Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

The VIN is the number used by authorities.

The Chassis No is pretty much irrelevant after the Elan 1600.

It is the UNIT No that is the key identifier of every single Elan produced by Lotus.

Body Nos were issued in batches and, since there are no surviving records of which Body No was attached to which Unit No, they are not all that much help. See my attached article from CL News mag some years ago.

So going back to Berni's problem: as has been mentioned, you really need to attempt to find that VIN plate (on which you will find the Unit No!) and the V5, which of course also has the VIN on it.

Good luck, Berni!

Tim

GLB wrote:On my federal 1970 *2S the last four numbers of the VIN were engraved on the inside of the doors with about a 1/8 diameter ball burr or so it appears, crayoned on the inside of the roof with some other notes and written on the back of the glove box and signed by Paul. Gary

I think the crayoned numbers are the BODY number, which is not necessarily the same as the VIN number.

Hi Berni,
Just another thought. Have you kept any old MOT certificates, it is on there.
Eric in Burnley

The crayoned numbers all match my VIN number on the builder plate and the title documents. May only be a federal thing but everything matches on my car. This was when the market was designated with a letter after the unit number, there are 3 0085's. Mine has as N sufix so a federal car. Gary

In general terms, Body Nos were crayoned onto body parts pre 1970; Unit Nos were crayoned on after Jan 1970.

Tim

Berni,
When did you acquire the car?

Is it complete with original engine and chassis?

What is the unit number stamped into the chassis? (On the exhaust side)

If you can’t answer question 2&3 then you don’t own a car, just a collection of parts, sorry to be blunt……

berni29 wrote:The car is registered to me at my home address so no problem there.

Then what is the problem?

File dvla form v62(?), they'll send you a new v5c. Then you can buy a new plate and fill out with the information from v5c and car. Problem sorted.

Just going to that effort should be enough to make the existing ones appear....

But for the V62 you need the VIN number which Berni hasn’t got!

Billelan wrote:But for the V62 you need the VIN number which Berni hasn’t got!

Good point, handy realized that.

Berni

'68 Plus2 should have a Dymo tape as below...

impressed into the body...





John

I've found the VIN number written on trim pieces and even on a piece of tape stuck to the top of the radio (Jan 1970 +2S)...

If you can’t answer question 2&3 then you don’t own a car, just a collection of parts, sorry to be blunt……

I’m afraid Spyder fan’s analysis sounds correct.

You don’t have the chassis, you don’t have the engine, you can’t identify the body number which probably wouldn’t be much help anyway. You don’t have the metal identification plate, and you can’t find the V5.

OTOH of course, some people think if they have only a V5 then they have a “historic (classic) vehicle” with all that entails. Ask Spydercars.

If it’s any help, the DVLA thinks your reg number belongs to a yellow Lotus which has been untaxed since Oct 2003, but that had a new V5 issued (to you?) on 25 Oct 2006. I see you asked about ‘if I did a change of keeper’? Are you thinking of selling what you have?

Good luck with your search.