Does anyone know this barn find car?

[Andiken]

Hi all,
I've just got my 'Barn Find' Plus 2 project home and am in the process of sorting out what I've got and more importantly whats missing.

I received the registration documents back from DVLA yesterday thankfully so now she's MINE!!

I'd be interested to know if anyone knows any of the previous history or owners of this car.

What I know is as follows: 1973 Plus 2S 130, red, Reg number NVG 956M.

I know the car was owned by a Miss Susan Forbes of Fulham between 1988 and 2002.

In 2002 it passed ownership to the Haven Car and Caravan company, near St. Albans. (I think they're now no longer in business, I can find no record of them)

I bought it from a farm in North Devon last month, it had been on the farm, in the barn since about 2008.

The car was last MOT'd in 1998.

Any information gratefully received.

Thanks

[alan.barker]

Maybe with a few photos it would be better
Alan

[elanfan1]

A few things to start you off - ask LotusArchives (Andy Graham - factory archivist) on here for any information he may hold. Apply for a V888 for ?5 from DVLA which will give you copies of all their records. From there a few credits on 192.com may be well worth it in tracking down the current location and contact details of previous owners. It is an enjoyable part of ownership and can yield some period photos, documents, history and stories about your car.

Good luck!

[Andiken]

Hmm, I sent V888 and a cheque for ?5 off to delay for a copy of previous records and both were returned today with a note saying the reasons I gave for requesting the information 'do not meet the required reasonable cause criteria'. Any ideas?

[trw99]

Perhaps your change of ownership at DVLA hasn't yet percolated down to the V888 department?

I found this for you though:

Haven Car And Caravan Company
Email [email protected]
Telephone 01582 841 972
Fax 01582 843 464
Website http://www.havencars.co.uk
Postal Address Rosehaven, 9 Harps Hill, Markyate, St. Albans, Hertfordshire AL3 8LN

Tim

[ericbushby]

I said that the car had Historic status and I was interested in researching it`s background. This seemed to satisfy them. You do have to be the owner as well.
The amount of stuff they sent me for ?5.00 was amazing. I thought ?25.00 would have been reasonable for it.
Oop`s they don`t read this do they.
Eric in Burnley
1967 S3SE DHC

[Andiken]

Thanks chaps, I'll contact the company to see if they have any records and I'll try resubmitting the form.

[elanfan1]

What reason did you give first time? I've done this a few times and something of the lines of historic vehicle information required for provenance purposes has done the trick each time.

[Andiken]

The reason I gave was that I'd just purchased the car with the intention of restoring it to factory condition and wanted to contact previous owners to research history of the car. I'll try the historic vehicle provenance route next. The website found by Tim seems to be under maintenance, I'll try calling the telephone number on Monday.

[ericbushby]

Perhaps wanting to contact people was what put them off. They may have got some disgruntled customers and did not want the aggravation. Try a less intrusive approach. Purely interested but not going to do anything about it.
Eric in Burnley
1967 S3SE DHC