Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Copied in from another Lotus forum:

http://www.lautista.com.au/01/?p=469

Ben

It?s interesting that it mentions that the Elan was shipped to Australia from the factory ?unpainted?. I wonder if the car was shipped in a partially knocked-down state, and built up once painted?any Australians on the forum know about this?

There are many tales of course of Elans being re-painted here in the UK when new, if a customer wanted a yellow one but the dealer only had a burnt sand one in stock! I guess that by the time the edges started to peel revealing the original colour, the car would be on its second owner, who would now be blaming the first for having a cheap re-paint done.

Interesting article as well.

Mark

So it was painted red over white in 1968 and the Sprint was launched in October 1970.

Here's a '67 Type 47 in its original livery, Pete. Maybe Graham Arnold got the idea from somewhere else as well??

Mark

Elanintheforest wrote:It?s interesting that it mentions that the Elan was shipped to Australia from the factory ?unpainted?. I wonder if the car was shipped in a partially knocked-down state, and built up once painted?any Australians on the forum know about this?

There are many tales of course of Elans being re-painted here in the UK when new, if a customer wanted a yellow one but the dealer only had a burnt sand one in stock! I guess that by the time the edges started to peel revealing the original colour, the car would be on its second owner, who would now be blaming the first for having a cheap re-paint done.

Interesting article as well.

Mark

There's a paint shop here where the ageing owner claims to have painted new Lotus cars for the dealer.
I believe this was however due to the poor paint quality of the delivered cars
(He's got a Europa in his garage which belonged to his long gone Brother. Won't sell)

Cheers
John

F1 allowed sponsorship in 1968.
Chapman was the first to take advantage of this and painted the cars in gold leaf livery-don't know if it was used in other classes prior to '68 tho.

And the Type 47 is for sale !...

http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/cla ... arno/43752

Hmmmmmm . Don't think I'd fit....
Mark

on the 47's

debuted on boxingday painted white, with lotus components on the side. in 68 GLTL ran two,and only two painted in team lotus colors. others were painted whatever color you wanted.

[quote="Elanintheforest"]And the Type 47 is for sale !...

http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/cla ... arno/43752

Hmmmmmm . Don't think I'd fit....
Mark[/quote Mark unless your over 6 foot 2 and 250 pounds you will fit ---I'm 5 foot 11 220 pounds and though getting in mine is a chore but once your in its comfy as a old shoe ---ed