Golden Numbers

[Elan Peter]

Hello all, I wondered if anyone knew what the numbers the JPS cars ran from and to.
The log book of my car says thet it was black and gold.
Best regards, P

[trw99]

Yes, I have most of them recorded. Please PM me.

Tim

[Elan Peter]

I can't get the PM to send so I will tell you on here and you can then let me know via PM.
The number is 720 50740
Best regards, P

[JimE]

Tim will confirm but I recall the first JPS +2s130 came out in August 1973 so a 7308 prefix.

[Elan Peter]

Ok no problem. I am glad if it isn't as it means I can restore it as intended.
Best regards, P

[trw99]

The only true special edition Lotus produced for the Elan, was what has become known as the John Player Special (JPS) Plus 2. In fact, Lotus never called this a JPS. The press announcement made in 1973, shortly after Lotus had won the Spanish Grand Prix held that year at Montju?c on 29th April, states that the car is ?a special edition to celebrate the 50th Grand Prix victory?, the first racing team to have achieved that figure.

The Lotus records never recorded the so-called JPS versions as such, neither were they recorded as 50 grand prix victory commemorative models. Rather they are identifiable by their paint code of LO 15 Black Gloss and the extent of each cars options list. That is because we know these cars had oatmeal interiors, tinted Sundym glass and the Phillips Turnolock radio. The majority of JPS? were fitted with the five speed gearbox, though we know a handful were ordered with the four speed. It is this that was reflected in the press release, with mention of the optioned five speed unit.

We now know that 115 JPS versions of the Plus 2S 130 rolled off the production line at Hethel. The first was Unit Number 1476L, which was invoiced in June 1973 and sold via the Ken Myers dealership in Northamptonshire. This car still exists and is a fine example of the Plus 2S 130/5. (There was a pre-production 'prototype', produced in May 73). The final Unit Number for the JPS cars was 1832L, which was invoiced in December 1973 as a Plus 2S 130 with a four speed gearbox; it too still exists.

Tim

[Elan Peter]

Hi Tim, thank you very much for all of your help. I cannot use PM again...
Is there any chance of locating the pictures of the car when it was advertised in motoring news?
Best regards, P

[JimE]

Just to supplement what Tim has said, the car could also be identified by the goldflake roof and sills and an offside badge that read "Limited edition to commemorate first 50 Lotus grand prix wins".

[Elan Peter]

My car has been soda blasted so had no paint, badges or anything else on it. The doors had not and were black with gold stripes. The log book said it was black and gold, hence why I wanted to find out if it was a JPS car.
Best regards, P

[JimE]

Sounds like the previous owner(s) resprayed the car and changed the logbook. The chassis ID plate in the engine bay should indicate the paintcode used by the factory and thus the original colour of your car.

[Elan Peter]

Really? I'll go and have a look.
Best regards, P