Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... :IT&ih=019

Anyone have an idea about this chassis plate?
appears to say type 86 yet chassis number begins with a 71

Type 86 is an essex F1 from 1980, but the 71 I guess is the years of manufacture.... I don't know what the P on the end is...not an Elan, but maybe a Europa / Seven that wanted to be an F1.

The full and interesting description that goes with the plate says it all....nothing.

Mark

It looks like type 65 to me - Federal Europa

Gary

Looks like a Type dodgy to me!

As I read it 71(year of production) 03 (month) 08 (batch no) 0340 (unit no) P (UK Europa)

However, as Gary says, Type 65 is the Federal Europa, so that P at the end should be R (Federal Europa). I suppose that we may be unable to read the "leg" of the R, making it appear to be a P.

However, the colour code LO5 (Carival Red) looks as if a punch that is a little larger than normal has been used. Neither can I see an engine number punched in there. If Federal, it should have a W suffix (I think!)

Tim

I would have thought it was more likely to be a type 36, than an 86. Would make the year wrong though - if 71 is refering to build year.

Don't know why anyone would want to buy this without the accompanying documentation !

tag

I thought Europa.
The numbering system itself is a 70's format.
I think in 1980 Lotus changed to a 17-digit system begining with SCC.
Thats for a road car-any ideas for a track car?

richardcox_lotus wrote:I would have thought it was more likely to be a type 36, than an 86. Would make the year wrong though - if 71 is refering to build year.

Don't know why anyone would want to buy this without the accompanying documentation !

Type 36, Elan FHC, were in production in 1971. All Sprints were either Type 36 or Type 45 (DHC). Type 36 unit no. 0340 was made in Aug or Sep 1971, not Mar, so it is definately not Type 36.

Agree with your point on documentation, though.

Why look at this?

Blank chassis plates come up on Ebay from time to time. Lets you make up a matching numbers car!

David
1968 36/7988

In the UK you can usually get title to a car by having the Vin plate. A pre-66 S2 Elan plate can sell for ?2500 as the racer boys need an 'authentic' car to obtain the papers for some categories. A twincam Escort ID can change hands for ?5000 for the rally boys. Goodness knows what a real 26R plate would get!

A dhc Elan is worth a bit more that a fhc, so someone who has chopped the roof off may want his car to appear to be a 'factory' dhc.

This plate however doesn't seem to have any of these 'hidden' values.

Mark

?4.95 on Ebay, put whatever numbers you want on it