S3 Glove Box lock & catch

[Pastapesto]

Hi all

Does anyone have some good photos of a S3 glove box lock.
I need a picture from front, inside of lid & also the catch & if poss, of what they look like dismantled from glove box.
(I know I ask a lot, but I'm hoping someone can help)


Many thanks

Adam

[Elanintheforest]

Hi Adam
Here are siome pictures of my S3 glovebox. I have a sneaky suspicion that the non-airflow S3 may have the same hinge layout as the S2...i.e. the piano type hinge, unlike my S3 with the corner hinges. The last (grotty) picture shows a S2 glovebox, and the next to last shows the S2 piano hinges, with the S2 lock and handle, which are the same as the S3.

Mark

[Pastapesto]

Hi Mark

You are exactly right. I have the piano hinges with the more rounded corners, whereas the later model S3 has the more squarer lower corners & corner hinges.

The photos are exactly what I needed.

Many thanks for that.

All the best

Adam

[Barney]

Mark
looks like the original S2 interior is being used as a good back-drop.
Barney

[Pastapesto]

Oh,.... so is that what the so called "Frog Skin" looks like?

Not seen it in the flesh before!

Adam

[Elanintheforest]

Well spotted, it is indeed the S2 'carpet'. It comes over from California rolled up in a tube, so I've spread it out on a car to flatten out...after 6 months it's about right! A great kit with everything you need...highly recommended.

Mark

[Bruce Crowthorne]

I prefer the S3 glove box handle to the S4 "leather" pull.
Are they available form any of the usual suppliers?
What car was it from originally?

I wouldn't feel bad about using one on my early S4 as it has lots of S3 parts already - radiator, ash tray etc.
Regards
Bruce

[Elanintheforest]

Whats this 'leather pull' all about, Bruce? The originality-police are getting suspicious! My S4 has the push-in-to-release mechanism...no handle at all. I would have thought that you would either have had that, or the S3 arrangement.

I don't think that the chrome pulls are available, but they may be the same as an early Plus 2...I'll check. You'll have a better chance of finding one of those.

Mark

[john-c-elan+2]

Thers a s3 chrome glovebox handle on ebay as we speak ?

[Elanintheforest]

Certainly is...and there were a couple for sale at Donnington. I'm sure they were used on something else like the Austin Cambridge / Westminster but can't quite track it down. Worth getting a spare though!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LOTUS-ELAN-CHROME ... 7C294%3A50

Mark

[Bruce Crowthorne]

Thanks for the hint about the Ebay handle.

John, mine has the push button but had a little leather pull (a bit naff!).

Now although the originality police won't really like it (Don't tell Tim Mees....) the chrome handle is much better.
My excuse is that mine is a very early S4, so it has several S3 bits - radiator, ashtray, etc.

I lost the original Ebay auction but got an email offering a "Second chance offer". I guess this means that the seller had more than one? So I have one on the way (I hope) and will get it fiited soon.
Bruce

[msd1107]

Interesting the variation in glove box openers.

The cleanest is the push to release with no lock like Mark has.

If you need a lock, then use the push to release with a glove box lock.

However, the push to release eventually does not release, so the handle or pull is a way to ensure that you can always get the glove box open.

Is there any documentation as to what version was used when, or did Lotus use what was available at the moment?

David
1968 36/7988

[Bruce Crowthorne]

Mine has the "push the button to release" so it needs something you can pull.
The little chrome handle is the best of the standard options IMHO
Bruce

[Alasdair]

All,

My 68 S3 SS has an S4 dash, S3 crash pad, pull tab glove box and lock, unlike my S4 with push to open no lock, I would assume all SS cars were like this?

Silly assumption perhaps?

[Bruce Crowthorne]

Hi Alasdair, I guess mine was built just after yours.
Mine is an S4, but an early one. Registered 1 Jan 1969, so I guess built in the last two or three months of 1968. It is chassis number 45/8139.

Does anyone know when Lotus switched from "S3" to "S4"?
My guess is that there was a gradual transition as they used up the stock of parts.
Bruce

PS Fine Scottish spelling of your christian name!