Prototypes and Preproduction cars

[clemo]

some sado ...

err . i would .

[Specky]

Just for you then Clemo...

I'll start it off on a thread over here, then migrate it over to the Wiki at a later date...

And the best bit... It'll confuse the uninitiated

TTFN

[clemo]

are you sitting comfortably ...
if you follow this closed loop wire ....

[Specky]

They you are Clemo, just for you

viewtopic.php?f=121&t=25044&p=316197#p316194

TTFN

[Specky]

So where are we now as of mid 2016...

I've managed to locate a previously unknown "Initial Build", so after many months and years of research, many thanks to the LEC Stalwarts who have helped me with my left of centre questions and random requests for photographs whilst I've researched this car.

It's a cracking feeling to actually identify a car which none of the Lotus specialists or previous owners could, but more importantly the car was sat right under our LEC noses. The car in question has raised eyebrows for quite a few years, but now that her provenance is known, it makes her one of the most important Elans out there. The history of this car probably makes her the most interesting M100 on the road.

I'd like to introduce I.B.10. The infamous '96 Silver Elan SE. Welcome to the LEC

How I see things at the moment :-

All my information has come from the internet over a 15 year period and has been crossed referenced with other media in the public domain.

My updated take on things...

SCCM100CHPP014 Preproduction 14, (on the stand at the London motorfair, silver) the Zante.
SCCM100CHPP015 Preproduction 15, (on the floor at the London motorfair, silver)

SCC100ZT1LHD16100 is I.B.1. Silver (Fitted with the doors marked London motor show)
SCC100ZN1LHD16101 is I.B.2. Silver ( N/A, the 5th disney car, now a yellow race car in the US, Dave S's)
SCC100ZT1LHD16102 is I.B.3. (my silver N/A, VIN Number marked as a Turbo)
SCC100ZN1LHD16103 is I.B.4. ( Andy P's red turbo, VIN Number marked as a N/A)
SCC100ZT1LHD16104 is I.B.5. (Benmacs old silver car)
SCC100ZT1LHD16109* is I.B.10. Silver (Press car, Test and Development car, RHD, Federal, short nose, S2 mule VIN now 26109*)

Registrations known to still exist to this day.

CHPP014 Preproduction 14, F644DNG
CHPP015 Preproduction 15, G951NNG
I.B.1 G887CLD
I.B.2 US (was G935LVG when in the UK).
I.B.3 G379JEX
I.B.4 G387JEX
I.B.5 G394KEX
I.B.10. P5 ESM

Where I'm going next with my research :-

I.B.6 G389JEX , Rome durability test car, not taxed since the early 90's, in theory the VIN should be 6105
I.B.7 not know to me, in theory the VIN should be 6106
I.B.8 not known to me, in theory the VIN should be 6107
I.B.9 not known to me, in theory the VIN should be 6108
I.B.10 P5 ESM, still a squidge of research to undertake.

There are two additional cars that I am aware of which have some importance, but are not in the public domain, thus I can not comment.

TTFN.

[tigerdog]

A superb jouney of research, Mr. Speck! Thanks for sharing the latest. Stupid question: who amongst us owns I.B. 10?

[Lotusman33]

That will be me, Dave has been fantastic identifying I.B 10 so a big thank you for his support and excellent knowledge. We are currently awaiting the response from Andy Graham followed by a provenance certificate.

Dave

[tigerdog]

That will be me

Congratulations! Please post some nice pictures in the Gallery (and LEC on Facebook, if you're so inclined).

[Specky]

That will be me, Dave has been fantastic identifying I.B 10 so a big thank you for his support and excellent knowledge. We are currently awaiting the response from Andy Graham followed by a provenance certificate.

Dave

Tigerdog is my FED Elan "go to man", especially as his Elan is pretty much as it came out of the factory, hence the Fed Filler flap photos and Fed front Lights

TTFN

[tigerdog]

That will be me, Dave has been fantastic identifying I.B 10 so a big thank you for his support and excellent knowledge. We are currently awaiting the response from Andy Graham followed by a provenance certificate.

