is this top original?

[enrimoore]

top192b.JPG

M100 just purchased and lots of issues. Chassis serial from 1991, but
apparently with catalyst, likely because first MOT registered in 1994.

Can anybody please confirm if this soft top is original ?
It's black/grey, with white stitching

Thanks for your help

Best
enri

[Rice crispy]

I believe it's a series 2 hood as it has the material channels on the sides. I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than me will confirm I'm correct or not. Why do you ask?


Haha I see Rambo has just said the opposite

[Rambo]

Hello Henri - the top looks original to me.

However, if you post a photo of the hood from the side, but lower down where it sits on the rear deck (like your 1st shot, but lower) I will let you know which type you have, but I very much expect it to be an original SE hood (rather then the later refined S2 one)

Hope this helps ?

[chipp]

As above the bottom of the gutters would give you a clue.
The word MYTHOS that is on the rear screen may be a clue also, investigate that.
Is there a reason why you need to know or is it just curiosity.

chipp

[enrimoore]

Thanks first of all
The list of issues is too long, the price paid was high, but the cost to fix all
issues will be not too far away from the purchase price.

So, just to know that at least it's more or less original

Thanks and best
enri

[Rambo]

Hi Enri - its definitely an SE hood and I suspect it's the original one from when the car left Hethel

PS - the S2 hood was modified to extend that guttering round the corner to take away rain

[donsladek]

0123160923-00.jpg

So this would be an S2 style? This is a pic of my US Elan top - did the US models (1991) use the S2 style tops?

[enrimoore]

Many thanks Rambo,
but I see Don's message, I am not clear if Don is saying it's
a US version: is there an easy way to tell a US model from European?

The serial SCC100ZT1Mhh18055 means from 1991, non cat, but a catalyst
seems to have been installed and there is a little sticker in the corner inside
the driver's door "this vehicle conforms to US EPA regulations applicable to 1990
new ...." as shown in this pic.

Confused, maybe someone helps

enri

[Rambo]

Yes, that's the S2 version.

Hoods did deteriorate over the years though and it is fairly common to see SE cars with S2 hoods.

Can't really help with your cat problem but, suffice to say, they were not required over here on that age of car. Perhaps it is something to do with the fact that it wasn't registered until 1994 ??

[lotusflasherman]

0123160923-00.jpg

So this would be an S2 style? This is a pic of my US Elan top - did the US models (1991) use the S2 style tops?

The change of hood 'rain flange' took place during production of SE's. Early ones are like enri's first photo and later SE's are like yours. All S2's are like the later SE's with the longer 'rain flange' but I believe there was also something different about the seals to the top of windscreen on the S2's. I have fitted a blue S2 hood on my late 93 SE without any problem.

No UK SE had a cat. SE's exported to California had a cat but UK SE never did. All S2's had a Cat when they left the factory...

hope that helps...

[lotusflasherman]

Many thanks Rambo,
but I see Don's message, I am not clear if Don is saying it's
a US version: is there an easy way to tell a US model from European?

The serial SCC100ZT1Mhh18055 means from 1991, non cat, but a catalyst
seems to have been installed and there is a little sticker in the corner inside
the driver's door "this vehicle conforms to US EPA regulations applicable to 1990
new ...." as shown in this pic.

Confused, maybe someone helps

enri

12th character is 'H' so LHD without Cat is how it left Hethel.
I'm wondering if yours was in US and had cat fitted so it could go into California.
Do you need it in Italy?

Oops .... to answer your other question... the 13th character indicates the Engine Emmission Spec it meets. It's 3 for California, 2 for the other 49 states of USA and 1 for ECE 15.04 (European Community)..
so looks like it's never been in USA...

I'm confused too...

[Rambo]

I believe there was also something different about the seals to the top of windscreen on the S2's.

There was certainly something different about the seals on S2's although I can't remember whether it was to the top of the windscreen or the window seals. No doubt Jamie will be able to tell us

[Enright]

Does it have an oxygen sensor poking through the hole in the turbo heat shield?
If not, it may just be equipped with a sticker SAYING it has a cat!