Photos from 1988 testing a development elan in Arizona

[clemo]

its an A REG !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just think what rubbish was running around then....
if only they had have released it a bit earlier.pre ressesion....

what could have been.....

[rip]

I noticed it is an A, but that does not necessarily mean that it was first registered in 1983.
I don't see why Lotus would pre-register a pre-production car though.
For a car which could be 6 years older than the production model, it does look very similar to what we are familiar with.

Does anyone know what happened to any of the prototypes?

[Gary]

I seem to remember reading on here before that they were mainly used for crash testing and hence are no more.

[nitroman]

It would be interesting to see where they bolted the brackets for the trailer hitch.

[Fetnas]

I asked my dad what happened to the car, it probably got crushed. Development cars are usually given a "tax free" status when imported/exported to another country and there is a time limit on how long the car can be used! After that, either pay the tax or destroy the car! At least that's the way it works in Australia so I assume it's similar in the US. I could be wrong though!

[Specky]

My Bible is with Scouse...

Could some have a quick scan in there's please and see what does it say about the car and reg...

TTFN

Car 504

LHD EURO TURBO

Maroon

A311 ANH

Body mechanism durability, air conditioning/cooling tests, some US work

TTFN

[HenriElan]

My father recently sent me these images from when he was involved in testing the engine cooling and AC system of the Elan at the General Motors Desert Prooving Ground in the USA. Of coures, he was told he wasn't allowed to take any photos of the car, but as 20+ years have passed, it should be OK to post them .

I hope the group find these interesting!

Although you placed the pictures almost a year ago I am very pleased with these pictures since I search in the history of the devellopment of this great sportscar. I spoke in 2009 with Peter Stevens about his role in the designing and I have a close friendship with Mike Kimberley and we talked a lot about the M100 devellopment process. So if your father has more pictures and stories about his research with the prototype of the M100 I am very much interested.

With regards,

Henri Elan

[Fetnas]

Hi LECers,

Specky has asked me to scan all the images my dad had from the time he spent testing the Elan. This has been done and emailed on to him to play with but I can't let him have all the fun.

Here are another couple of images for you guys.

On the way to Las Vegas

The elan looks so good compared to all the boxy rubbish that was going around the US in the late 80s.

[epipete]

I'm fascinated by, what appears to be, the trim around the window glass (sad, I know!); what was it's purpose/function? Did it make a better seal, reduce noise or just protect the glass? Bizarre!!!

[Specky]

...and I've tracked the car down on the DVLA website...

TTFN

[GeoffSmith]

Congratulations. It's only taken you four years.

[Specky]

Which was still quicker than anyone else

And at least I've worked out how to cross check the DVLA website for free

TTFN

[tigerdog]

Anyone else notice the roll bar? It's almost as homely as the Auto Europe one added later. I'm fascinated it's painted Silk Red, a color that never made it to production Fed Elans. I once ran across a Silk Red Elan here in San Diego (I've lost the photo I snapped.) I believe we worked out it was not this car, though, since it had too many Fed characteristics.

[lotusflasherman]

Yes, I noticed the roll bar and I think I can see a brake light in the centre of the rear wing in the other photo... and who the heck is Zante ????

[Lotusman33]

Zante was used by Lotus during the development period to hide the cars identity. The Motorfair car was also a Zante and currently for sale through Charterhouse auctions.

Dave