S1 Dash Board

[greg40green]

I agree with knockoffnut
Very good idea as I to would find it very useful to be able to easily access information to cross reference information and specification as there does seem to be a lot of unintentional miss-interpretation of how the S1 Elans were originally presented ie I have Googled S1 Elan dash board's for images of the dash boards, what MPH , rev counter, dual gauge and fuel gauges were fitted and it came as no surprise to see how many different variations of instruments are photographed but what is the ' original specification' or as I asked previously and I suspect is there no single one specification of instrument fitted to the S1 Elan ie dual gauges, was this gauge carried over from the Elite which was also fitted in the early Lotus Cortina's as well as the S1 Elan's or were black rimmed dual gauges fitted with the max temp figure being different some maxed out at 60 or 80 or 100 .
Also on some dual gauges there seems to be a double white pin stripe around the outer of the clock face.
Rev counters may go 0,10,20,30,40, 50 etc others run 0,1,2,3,4,5 etc
As I asked previously and I suspect is the case is there no one single specification of instrument fitted to the S1.
Does any body know what exact dual gauge and rev counter were fitted to the Elan S1 or was there more than one type of clock face used in the Elan S1 ?

I have been hunting out info on early Elan variations and I would like to create an area where we can contribute, and build up a list of variations with descriptions, in order to correct the record which today only exists in a few places like the type26register and is significantly over-generalized. For example, I do not believe that all S1 cars had Bourne bodies (as is stated on type26register). The group of Bourne bodies is smaller than the total S1 production qty. The shape is slightly different and can be seen in period pictures. Also I believe that there was an overlap in Bourne body production, and newer body production with both being built simultaneously, for a little while. I know that frames were stacked in one area and bodies in another and cars were built with what was closest, and met the (body colour) requirements of the order. There were so many running changes, and variations too (some S1 cars had leather steering wheels, I believe as special orders, as Lotus was putting leather wheels in its race cars, for example) Lamps varied, trim patterns and colours varied, etc. Some cars left the factory with black covered dashboards, similar to Sevens which were being built with Red covered dashboards. I would like to lobby the moderators here to set up a permanently accessible "tech" section on this site, where we can build a database of info, specifically to include series variations, rather than always trying to search in old posts for comments on build details.

[Bill]

Greg

I am the origional owner of 26/0538 an Elan 1600 (S1). It was shipped factory direct to myself Mar 23, 64. As it started production Dec.20, 63 I refer to it as a 1963 car. It is as built stock and I still drive it after 54 years. - I would be happy to contribute to a forum devoted to the S1-S2 series.

Question is would we need some one to oversee it?

Bill

[dunclentdr1]

Yes, great idea, started a thread on Bourne cars a while ago and got 6-8 cars' owners contributing, would be great to start one more widely for S1 cars, will be happy to start things off by claiming to have the only one supplied with a black dash...

David

[greg40green]

Good morning Bill
Could you post a photo or two of your original S1 dash to clearly display the correct dials on the clocks for that period plus the gap above the speedo and rev counter .
Appreciated , Greg.

Greg

I am the origional owner of 26/0538 an Elan 1600 (S1). It was shipped factory direct to myself Mar 23, 64. As it started production Dec.20, 63 I refer to it as a 1963 car. It is as built stock and I still drive it after 54 years. - I would be happy to contribute to a forum devoted to the S1-S2 series.

Question is would we need some one to oversee it?

Bill

[knockoffnut]

Hi David, I have spoken with many people who own or owned S1 Elans, and at least three people told me that they had, or saw a black dash S1 when new. This leads me to believe that there were more than one black dash S1 built by Lotus, as the reports were widely spread geographically. My S1 is a few dozen cars before Bill's and mine is not a Bourne body car. Greg, I will try to get a picture of my S1's dash posted up here in the next couple of days. Greetings from the great white North, Andrew

[Bill]

GREG

I will try to post dash pictures - when I figure out how to do it - need my wife's or sons help.

SOOOO -- I AM a techno klutz!

Bill

[greg40green]

Thanks Bill
If no luck with photo's I can lend you my well used crayons as I to am a little technically challenged in this department.
Regards , Greg

GREG

I will try to post dash pictures - when I figure out how to do it - need my wife's or sons help.

SOOOO -- I AM a techno klutz!

Bill

[pharriso]

What we really need is a wiki, so reference information is readily available.

[Certified Lotus]

Here is a photo of my S1 dash and instruments. Hope this helps. The dash is a replacement, but I have the original. Anyone know of a source for the plastic trim that fits on the exposed edges of the dash?

[knockoffnut]

Hi Glen,
As far as I know the S1 had a very small metal edge trim around the leg cutouts of the dash. When they switched to molded plastic edge trim for the S3 the dash got a about 3/4" shorter to compensate for the size of the plastic trim. If you look at your original dash you should see the mounting holes for the small metal trim.

[greg40green]

Hello Glen
Thanks for the photo's of your S1 dash .
I have sent a copy of the photo's to Caerbont Automotive / Smith Classic Clocks who have so far been able to supply me with a new and correct rev counter and speedo, hopefully they will now be able to supply me with new dual and fuel gauges, is it worth having the original restored ?
Now all I need is a new and correct dashboard to replace my battered one that has suffered the ravages of both time and being stored in a damp environment sine 1974.
Still looking !

Here is a photo of my S1 dash and instruments. Hope this helps. The dash is a replacement, but I have the original. Anyone know of a source for the plastic trim that fits on the exposed edges of the dash?

49725D94-2762-4383-AF7C-5878E4871A06.jpeg

FFE27D10-1839-426B-9F6E-6BAA61136CF6.jpeg

[Certified Lotus]

Hi Glen,
As far as I know the S1 had a very small metal edge trim around the leg cutouts of the dash. When they switched to molded plastic edge trim for the S3 the dash got a about 3/4" shorter to compensate for the size of the plastic trim. If you look at your original dash you should see the mounting holes for the small metal trim.

Knockoffnut, my car is a Bourne body car and the original dash had plastic trim nailed to the sides. I had thought this was original to the car, but now I?m questioning that. Anyone else have metal trim and is it available to purchase anywhere?

The photos below are a piece of the plastic trim that was on my dash.

[PFV6]

My car is later (26 3657), and has the same plastic trim around the lower edge of the dash. It's perfectly intact, except that I assume its color is the result of a little yellowing with age. Except for recovered seats and door cards, the interior is original. I'm third owner, but I have the history of the car from new, and don't doubt that's how it came from the factory.

[paddy]

I believe they only ever had a plastic strip. It's no longer obtainable, but there have been a few reports here of homemade alternatives; eg lotus-elan-f19/restoration-0086-unit-3067-t21274-15.html#p150258

Paddy

[vstibbard]

I've an original S1 26/0429 dash from early 64 and another from S2 I'll post photo's of the trim, it looks to be metal, but may be surprised, its complete which is why invent disturbed it and also the individual instruments.

I was interested to see that Caerbont were able to match the S1 instrument faces, I've restored a few over time and had to have new faces made a couple of times due to damages faces from water.
V