When were the Airflow vents added to the Elan Coupe?

[garyeanderson]

I really appreciate all of the information and photos. I
Do the coupes use the same windshield and door glass as the convertible?

For S3 and S4, yes.

I have been burnt on this before when I bought a windscreen for my S2 Roadster(type 26). If you have a S1 or S2 roadster, order a windscreen for the S1. If you specify a S2 you will recieve a front screen for the S2 pre-airflow coupe (type 36) which as Mike has said is the same as the S3 and S4 Coupe and Drop Head Coupe's (type 45). The back screen is an unknown to me, I have not needed one so I haven't ever looked into it, probably not readily available. Side glass for Coupe and Drop head coupe are the same but different from the S1, S2 roadsters.

[Unibrain]

Have a look at the Elan Registry for some interesting tidbits.



Registry Query by Type 36 and sort by number.

Somewhere between number 6138 and 6278 the Type 36 changed from pre-airflow to airflow.

[AHM]

Now I'm confused!

My S4 36/8752 has the flat bodywork and the grille that are described as S3 by garyeanderson.

Can anyone explain?

Simon

[Elanintheforest]

The S4 was introduced way before your car at 36/7896, so I guess it's not an old S3 roof panel they had laying around in the factory when the car was being built!

Does the car have S4 wheel arches and interior bits? The only thing I can think of is that your car has had a new roof panel from an S3, or a shell change from an S3. Or maybe the last guy that restored the car wanted the flat look and modified the panel in that area. A lot can happen in 38 years!

Mark

[rgh0]

The previously posted "S3" style vent I think existed in S4's up to around 1969 or 1970, despite what Brian Buckland says in his book. My August 1968 36/8555 S4 certainly has that early style and it has never been changed. My 73 plus 2 has the later style.

If the different grill was introduced on the plus 2 launch in 1968 it probably took some time for Lotus to work through the remaining old syle stock on the Elan before moving to a single style for cost reasons. Can some one confirm that the early plus 2 had the later style grill? Whats the newest S4 with the early style grill ?

As to front screens they are the same on FHC and DHC and different from the earlier style used on the S1 and S2 convertibles.

cheers
Rohan

[Elanintheforest]

My '67 Plus 2, chassis # 32, has the later style grille. My S3 Coupe, made a month earlier, has the early grille.
Mark

[Elanintheforest]

Just found this on eBay: looks like you're right again Rohan!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1969-Lotus-Elan-l ... dZViewItem

[garyeanderson]

Good info, great forum. thanks for sharing.

p-a

[Gray]

Hi

My S4 1968 G reg had the S3 style flat air vents (before I took the roof off) and also has the S3 large demister grille. I'm fairly sure they changed both at the same time to grilles similar to the Plus 2. I used to have a 1969 H reg S4 DHC which had the later demister grilles.

Regards Gray