Colin Chapman signature steering wheel

[andrewdmoore]

My Sprint doesn't have one, dont know why - maybe there wasn't one in the parts bin when the car was built.

Has anyone dabbled with 'adding' a signature to the wheel by tracing the signature and etching it on then filling it with black paint? There were rumours of an original stamp existing in Scotland, does anyone know any more info on this?

Thanks, Andrew

[MikeC]

There is a stamp in the UK, made in the early 1990s for a batch of 50 new wheels. I think I know where it is now, but don't think you're likely to get your hands on it.

AFAIK it was only the later S3 and early S4 Elans that had a signature. The later S4 and all Sprints had a different wheel with changed boss and plastic rim covering instead of leather. The signature rims come up on ebay occasionaly, expect to pay ?300 plus. Or, if 50 Elan owners put down ?500 each I'm sure I could interest the current owner of the tooling in making another batch of new wheels.

I've got a close-up photo of the signature if it's any help.


Mike

[gjz30075]

My January, '72 build Sprint has the signature wheel. I acquired the car in 1978 and although I'm the third owner, I have many, many reciepts and none show a purchase for the wheel. Doesn't mean it couldn't have been added sometime before me, but the evidence points to the wheel being original to the car.

Greg Z
'72 Sprint

[GrUmPyBoDgEr]

Just to add a bit more info' on the steering wheel thing.
A couple of years ago I sold a plastic covered rim wheel with Chapman signature at the Stonliegh parts fair. I'm fairly sure it originated from an S3 Coupe. The centre boss was missing.
If you can get hold of that stamp or copy that signature it's as good as printing money
John

[trw99]

All Sprints had signature steering wheels.

Some of the earlier Sprints had the S4 wheel boss with the slightly more raised wheel boss/horn fitting. As Mike says, the normal Sprint wheel had the flatter boss as well as leather finger tabs at the end of each spoke.

In the late 60's/early 70's changing a standard steering wheel on a car for a sportier after-market version was very popular. In the UK no young, self respecting Mini owner would drive without a Les Leston, Paddy Hopkirk, Moto Lita or similar thick rimmed, smaller diameter wheel fitted. I guess this applied to quite a number of Elan owners too, since the original steering wheels are now so highly sought.

Tim

[types26/36]

Here are the two types of Chapman wheels both were originally withplastic rims but were recovered with leather

[Jolly Jumper]

I would like to bring this topic back up. I have come across a very well restored 73 Sprint which seems to have the proper Steering Wheel with the flatter boss, but no Chapman Signature on it. Is there any conclusive knowledge if this is original or not?

[trw99]

Jolly

Conclusive knowledge? Lotus?

As I said in my earlier post to this thread, as far as I am aware all Sprints had the signature wheel fitted as standard. I have not come across any that were fitted with the correct wheel without the signature.

It is conceivable that Lotus had a stock of Elan wheels without the signature for spares, though I would have thought that the signature would have been stamped on the wheel as part of the manufacturing process. I have the name of the manufacturer, but not to hand. Perhaps they made some up to the Elan pattern and sold them to retailers, without the signature.

In John Bolster's Autosport road test of KAH 604L dated 8 Feb 73, the photo shows the signature clearly. That would have been one of the last cars off the production line.

Not sure what the case was with the Europa or Seven steering wheel. May be a clue there? Any one know?

Tim

[Jolly Jumper]

Tim, Thanks

Well I know, conclusive knowledge with regard to a Classic Lotus is, well, not easy to achieve.
So it may be that the steering wheel on the car I am eyeballing is a repro item...

[john.p.clegg]

Stuart
Thanks but that didn't work but here's one I prepared earlier (as they say on blue peter)

John

[john.p.clegg]

Sorry once more,just took me an hour almost to download this picture but with 1024x900 pixels the signature is not very clear

John

[types26/36]

My J.P.S. Europa had the flatter type wheel with no C.C. signature and was original, I don't think any Europa's had the signed wheel.

[types26/36]

Sorry once more,just took me an hour almost to download this picture

I think its time you got broadband john

[john.p.clegg]

I have got broadband,what I haven't got is IT skills.....

John

[r.agnew]

What about this on Ebay recently , went for ?361!! What was this fitted to originally ??