Dave

Tigerdog is my FED Elan "go to man", especially as his Elan is pretty much as it came out of the factory, hence the Fed Filler flap photos and Fed front Lights

TTFN

Kind of you to say, though Smaug carries enough modifications to be lrather less than original. OTOH, Specky knows I'm a sucker and will poke and point a camera almost anywhere on the car, when asked.

[Lotusman33]

Hi Tigerdog, I am currently giving the car a light restoration and thorough check through so will update pictures when done, the car has been stored off the road for 10 years or so, the wheels are also currently away for a refurb.

I did wonder what parts had a federal connection so now understand.

Dave

[Specky]

I.B.10. Is yesterday's news...

I've continued with my research I happy to say I've managed to trace a previously unknown 400 (maybe 200) series Elan, the car itself shouldn't exist any more as it was one of the mules... Well I don't think it does... I haven't dug into it, but it's virtually a given.

So what got me started on this one...

"The bible" lists some of the mules, but this doesn't totally tally with my original factory photographs, so when I came across a slightly blurred spy shot of an Elan complete with camouflage, I had to do some digging.

The photos of the factory tallied, and what's more I had a partial number plate... After a bit of phaffing I've found...

D328ENH a Red Elan, and highly likely to be a Durability test mule

It's another one for the list

TTFN

[Specky]

and tonight's bout of insomnia has found information on six more Zante's... So that makes seven

A311 ANH
B227YHM
F628DNG
G723GEX
G724GEX
G725GEX

Strangely G726GEX is a Lotus Elan, but Unknown to me till tonight... And logic says she's a mule, or an Initial Build...

TTFN

[Specky]

Turns out... as I check one car after another.... they all Zante's.

So just to clarify, Zante is the manufactures name, and not Lotus...sneaky little buggers

So we drive a Lotus Elan, but If we drove a DVLA registered mule back in the day, they were just a Zante with no model name

Time to amend the database again...

TTFN

[Rambo]

Dave - I saw one of the grey pre-production cars at Silverstone Classics last w/e. Forgot to take photos and reg no (G plate, KEX or JEX ??) Spoke to the owner though and he had heard/spoken to you before ??

The car had a totally shagged out jacking point (FOS) so I suggested that the owner get the seats and carpet out asap and investigate any possible outrigger damage

Wheels had been restored and they had lost their original Ruote stickers

[Specky]

That whole area is definitely the achillies heal of the Elan, so much so it stood out on the South West Lotus restoration Elan, if you recall it was on show at Donington many years ago as a freshly painted bare tub and Chassis with its green engine. I took photos of the area hoping that it might assist me in the future,

There's a pretty good chance I know the owner of the silver Elan you mention. I think I know all bar one owner of the early cars which are still on the road, but I'm always looking for an unknown Elan from the early days of test and development... photos are must Rambo... 5 out of 10... see me later...

TTFN

[Rambo]

You probably will know the owner Dave as he said he had heard of/been in contact with you. He is an LEC member too but doesn't post much. Can't remember his forum name either. Old age ....

I was so busy inspecting his jacking points I forgot to take the photos of the car and reg plate despite having a smart phone in my pocket, an SLR with wide angle lens and another mini camera in my rucksack. I think 5/10 is being far too generous. I think 2/10 would be stretching it

[Specky]

Not to worry,

I'm now researching two oddities in the bible.... And why one of the Elans photographed has an Excel plate on it...

I'm happily sending off FOI requests...

TTFN

[Rambo]

Zante up for grabs

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1989-Lotus-El ... SwknJXxW1p

[M100_DMM]

Dave - I saw one of the grey pre-production cars at Silverstone Classics last w/e. Forgot to take photos and reg no (G plate, KEX or JEX ??) Spoke to the owner though and he had heard/spoken to you before ??

The car had a totally shagged out jacking point (FOS) so I suggested that the owner get the seats and carpet out asap and investigate any possible outrigger damage

Wheels had been restored and they had lost their original Ruote stickers

That would be I.B. 5