Lotus Elan S2 SE leather steering wheels

[LCRJ]

Hi all,

I'm doing study and research work about original Lotus steering wheels in 60's.
Now I especially looking for some information about Lotus Elan S2 SE leather steering wheels.
Does two kinds of the SE leather steering wheel exist?
Please give me some photos and your advice.

I very much appreciate your cooperation.

Kind regards,
Hiro

[Mazzini]

I only know of this type being used on S2 SE's and on some S3 SE's. Anybody else know of a second type?

[Mazzini]

Welcome to the forum by the way.

[LCRJ]

Hi Mazzini,
Thank you for your input and nice photo.
Yes, your steering wheel is one of the S2 SE's and on some S3 SE's.
The other one looks like almost same, it seems that just different shape of the boss.
I will try to find some photos.
Anybody else know of a second type?
Thank you.
Hiro

[Elanintheforest]

Hi Hiro
There is of course the Cortina S/E wheel, but I'm sure you know about these! The picture shows the wheel from Jim Clark's race car, JTW 497C, also on my site. Very similar with a deeper dish, and of course, a different boss.

The Elan 26R wheel and TTR replica race wheels are similar, but have no dish. The boss also has a screwed on ring....I'll dig out a photo if you are interested. Otherwise, I think that there was only 1 style of S/E wheel for the S2 / S3 Elan.

Mark

[bast0n]

My old S3 seems to have had the same wheel but with a wood rim.

Was this normal for non SEs?

David
Anarchy Elan

[Elanintheforest]

Nice silver bumpers too....and a SAR registration!

Yes, the S1, S2 and S3 non-S/E had the woodrim up to (about) the last 6 to 9 months of S3 production, then both standard and S/E had the Colin Chapman signed wheel fitted.

Whatever happened to SAR 370D? Tim Mees, who had the Type 26 register, had SAR120D, the first S/E S3. As it was his first Elan, which his family kept to get restored after he passed away. A lovely piece of Elan history!

Mark

[bast0n]

Forest dweller

Whatever happened to SAR 370D?

I would love to know.I have asked before but have heard nothing. I sold it to Len street - the London Elan Man in 1967/8. Children cause these unnecessary problems ya know!

Sorry about the silver bumpers but it was not white and I was young and foolish as opposed to old and foolish with wonderful taste in black bumpers............

David

Anarchy Elan S3

[LCRJ]

Hi Mark,
Thank you for your input and nice photo.
Yes, I know the Lotus Cortina SE and 26R steering wheels.
The other one looks like same as Mazzini's one.
It has almost same type of boss, But it's a little bit different shape.
I remember I've seen the steering wheel many years ago.
Please have a check your Lotus Elan S2 leather steering wheel.
Is nothing different?
Thank you.
Hiro

[Elanintheforest]

Hiro, it may have been an aftermarket steering wheel you saw. Springall, who made the slotted woodrim and leather covered wheels, also did a huge range of wheels which could be fitted to any car with a lot of different hub options. As the Elan has the Triumph Herald / Spitfire steering column, it could have been a Triumph hub you saw....the original Triumph horn push is the same size as the Lotus one. Les Leston also did a very similar wheel, and I'm sure there were a few more.

The only different hub I can think of as standard fitting on an Elan is the one used for the Sprint, which had a much bigger plastic horn push....

Mark

[trw99]

The only different hub I can think of as standard fitting on an Elan is the one used for the Sprint, which had a much bigger plastic horn push....

Mark

... but wasn't leather of course! Nice pic Mark, thanks.

Tim

[Mazzini]

The Brooklands road test book, the one with a fhc Gold Leaf Sprint on the cover, has a contemporary R&T road test of a '67 lhd S3 SE, the car has a S2 Europa steering wheel. I've only ever seen it on this one US car - was it a one off?

[bast0n]

Mazzini

And still looking for that elusive S3 SE dhc

Are they rarer than most models?

David

Anarchy Elan S3 S/E DHC - just to make you envious!!

[alan.barker]

hi mazzini,
i have a 1972 Elan Sprint fhc with an unsigned (plastic covered) steering wheel also which Tim seems to think came from an Europa
There you go another Lotus exception
Alan B

[Famous Frank]

As far as I know, there is only one S2 SE Leather Wheel. I have owned a few and they are all the same.

Please for give my ignorance, but is the interest in a plate that starts with "SAR"?

Famous Frank