Author Topic: Early Series 1 - Bonnet and boot lids  (Read 1378 times)

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Offline Matt Elan

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Early Series 1 - Bonnet and boot lids
« on: Monday,December 18, 2017, 01:07:24 PM »
Having sorted the gearbox question, here is another for the gurus on the board. Reading Newtons and Psulkowski's book on the Elan, Cortina and Europa they mention that the early S1 had lift out bonnet and boot lids with no hinges - the rear of the front lid and front of the engine lid had (and I quote)

'both lids on the early Series 1 cars had overlapping flanges on the mouldings to secure the leading edge. Along the rear edge there was a keyed lock, although some report they've seen cars with hood pins just like the NASCAR guys use'

I've checked out my Series 1 parts lists and there is one front (46B030) and one rear (46B040) lid listed and also a pair of hinges (36B6006) - so also used on the Elan) for the rear lid, which corresponds with the S2 cars I've seen, one of which was an early one with S1 type door latches.

 So my question is do any S1's have lift off lids (front or rear) and if so when were the hinges introduced?

I do love this part ofthe research cycle when writing a book - there's no end of wierd and wonderful facts waiting to come to light!

Looking forward to hearing from the collective experiances of you guys!

Thanks again

Matt

Offline Matt Elan

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Re: Early Series 1 - Bonnet and boot lids
« Reply #1 on: Monday,December 18, 2017, 01:10:21 PM »
...oh and Isee that eh 'prototype' production press car SAR 857D did have lift off lids, but was this carried forwards into 'real' production?

Offline EuropaTC

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Re: Early Series 1 - Bonnet and boot lids
« Reply #2 on: Monday,December 18, 2017, 01:44:15 PM »
I'd say JBCollier is the man to ask, he has more S1 articles and photographs than I've ever seen before.

I think it's Serge who has one of the earliest S1's and has produced a forum & video blog of the restoration so he's another good guy to ask. His thread is here.....

http://www.lotuseuropa.org/LotusForum/index.php?topic=211.0

Offline jbcollier

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Re: Early Series 1 - Bonnet and boot lids
« Reply #3 on: Monday,December 18, 2017, 03:59:35 PM »
You can check my photos which include some shots of early Europas here:

https://jbcollier.smugmug.com/Lotus-Europa

I believe all the production cars had hinges front and back.  Serge has #4 so he could say for sure.

Easy enough to modify for easy lift out.  Use a snap lock pin as a hinge pin on the rear hinges and qr pins instead of bolts up front.  Make damn sure the qr pin’s lock ball is up to the job of holding itself in place.  One listed had his vibrate out and the bonnet lift up at speed.

Offline jbcollier

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Re: Early Series 1 - Bonnet and boot lids
« Reply #4 on: Monday,December 18, 2017, 04:01:21 PM »
PS:  What is your serial number?  Mine is an S1b the 601st off the line.

Offline Serge

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Re: Early Series 1 - Bonnet and boot lids
« Reply #5 on: Monday,December 18, 2017, 10:15:55 PM »
Mine is #02, but as far as I know, all S1s have hinges. They wouldn't have come with locks, but with quick release fasteners (Oddie).


Serge

Offline Matt Elan

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Re: Early Series 1 - Bonnet and boot lids
« Reply #6 on: Saturday,December 30, 2017, 08:03:39 AM »
Thanks again to all who replied.
Happy New Year
Matt