi gloss red oxide primer.

Greg Z

[Grizzly]

It has been pointed out that my Elan's chassis should be black which is easy enough i'll just use the Satin black i have left over from the engine bay

As for the grey now i know i dont need huge quantities i think QED will be getting a call.

Thanks every one for your help.

[Grizzly]

Urm, are the gearboxes supposed to be black too or engine colour?

[elanfan1]

don't forget you will need to prime the galv chassis or your paint will fall off

[Bruce Crowthorne]

I painted my gearbox the same grey (the QED one) as the engine.
But I couldn't find any reference to the gearbox being painted at all - I suspect it was just the bare cast iron.

[Grizzly]

don't forget you will need to prime the galv chassis or your paint will fall off

I actually got the chassis Electrostatic primed (advantages of working in the aircraft industry) i know that the galv would be ok left open inside the box sections etc but if its getting painted i wouldn't want it falling off anywhere as you say.

I painted my gearbox the same grey (the QED one) as the engine.
But I couldn't find any reference to the gearbox being painted at all - I suspect it was just the bare cast iron.

I can't make up my mind if my gearbox had been painted black or semi gloss black or just a very grubby casting and looks black. I think if my Chassis is going Black i may follow your lead and paint it the engine grey.

Thanks.

[paddy]

Relating to gearbox colour, I found this:

elan-f14/gearbox-color-t14362.html

FWIW, mine's green, with no guarantees as to originality.

Paddy

[Grizzly]

I have just had an E-mail from a guy associated with Lotus who has told me the gearbox,Chassis and suspension components should be dark grey (BS381C 671) i have replied asking what the engines where painted in but not heard back yet.

[trw99]

Grizzly

Could you please define 'associated' in your posting?

Thanks

Tim

[Grizzly]

Bit of a long story, my dad contacted Lotus a number of years ago about information on a friends very early lotus, they forwarded his correspondence to a third party who was nice enough to contact us back, i never really got to into it but he worked in the factory in the 60's/70's my Dad knows a bit more about it all but he's well in his 90's now so you have to pick your days.

[Grizzly]

That said i don't know how accurate that is...... if i was asked what colour a desk was at school 30+ years ago i'd be hard pushed to tell you.... So take it how you will.

[jonsered 11]

hi grizzly if ur elan is series 1 or 2 chassis should be red oxideif a later car its black never grey as already mentioned engine colour is massey ferguson grey the QED paint is ok if u need any other info just ask cheers

[Grizzly]

I'm confused, just to really mess the whole chassis colour thing up my old chassis which had never been out was a similar colour to the engine grey, my gearbox which is i don't think had been out due to it having its factory clutch still in it and very low miles was a kind of mat black....

But all said and done i think if i paint everything Massey Ferguson/QED grey it will look fine (and i can do it all in one hit)