Chassis plate

[Alex]

Hi,

Hopefully an easy one to answer... I'm rebuilding a '68 +2 and the chassis plate has been lost/missplaced over the years. I have a new one which needs the engine/chassis details adding. I can't remember if this should be engraved or punch/stamped?

Anyone know off the top of their heads?

Regards,

Alex

[TeeJay]

Hi Alex.

Have just checked my 68 +2 and it is engraved.

[Alex]

Cheers Trevor,

I'll have to get the engraver out at work...!

[Elanintheforest]

Don't think I've ever seen a stamped Elan plate, and all mine are 'engraved'. I would use that term loosely though...looks more like scratched on with a scribe!

Can you remember if the plate was Hethel or Cheshunt? Even though the factory move took place in '66, most '67 and a few '68 cars had the Cheshunt plate. Chances are yours will be Hethel if it's post-March '68.

Mark

[Alex]

Hi Mark,

Hows it going. I believe it was a Hethel plate which I have a replacement for.

The +2 is almost there now, just a few bits and pieces left to do. The MOT is booked for 3 weeks time, then I can start sorting it on the road. All being well I might take it to the Silverstone Classic in July bfore handing it back to its owner.

Alex

[rgh0]

Mark

I think Lotus bought a set of stamps in the early 70's after they lost or wore out the blunt nail they had been using to scratch chassis plates for many years.

My 73 plus 2 has stamped data while my 68 Elan has the traditional scratching

cheers
Rohan

[robcall]

Anyone know if the kit version had the engine No. marked on the plate?

[Alex]

Hmm theres a question! The old V5 for my car ahs the chassis and engine number as being the same. I phoned Lotus last week and they believed it to be a DVLA cock-up. Very common apparently! They gave me the original engine number which I can put on the new V5 I need to obtain (for ?0 tax reasons!)

S from my call to Lotus, I would assume that the engine number should have been on the chassis plate.

[robcall]

Just nipped out and checked the '73 FHC.
Stamped chassis No.,rusty nail for the engine No.

[CBUEB1771]

My '71 +2S has a stamped chassis number and rusty nail scratching for the engine number. A bit off-topic but my Elite has rusty nail scratching for both chassis and engine numbers on a Lotus Components plate. However the Bristol Aircraft plate is neatly stamped with the chassis number. On the Elite the tube to the water temperature sender was neatly coiled on top of the Lotus Components plate such that the chassis number was largely abraded away.

[Alex]

Thanks for all the help, I didn't think this thread would run like it has!

I've now engraved mine, slightly better than scratching it on. Next stop is the MOT in a few weeks time....

Alex

[bcmc33]

I have to confess that all the plates I've seen have been stamped.

I think I would have serious doubts with an engraved plate. Having said that, a confirmation letter from Lotus would suffice.

My car was originally sold in kit form and does not have the engine number stamped on the plate. I was 'told' that this was normal for kit cars.

[Elanintheforest]

I think that Rohan has it right...just checked the fleet and post 1970 is stamped chassis number, etched engine number and colour code. Prior to 1970, all etched (but mainly only chassis number...not many engine / colour codes!).
Mark

[billwill]

Anyone know if the kit version had the engine No. marked on the plate?

My S3 has and I know it was a kit originally. Scratched on though, so it could have been done by whoever assembled the kit or by Ian Walkers who checked it out.

[RotoFlexible]

The Cheshunt plate on my '66 ('65 build) S2 is very neatly stamped. (Or if it's engraved, the engraving was not done by hand.) Unit no. 4869, no engine no., and the line below is something like:

"US 65 CH NO 26/4869"

It's barely legible after 42 years of abrasion by the water temp. line.