Chassis Colours

Post by: **Mazzini** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 12:38 pm

I had a peak in the archives and I can see various threads about chassis colour; nowhere can I find data on what colour a Jan '70 S4 chassis should be. From what I've read the chassis should either be red lead or black bitumastic - gentlemen what do you know?

Post by: **gjz30075** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 12:40 pm

As a point of reference, my '72 Federal Sprint's chassis was a semi gloss red oxide color.

Greg Z

Post by: **69S4** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 1:22 pm

When I changed the chassis on my mid 69 S4 it was a black sticky mess. Whether that was red oxide + decades of oil + rust or bitumen +decades of oil + rust I don't know, I was more interested in the shiny galvanised one that replaced it.

Post by: **garyeanderson** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 1:27 pm

Mazzini wrote:I had a peak in the archives and I can see various threads about chassis colour; nowhere can I find data on what a Jan '70 S4 chassis. From what I've read the chassis should either be red lead or black bitumastic - gentlemen what do you know?

Red lead oxide paint under the black bitumen on my RHD April 1970 built Elan Coupe. That said it was rotted under the saddle blanket that Lotus installed on the chassis for sound deadening. if they would have applied it to the fiberglass either inside the cabin or underneath the chassis would have been ok, sadly its gone.

The attached photos are of 0262K that I got from Rick Cranshaw, he replaced it and didn't want to see it go to waste so it will be repaired and go into one of my wrecks. The chassis number is clearly stamped on it on the right top front rail, the interesting part is the number directly below it on the bottom rail that is stamped 9705, what this number is I don't have a clue, maybe Tim has an idea but I don't believe it was ever in unit number 9705. This chassis was also covered in black bitumen that has mostly been scraped off. when repaired it will be just black paint, originality is just something to be discussed. Some live by it and I don't care much about it, its not original any longer so I don't feel the need to pretend that it is and build the way I want. You buy your own and build to what ever it is that gets you off.

Gary