Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Just a trate of the early Sprint's and S4's........ doesn't really prove if it's a factory Sprint or not.

But one thing is for sure, some one has gone out of their way to make it look like a later Sprint.

The flange came about during Sprint production so possibly sometime in 1971, certainly by 1972. Jim

Tim, Jim, Pete..
My 73 Sprint does not have that shape, it is rounded and has the flange. Something a bit odd???

cheers

They must be really busy, my request for VIN and build-date has not been replied to.

elansprint71 wrote:They must be really busy, my request for VIN and build-date has not been replied to.

Pete - I messaged them when their advert first came out asking for details and never received a response. Jim

It's difficult to read but it looks sketchy to me. (click on the picture and it goes a bit bigger)

I've tried a few things to sharpen it up but everyone i ask comes up with different numbers..... the two best are J52782 or J59182

Grizzly wrote:It's difficult to read but it looks sketchy to me. (click on the picture and it goes a bit bigger)

s-l1600 (1).jpg

I've tried a few things to sharpen it up but everyone i ask comes up with different numbers..... the two best are J52782 or J59182

That's 45 9****, definately a S4 vin and also not stamped at the factory.... as you say sketchy...

Plastic clips, jubilee clips, god forbid, ... and on the "best" too.... But I'm being picky

pharriso wrote:

Grizzly wrote:It's difficult to read but it looks sketchy to me. (click on the picture and it goes a bit bigger)

s-l1600 (1).jpg

I've tried a few things to sharpen it up but everyone i ask comes up with different numbers..... the two best are J52782 or J59182

That's 45 9****, definately a S4 vin and also not stamped at the factory.... as you say sketchy...

Yep now you say it i see the 4.

Starting to think the ?60k ask is just a tad optimistic

all that for a 22 000 miles car ? must have been pretty rough 22 000 miles...

Take a piece of lightly-painted (maybe not on all sides) sheet metal and place it in your backyard for 50 years. Will it look new? Not likely, but the answer is highly dependent on where your backyard is. My car is wearing its original non-galvanised chassis, but it spent the first 30 years in the California desert with only enough moisture to acquire black widow spider nests. Then it did some time in Washington State, and for the last 15 or so it's lived in my garage west of Boston. Prior to being coated with POR-15, it had acquired minor surface rust that is present on other exposed metal areas of the car and pitting to most of the chrome bits.

If it had spent 50 years in a climate-controlled museum, it would likely look nicer. 50 years in my backyard with occasional local street usage, I would expect a highly perforated chassis.

Time doesn't age a car as much as heavy usage and exposure to the elements, but it isn't kind either, and 50 years is a lot of time. The Lotus chassis is certainly not made to last forever. Nor are rubber components, and plastic goes brittle.

Time hasn't aged this 20,000 mile 'as it left the factory' Sprint.

That brown Sprint Coupe is one smart looking car! Absolutely gorgeous!

Frank

Not sure about the number plate?

AshleyPark wrote:Not sure about the number plate?

That's how they came in 1973.