Lotus Elan +2 chassis

[Bowers41]

Hi Guys

I wonder if this is an impossible question but is this chassis original ? I definitely looks like it has been painted at some point. I have no history on the car what soever its a 1969 Elan +2 reg POW 136G

[gus]

Hard to say
Chassis number would be stamped above exhaust on chassis rail if original

[elanman999]

It may or may not be original but it looks as if it's been repaired or modified as the bottom of the front turret seems to be open, which is not standard.

[JonB]

Left hand turret in picture 2 is rusted out by the looks of it - no bottom. Right hand turret looks better.

[Bowers41]

Arighty both turrets are open at the bottom and top are they are painted white I wondered if thus was normal.

[JonB]

OK, that is most definitely not a standard Lotus chassis ("subframe" in Club Lotus parlance).

Lotus chassis (plural) have closed turret bases with holes to allow water to escape (which frequently blocked, allowing a builtup of dirt and consequent rusting out). So, yours are either modified to prevent this or are not of Lotus origin.

[Bowers41]

Passenger side

[rgh0]

Looks like it has had new front towers fitted with modified open bottoms. There is normally and angled plate inside the bottom of the tower that seals off the front vaccuum chamber

regards
Rohan

[Bowers41]

Thank you guys it's a nightmare the car has clearly had a fair bit of work and I have 0 history on it.
Gus
You mentioned the chassis number being above the exhaust don't suppose you have a picture of this location ?

[elanman999]

Here is a link that may give you a clue.:- viewtopic.php?t=26938&start=

It shows a 26XXXX number yours could well be 50XXX for a +2. It could also be LRXXX for a Lotus replacement chassis.
Have fun.

[DickyA]

Hello
If it helps, the various pics (of rust) might also also be a symptom of metal fatigue. Back in the mid80s, my none galvanised '69 +2s chassis started showing cracks around the uprights either side of the vacuum box. I welded them up, but, overtime, they just reappeared elsewhere .
I rang Hethel and ask what the problem was and they said "It's your chassis asking to be replaced - due to m.fatigue"
It looked v.similar to the pics a patchwork of rough welds - there was some surface rust, but most was MF.
Hope that helps