transparent license plate cover

[ratman]

later model SE's and S2's have a different black plinth

and so, I have to change the plinth too..... anybody has a plint complete of transparent license plate cover???????

[surfboardfiller]

Does anyone have any pictures of the varients? My Elan is a '91 SE.
I bought one of the SWL perspex covers for my car, after I broke the original trying to get it off.
The new one fits perfectly, though I had to paint a bit more of the bottom edge as the new one didn't cover the GRP Housing.

The Ebay pic looks like mine, though is not a very clear picture.

Phil

[Monty]

and so, I have to change the plinth too..... anybody has a plint complete of transparent license plate cover???????

Should off added that the later model SE's and S2's do not have the clear perspex fitted.

[ratman]

and so, I have to change the plinth too..... anybody has a plint complete of transparent license plate cover???????

Should off added that the later model SE's and S2's do not have the clear perspex fitted.

ok, that's correct... nevertheless I like the perspex cover and tomorrow I'm going to buy an S2, obviously, without it!!

I can also try to bent a perspex plate ant fit it on my (future) non perspex plinth!

[theelanman]

monty
I have a metal frame with the curved perspex on mine....
the later se and s2 one doesnt have a cover and the mount is plastic.....
the one that was listed on ebay earlier on this thread looks nowt like either but obviously fits a lotus as it on a car too......any ideas about this one coz I'm lost???
cheers
G

[garymb]

I have a 90 SE and want to get into the license plate cover to re-afix the black plastic sheet at the bottom of the enclosure which is warping up a bit. It's not immediately obvious how it comes off and I've heard sad tales of the covers breaking on removal. Before I start ripping carpet off the rear wall of the boot to find bolts or whatever and making a hash of it does anyone know how to get at the fixings and/or get into the cover?

[theelanman]

its fixed on with a double sided sticky gasket.....
or if its been taken off before it may have been reattatched with some form of silcon sealant.......either way its just a case of 'teasing' it off bit by bit with a bluntish knife
IIRC the new covers are £25 from south west lotus....should you get carried away

[surfboardfiller]

its fixed on with a double sided sticky gasket.....
or if its been taken off before it may have been reattatched with some form of silcon sealant.......either way its just a case of 'teasing' it off bit by bit with a bluntish knife
IIRC the new covers are £25 from south west lotus....should you get carried away

It's Screwed on to the rear Transom Panel from outside and inside the boot, the carpet lifts up when you empty the boot of the flooring carpet so don't rip it.
The whole plinth comes off with the perspex atteched to it.
Screws outside on the top and inside with square nut/clips (can't remember the name) along the bottom.
You may need to lower the bumper a bit.

The plastc trim on the red car had warped so I threw it and finished the plinth before coating it with high build 2 pak primer and black cellulose paint (quite easy to do).

The plinth on the BRG had no plastic trim insert. Both came off with a screw driver and a pallett knife.

My strong advice is not to try and remove the perspex on it's own unless it's broken and the £25+vat from SJ's is just the bent perspex.

Cheers me dears!

[theelanman]

it is possible to do it the way phil says

but

You may need to lower the bumper a bit.

I always try to choose the easy route myself....

you could always put your name down for one of phils rear end upgrades and eliminate this problem completely
phil.....they are looking the dogs doo dahs by the way.....

cheers
G

[surfboardfiller]

it is possible to do it the way phil says

but

You may need to lower the bumper a bit.

I always try to choose the easy route myself....

Yeh the bumper is an arse in more ways than one! My bumper happens to be put on badly by some lazy bloke who couldn't be bothered to sort it out. So it was easy and said lazy bloke could not be bothered to lower the bumper on his red car and scratched the paintwork.

[Specky]

I have a 90 SE and want to get into the license plate cover to re-afix the black plastic sheet at the bottom of the enclosure which is warping up a bit. It's not immediately obvious how it comes off and I've heard sad tales of the covers breaking on removal. Before I start ripping carpet off the rear wall of the boot to find bolts or whatever and making a hash of it does anyone know how to get at the fixings and/or get into the cover?

X6 phillips screws..

I've tried several times to re-adhere mine utiling several different adhesives.. But no joy... It always warps back... normally in no time at all..

Next time it's a proper composite adhesive and a vac bag for me..

Top tip:- when you've got the carpet off.. Velcro the carpet back on... then you can get in and out when you require.

TTFN

[surfboardfiller]

Why are you taking the carpet off? it's only attached at the top on my 2 SE's. Is yours totally glued on?

Why not just finish the plinth propely, surely that trim is only intedended to save time for the assembly. tis a bodge IMHO

[Specky]

Why are you taking the carpet off? it's only attached at the top on my 2 SE's. Is yours totally glued on?

Why not just finish the plinth propely, surely that trim is only intedended to save time for the assembly. tis a bodge IMHO

There are three types of mounts/screens to my knowledge..

Mine..

X4 screws on the outside, upper surface...

X2 screws internally, hidden by the carpet for the lower mounts..

the trim is bonded on to raw fibreglass, very unslightly... a bit of a Lotus bodge you might say

I'll take a photo or two later...

TTFN