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Re: Club Lotus Castle Combe 26th May

PostPosted: Tue May 28, 2019 10:35 am
by trw99
Hi Dave. I was looking over your car at Combe this year (2019; see jime's photo of me doing so!) and was able to view your VIN plate, since the bonnet was open. It appears to reveal the three year gap between production and UK registration.

The VIN is a US type, so I might assume that the car was originally a Diplomatic or Military sale to RT Freere, who was an American stationed over here, fancied an Elan, bought one directly from the factory and took it back home with him, thus ensuring the tax-free status was retained for his purchase. It clearly then came back to the UK, perhaps because it was sold back into the UK as it may have always been RHD, or because Freere was posted back to the UK himself and decided to re-register from US diplomatic to UK status.

Its a theory, anyway!

Tim

Re: Club Lotus Castle Combe 26th May

PostPosted: Wed Jun 05, 2019 8:00 pm
by Maulden7
Many thanks for the theory Tim, one thing I'm certain of is that the car went out of the UK when new, & then returned 3 years later.

There was never any indication that the car was ever anything but RHD (& it was stripped down to every last nut & bolt - & the original gel coat - when I restored it 30 years ago)

All those years ago it was of course possible to get information on all previous owners from Swansea, & I must have these papers in one of the many files in my storeroom (all the bills / receipts / history etc etc) It's never occurred to me before but there might be a clue in the first record. I will have to dust off the early files & have a look!

It would be nice to confirm this early history if at all possible.

Thanks again.

Dave