ELAN S4 PRODUCTION NUMBERS

[rgh0]

Gary

The myth is that the FHC and DHC were the same and they just cut off the roofs. If that is the case how was there a unique moulded in FHC body number series. Sounds like you just demolished another myth

cheers
Rohan

[garyeanderson]

Looking at the limited real world data, the difference between Rohan's Coupe body number and Adam's early body number gives a difference of 1586 bodies over a 4 year period and 2106 bodies over 5 years. The total number of Elans (difference in rows of the excel sheet) is 4695 over the same 5 year period, this includes some number of type 26 Elans from 4970 to 5810, all of the S3's and a bit of the S4 production before the change in January 1970 to the new Lotus numbering system. This is a larger percentage than I would have guessed at 45% (2106/4695). More Early Coupe numbers are welcome, any other body numbers with the 36/xxxx format?


row 6672 unit 9686 engine G21065 invoice 18-Dec-69 body# 3116 type coupe

row 6556 unit 9568 engine K18425 invoice 21-Oct-69 body# 3056 type coupe

row 5563 unit 8555 engine D17310 invoice 19-Dec-68 body #2696 type coupe

row 4513 unit 7502 engine LP8978 invoice 20-Sep-67 body # 2175 type coupe

row 3288 unit 6278 engine LP7126 invoice 11-Oct-66 body # 1634 type coupe

row 2900 unit 5890 engine LP6128 invoice 17-Aug-66 body # 1236 type coupe

row 2839 unit 5829 engine LP6085 invoice 30-Jun-66 body# 1515 type coupe

row 2527 unit 5520 engine LP5394 invoice 28-Mar-66 Body# 1289 type coupe

row 1977 unit 4970 engine LP4296 Invoice 14-Oct-65 Body# 1010 type coupe

9 body numbers spread over from the start of production (September 1965) until Jan, 1970 is but a small sample to make any realistic guesses. The list of unit numbers below is what folks on the internet have said they own, owned, or have been seen (ebay, craigs list, etc). Some of them are from Jeffs original registry that was around for a while and others are from Jim Boones registry. If you look at the body numbers they look a little sparce. Can anyone who ownes any of the Coupes listed below add a bit more in terms of body numbers for this list above?

Unit# Engine Invoice - -Type Body#
5147 LP4651 30-Nov-65 36
5101 LP4655 19-Nov-65 36
5181 LP471602-Dec-65 36
5178 LP4732 15-Dec-65 36
5201 LP4743 31-Dec-65 36
5318 LP4971 11-Jan-66 36
5287 LP5043 11-Jan-66 36
5459 LP5066 21-Feb-66 36
5526 LP5260 25-Apr-66 36
5358 LP5270 15-Feb-66 36
5597 LP5271 25-Apr-66 36
5531 LP5310 13-Jun-66 36
5599 LP5385 23-Apr-66 36
5520 LP5394 28-Mar-66 36 1289
5607 LP5481 6-Jul-66 36
5598 LP5490 28-Mar-66 36
5507 LP5548 06-May-66 36
5572 LP5554 28-Mar-66 36
5522 LP5608 31-Mar-66 36
5624 LP5629 6-Jul-66 36
5704 LP5737 26-May-66 36
5661 LP5865 24-May-66 36
5683 LP5910 26-Apr-66 36
5778 LP5952 7-Jun-66 36
5755 LP5956 17-May-66 36
5785 LP5971 30-Jun-66 36
5784 LP5972 21-Jul-66 36
5790 LP5980 31-Aug-66 36
5776 LP6062 19-May-66 36
5783 LP6069 2-Jun-66 36
6453 LP7178 18-Nov-67 36
7214 LP8177 14-Nov-67 36
7675 LP10198 16-Feb-67
7679 LP10133 17-May-68
8752 L18492 19-Feb-69


3387 development coupe
4510 first Coupe
5781 elan.net info

[pamitchell]

My S4/SE FHC is 7936. The factory record does not have my unit listed but the surrounding nos are from Nov. 68.
First titled in 69.

[garyeanderson]

Hi Phil

The unit number and chassis number is usually the same that late into production.
Early in the S1 number range it was usually different.
Does your coupe still have a body number molded into the firewall by the starter solenoid

[pamitchell]

I'll check. I did find 7936 written in black marker on the top of the glovebox insert when I refurbed it.
The chassis is original with 7936 on the passenger side frame top.

[garyeanderson]

I was doing some spring cleaning today and I came across this Dymo label of the body number 3116 cast into the firewall from 36/9686 in with a bunch of nuts, screws, other assorted junk that collects in a dish. I had taken some photos earlier of the Firewall body number of 3116 a couple weeks ago, its hard to read even with some number 2 pencil rubbed on. I must have taken the label off when I was putting it together from the two sections. Anyone got a spare Coupe roof section?


Painted black over the label they are hard to read

Gelcoat side of dymo label

Firewall Body number 3116


8-4-2009
I found another body number of 3303 on an April 1970 built Coupe, it also has the doors scribed with the chassis tag number of 0078E


Coupe body number on the interior of the top of the Elan Coupe