Factory correct Frame color on the elan??

[prezoom]

When/if that happens to either of my cars, I will change the license plate to UNICORN. ROCKING HORSE POOP will not fit. What has me a bit bent, is the new 3.54 diff in the Plus2 has started leaking at the pinion seal. I hate pulling diffs.

[lotuseuropabrit]

I purchased a new frame from the Lotus factory in 1973 for my 1967 Slll Elan and it came in Red Oxide.
Just FYI
Ray

[Lotus14S2]

My S1 Elan has a reddish brown (or brownish red) colored chassis.
When new it was probably what was known, back then, as "red lead", a rust proofing paint that is no longer available, but the current red oxide primer is very close, and would be a match that would work well. I'm sure the two part epoxy type red oxide would last forever.

[alan.barker]

On my Sprint i still prefer the galvanised finish, still perfect and was fitted by Saint Miles in 1985
Nothing sticks to it, not even paint
Alan

[Quart Meg Miles]

On my Sprint i still prefer the galvanised finish, still perfect and was fitted by Saint Miles in 1985
Nothing sticks to it, not even paint
Alan

Indeed, the hot-dip galvanised chassis nearly put the saint out of business! He was reduced to servicing Elises to make ends meet, and what he thought of that is not in the Oxford dictionary.

[Bigbaldybloke]

My Plus 2 had a genuine Lotus replacement chassis fitted just before I bought it in 1977 and this was red oxide primer with black over that. It was rubbish paint and by 1985 the chassis needed replacing again due to severe corrosion.

[pharriso]

In the 1970 Pathe film of Lotus I captured a shot of the body going on a Plus2, looks to be satin black:

I wonder if there was Red Oxide beneath it?

[Hawksfield]

Hi all
Here is my contribution for the frame colour: from a 1971 +2s 130 it took some time to strip it of and repaint
using galvanised paint and black rubberised paint over that, carried out in 1987
Still in use today