S4 serial number plate location

[Certified Lotus]

Do all S4 Elan's have the serial number plate mounted on the drivers door side of the body? Is there a black plate in the engine bay too?

Any photos of type of plate and location would be greatly appreciated.

[pharriso]

Do all S4 Elan's have the serial number plate mounted on the drivers door side of the body?

No, this was just a federal thing. I believe it started in 1970 Model Year the same time as high back (head rest) equipped seats.I have a suspicion it started when Lotus started the using the 71xxxxyyyyK type Vin, rather than the 45/xxxx nomenclature.

Is there a black plate in the engine bay too?

Any photos of type of plate and location would be greatly appreciated.

All cars have the main Lotus VIN plate under the hood. It's location has varied over time, particularly on Federal (US) cars.

I have attached pictures of the 2 plates from a Feb 1970 car

Underhood plate

Doorway plate

[Certified Lotus]

Thanks Phil. I have seen so many variations I wasn't sure what was correct. I have the black plate riveted in my engine bay but no door plate on the drivers side body. I didn't know when the door plate started. Now I know!

[lotocone]

My S4 was built in Dec. 1969. The 2 plates are located in the engine bay and at the left door opening as shown in the pictures of the red Elan. I attached a picture of the door plate.

Bob

[pereirac]

In the UK, as far as I am aware and as my Sprint has, there is just the build plate in the engine bay with the full VIN number and the chassis number stamped onto the chassis (where else) by the exhaust manifold..

Carl

[pharriso]

My S4 was built in Dec. 1969.
Bob

That's 1970 Model year; interesting that it has the door opening plate & a 45/ style vin.

[lotocone]

My S4 was built in Dec. 1969.
Bob

That's 1970 Model year; interesting that it has the door opening plate & a 45/ style vin.

Yes, it is interesting.

Also the plate in the engine bay was hand scribed, but the plate in the door opening was stamped. I like the one done by hand better.

[nhhiker]

My 1969 S4 DHC 45/91xx Had both plates in the engine bay. This is a before photo when I was getting ready to rebuild the car.

Bill Fralick

66 Lotus Elan SS coupe
69 Lotus Elan S4 DHC Federal
66 Mini Cooper S

[collins_dan]

Mine is similar to Bob's - 1970 federal S4 built with a plate in the engine bay and on the left door, same locations for both. Vin is 45/00##K. Dan

[nmauduit]

my '68 federal s4se has the 2 plates in the engine bay as depicted above, but none in the door area.

1968 s4se vin plates in the engine bay

[tedtaylor]

Can someone definitively answer my question concerning VIN plates? I have found two VIN plates with a minor difference which makes me question if a car's VIN was misrepresented or stolen.
This VIN plate is obviously original with the car, a S4 DHC

Notice the old original plate has the columns, left to right, as follows:
Mobil ? Esso ? Shell ? Castrol - BP

This VIN plate is a brand new reproduction readily available at the vintage Lotus parts suppliers.

The new reproduction plate has the columns, left to right, as follows:
Castrol ? BP ? Mobil ? Esso ? Shell

Now I was initially worried somewhat when i found my newly acquired Sprint has a VIN plate that looks like the new reproduction, however i have both the windshield VIN# and door pillar VIN# matching everything on the VIN plate in the engine compartment, so i am much relieved.

My question remains, Is the clean VIN plate on my Sprint original equipment or a reproduction? or better yet, were VIN plates changed over the years (older prints, then newer, later re-issue with changes)?

I would think this is important to look at when buying a car to avoid potential ?stolen? cars or misrepresentation of VIN#s. Someone please clarify for me. I have posted this question to Andy the archivist at Lotus for his input as well.
thanks!

[mbell]

My 73 +2's VIN has the same order (Castrol ? BP ? Mobil ? Esso ? Shell) as the new replacement VIN Plate. I have no way to know it's never been swapped but everything looks right for it being original.

So I suspect that the order was changed on the VIN plates at some point in time and the new replacement reflect the newest version of the plate.

[nmauduit]

there are a number of variations of these plates when they were issued, but one can usually tell a repro from an original when looking at details like spacing and letters alignment or lines width and relative position.

[el-saturn]

...................fifty year patina is sssssssooooooooooo obvious and visible; however a replica looks newer but can't be confused with the original! sandy - mine is hand "inscribed"!