Lotus Elan Central

by **chrishoward** » Mon 30.04.2007, 18:13

I have a Black 1991 Lotus Elan SE Turbo and very very sadly! some vandals broke the rear lights while it was parked. Lotus have informed me they are unable to source one of the lights as they are on back order with the expectation that they may never be available

Would anyone be able to aid in my sourcing either new/used rear lights?

Alternatively were the light used on any other cars? I heard that the Renault Alpine GT, had the same lights? Can anyone confirm this?

I know people have managed to fabricate some lights etc. but again I'm having trouble finding anyone to supply/offer a set in the uk i.e. the Kia rear lights

Any help would be very very much appreciated

Cheers

Chris

by **johnny** » Tue 01.05.2007, 11:33

Hi Chris,

Vandals.... the things you could do to em if you were to catch the b......s

They are the same as the Alpine GT. Theres a number on the site
somewhere for Renault in scotland, if you find the number "had a quick look couldnt find it" ask for Craig, he can get a set for 250+vat.

by **chrishoward** » Tue 01.05.2007, 11:51

hey thanks for the reply and info, I'll try that and hopefully get some results

Will post a reply if i get anywhere

Yep I could think of a few forms of punishment i would like to administer to the lovely people!

by **davidjt** » Tue 01.05.2007, 12:08

A couple of guys in Nottingham used to import the Renault units, reachable as 'coolmotorscool@hotmail.co.uk' - got mine in 2005.

They are more orange than our originals, which doesn't matter if you're changing both. Wiring slightly different - just a matter of juggling the connectors until they work correctly.

How thorough a job did the wa*kers do? I still have my old ones with, from memory, only one cracked lens.

by **muley** » Tue 01.05.2007, 13:41

Sorry to hear about this - shame. Nice colour, by the way.

There's a couple on e-bay at present.

As a quick temporary fix the Esprit units fit (£35 each in the parts sale) according to surferphil - there's a post and pic on here somewhere.

Cheers

Jim

by **WillB** » Tue 01.05.2007, 13:51

I'm pretty sure I can still get them at less than Lotus prices.

I'll find out a price and let you know

Will

by **Monty** » Tue 01.05.2007, 19:27

When i bought my racing seats of ebay this link was in his email www.alpinerenaulttuning.co.uk/home.htm so might be worth droping them a line

by **WillB** » Wed 02.05.2007, 10:40

Right, not good news on this, they have been discontinued

You can still get a similar version which is a direct replacement but they look slightly different so both units would need to be changed

Just getting a price......

by **Enright** » Wed 02.05.2007, 10:56

I believe someone's used Isuzu Piazza Turbo lights before.
Or there's possibly the Kia Elan option if one of our Far Eastern friends would be willing to help...

Website · by **theelanman** » Wed 02.05.2007, 11:14

didnt someone look into getting the external lenses remade??...

think it was all about the same time as the front indicator project but I cant remember who did it......

clear lenses project..I'll have a look...
cheers
G

by **ailwyn** » Wed 02.05.2007, 11:19

I know the rear indicator lenses were made as clear replacements, but the actual cover for the lights it was determined would not be economical on a small scale.

A.

by **chrishoward** » Wed 02.05.2007, 12:27

Thanks for all the replies. My only concern with the Alpine lights is the look of them? I have never seen any with my own eyes, do they look exacly like the elan ones? I know thet some have grooves like the one shown by WillB but not all of them, so I'm guessing the ones without the grooves do look exaclty like the Elan ones?

If you could get me a price WillB that would be great. I'm also looking at the ones on ebay that were suggested

I will then need to smoke/tint the lenses has anyone done this and if so does the spray that many places sell look the part?

by **GeoffSmith** » Wed 02.05.2007, 13:05

Brubaker had some of the alternative lens covers on his S2.

Geoff

Website · by **theelanman** » Wed 02.05.2007, 13:12

dont forget also that some people are creating new rear panels for lights and or number plates...so keep your eyes out for those....

cheers
g

ps the renault versions look fine for me...

by **Enright** » Wed 02.05.2007, 14:41

Those are the Isuzu Piazza ones on Brubaker's (AND in the Renault Alpine pic above I think).
According to the book by Mark Hughes, these were the first choice by Lotus when designing the Elan.
However, no matter what they did they couldn't make them bright enough to pass vehicle legislation at the time, and so concluded that the Isuzu Piazza was actually being sold with illegal lights! :lol:

Not such a problem for after-market though.

by **GeoffSmith** » Wed 02.05.2007, 14:48

Brubaker claimed they were Renault and when according to the Renault Alpine website, there are two or three types of light and the ribbed tickler is one of them.

by **GeoffSmith** » Wed 02.05.2007, 14:55

Do you want nearside or offside? Both £75 each on fleabay.

by **WillB** » Wed 02.05.2007, 16:13

geoffsmith wrote:Brubaker claimed they were Renault and when according to the Renault Alpine website, there are two or three types of light and the ribbed tickler is one of them.

Yep, as pictured above on my post (and fitted to Brubakers car) these are the only ones now available (or so I've been told by two specialists)

As to price, cheaper than Lotus but not cheap, about £175 + vat each

Ebay ones look good, if they sell for a sensible price.

Lotus Elan Central

Replacement Rear Lights (uk)?

Replacement Rear Lights (uk)?

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