M100 S2 Elan Jim Clark Special Editon

[Sy V]

It was another option.

[Gazza]

Sy

"In January 1995 a GT Commemorative edition was launched in Lotus Racing Green. Based on the S4, it celebrated Lotus’ success in GT racing, although the car itself was not a notable sales winner. Only 11 were built, each was given a limited edition number."

But I'm afraid this information was taken from the ESPRIT history files.

I have not found any proof in writing or heard from anyone in the know (not including you of course ) Also none of the Elan's were given special Limited Edition numbers either. I was told by Paul Matty about mine ( as the Midnight's were supposed to be sold by him) that in those days if you had the money you could have any colour you wanted, which is why there are so many S2's in colours that were never advertised in the Brochures.

My guess is people just copied the Esprit idea

Gazza

[Sy V]

Hmm, I wonder if that is the (incorrect) source of the eleven theory - I'm on to it, as I seem to recall when I first got the Elan trivia bug that the figure was 5, 6 or 8 but I was subsequently convinced by a fellow enthusiast of the 11 theory...

[Gazza]

Pictures of the Esprit

[Sy V]

Fascinating stuff.
I've spoken to two of Lotus' longer-serving employees and, whilst they remember the Esprits neither of them recall commemorative Elans.
They did say that it's not beyond the realms of possibility that a dealer may have ordered a batch in Metallic RGs (like B & C do for their 'own' Elises) and called them Commemorative Specials.
So, I've given them the Chassis No of two from the database and they're going to pull the build records to see if there's any commonality... the saga a continues.

[Gazza]

Excellent news, thanks for your efforts so far.

This is getting interesting and hopefully we will get an answer one way or the other

Gazza

[Sy V]

Nothing concrete as yet and I've been asked to forward another couple of chassis numbers to see if their records contain anything else.
However, the two I chose were both '95 cars (I haven't got any of these babies listed in '94) both left the factory on 26 May 95 and each car's build records are annotated 'Lotus Racing Green - Race Sponsorship'. Unfortunately one went to Rylands and the other to HR Owen which shags the dealership order theory.

Lotus refer to the solid green as BRG and the metallic as LRG, btw.

[Sy V]

I forwarded another two chassis numbers to Lotus.
Ultimately, this little exercise has proved inconclusive as the reply below explains.

Simon

Both are not race sponsorship cars.
Racing Green (metallic) in colour with green piping on the seats, that's all.

[Gazza]

Sy

You have a PM

[RayF]

Being in the LRG club I though I'd ask Lotus about mine. They have it down as just a special order, however I did ask if they had any record of there being a Commemorative edition at all - he replied:

"Some of my colleagues remember a green/yellow commemorative model, but not all limited editions were recorded with the build books so unfortunately I am unable to confirm if your car was a commemorative model or not. "

So it sounds to me as if it was all very informal and that there isn't really an official Commemorative edition. Probably someone in marketing thought it might be a good idea to run a few off in LRG/Yellow at the time they did the Esprit. Or maybe they had some Esprit paint left over... it would fit rather well with the spare parts history of the S2

[clemo]

605 ,
606,
607, Ploor
612,
613 mine,
615 Not certain if this was an actual painted edition as my tub is marked as 615. Andy at Lotus unsure.
625
626 Andy c
628
630
631 AC
648 AC stimo

yellow wheels, red Nardi steering wheel, red piping seat trim, Commemorative edition.