Finding a car's history

PostPost by: jono » Tue Sep 08, 2020 2:26 pm

I have my eye on a potential car (Lotus) which has been off the road for around 30 years.

I know the registration but nothing else. How much can one discover just from the reg mark?

One thing which interests me in particular is whether it's the original colour or if not what colour it was when first registered.

Any tips appreciated :D
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PostPost by: trw99 » Tue Sep 08, 2020 4:26 pm

Jono,

The Registration No will only get you so far. It would be more helpful to know the full VIN. I could then be able to give you some additional information. However, colours were not generally recorded in the extant records until the later, post 1970 cars.

Feel free to send me a PM with what details you have and I will let you know what, if anything, I have on the car.

Tim
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PostPost by: jono » Tue Sep 08, 2020 6:29 pm

Cheers Tim,

You have a PM :D

Jon
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PostPost by: trw99 » Wed Sep 09, 2020 8:38 am

Not yet received, Jono.

Try contacting me how my web site below.

Tim
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PostPost by: jono » Wed Sep 09, 2020 8:45 am

Will do Tim - my PM's seem to sometimes go and often simply disappear, will email you direct.

Cheers
Jon
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PostPost by: denicholls2 » Wed Sep 09, 2020 4:38 pm

VIN Paint Code Location.jpg and
Note that the car's paint code is typically on the VIN plate for Lotuses of our vintage. On my Europa, a 1969 S2, the paint code is in the bottom right of the tag, L07. Which means the car was originally Lotus Safety Yellow.

Lots of people who repainted their cars did not like removing and replacing the glass and masked it instead. So you can frequently find the original paint under the rubber windshield seal. Mine has plenty of Lotus Safety Yellow there.
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