what kind of knock off mallet was originally included?

[pharriso]

Lotus did not supply 'Thor' or any other copper/hide hammer, just a simple typically cost reduced lead hammer.

Anything else is NOT and was NOT original Lotus supply!

Not that it matters of course, but here you are?[/i][/color]

How can you say that so emphatically?

We have a couple of owners that are pretty sure their cars came with copper/hide mallets.

[sutol45]

Lotus did not supply 'Thor' or any other copper/hide hammer, just a simple typically cost reduced lead hammer.

Anything else is NOT and was NOT original Lotus supply!

Not that it matters of course, but here you are?[/i][/color]

How can you say that so emphatically?

We have a couple of owners that are pretty sure their cars came with copper/hide mallets.

With respect: 1) I built a fair number of Elans in the late 60s early 70s; 2) I had very close ties with the factory professionally, and 3) having maintained up to 50-Elans throughout the 70s, 80s and 90s, I never once saw a Lotus supplied hide-mallet for either a UK spec Elan or an Elan PLUS 2 supplied by the factory!

The THOR mallet here in the UK was definitely after-market.

As for being pretty sure? No I'm not.

As for being certain? Yes I am.

However, one thing I will tell you, Lotus would have fitted and/or missed anything to get a car out from the factory and into a dealer/customers hands at the time, and that was fine with us as we were so desperate to get our hands on 'em.

So does it matter now? No it doesn't.

Did it matter then? No it didn't.

Consider: in 1970 the lead-hammer as shown by 'oldelanman' and 'Gordon Sauer' would have cost about seven-shillings here in the UK, where as a THOR hammer being made of cast-brass and copper would have cost maybe three-pounds ten-shillings, a ratio of one to ten.

I can here Colin turning over at the thought of such expense?

And if you want to know what seven-shillings is in USD, well in 1970 I think the ratio was 4-USD to 1-GBP: maybe 'oldelanman' can confirm.

Remember, a whole Elan cost only ?1200 in kit form?

Just make sure you don't use a steel-faced hammer to hit those spinners!

[theelanman]

mmmmm......