Lotus Europa Community
Lotus Europa Forums => Garage => Topic started by: kram350kram on Friday,October 23, 2020, 06:15:36 PM
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Just realized the data VIN data plate located in the front truck bulkhead in my '74 TCS is not there. Interesting there are only three rivet holes and no apparent marks from blind rivets? I think the car has never been repainted. The build date off the door VIN plate is 6/73 unit # 3707R which matches the title. Question is should there be a plate at this location and if so can one be obtained? Thanks in advance.
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Yes there should be a plaque in the middle of the inside of the front trunk. I believe r.d. enterprises or Dave Bean Engineering sells reproductions.
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Looking at the RDEnt website, they carry the standard emissions plate that is riveted to the engine compartment, right hand side. The plate on the front inside plenum carries the VIN, engine serial #, transaxle # and the paint code. You would need those numbers to stamp onto a blank plate (does anyone even sell them?). Same with the small metal tag on the top of the dash with the VIN.
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I would have assumed that if they had the emission plate and the tire pressure glove box decal, that they would have the front trunk plate. If none of the "usual suspects" can help, you may have to check with Lotus. Their archivist, Andy Graham, has always been helpful in the past. You can email him at AGraham at lotuscars dot com (supply the correct symbols).
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My plate on 2624R was/is quite hard to read and I couldn't find anything to clean it up.
I found a replacement plate in the UK via www.vin-plate.co.uk
Plate is quite nice and shipped to NJ via Royal Mail.
I plan on attaching it to a larger plate and adding a line stating "Duplicate" and screwing (not riviting) on top of original.
I do not plan on removing the original.
I have pictures if interested as I don't think I can attach here.
Dan in NJ.
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Attachment attempt failed. Pics too large. Ill try to reduce
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Would love to see your plate. I checked the site you posted and didn't see the federal Lotus VIN plate. Did you order a custom plate?
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I got this replacement one a few years back...ebay UK
I decided to leave my original, as the reproduction is not 100% accurate. You can see the difference under unit and engine number. On the second line block it should read transmission and vin #....
Hope this helps. ld
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Okay, Had to dig the Nameplate out of the box. Have a couple pics resized. Hope they are clear.
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The replacement VIN plate photo you posted is pretty close to the original, just missing the ALT Unit # but may be close enough for most people. How much was the total cost?
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As this was the closest I found and it meant I did not have to try and recreate one myself, I went with it. The Alt Unit # missing was not a deal breaker for me.
Cost was a bit more than I wanted but it was worth it for me: 46.32 GBP (34.95 base + VAT+Packaging+Postage, Nov 2019)
Item Number off receipt/Packing list: 201510230682
Description: Lotus Norwich 7 Seven Esprit Europa S Elan Chassis All-Blank-Vin-Chassis-Plates
You might try sending an email to inquire if anything is closer. I do not remember asking. I also did not ask if they can fill in the data and ship as that might be a legal issue.
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I thought about the legal aspects of duplicating the dash pad VIN tag, may be the reason I haven't seen any company advertising those. I'll send an email to the UK company about duplicating a missing replacement front plate for my S2.
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I sent an email yesterday and got a reply this AM from John Viner:
John Viner <j.viner@btinternet.com>
To: 'D Coate' <dcoate50@yahoo.com>
Thanks for your enquiry.
Please direct people to e-bay UK;
Item: 201510230682 + a few others.
And then for my stamping service;
Ebay UK item; 201758696699
Regards; John Viner
www.Vin-Plate.co.uk
-----Original Message-----
From: D Coate <dcoate50@yahoo.com>
Sent: 24 October 2020 23:37
To: j.viner@btinternet.com
Subject: Lotus Europa Nameplate
Sir,
A while back I purchased a blank nameplate for the 1972 Lotus Europa I am restoring.
Today a message was posted on a Europa Group I belong to regarding replacement nameplates. I mentioned your site.
One of the members went to the site but could not find an appropriate Europa nameplate.
I am attaching JPEGs of my original nameplate as well as the unit ordered and you shipped.
My question is how can I direct the other members inquiries to the correct nameplate?
Second question is regarding the plate I ordered. Can you duplicate it in a stamped form? I purchased a set of stamps to do my own with "DUPLICATE" visible. I plan on mounting the replacement above the original.
Thank you in advance for any reply.
Dan Costello
NJ - USA
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Dan. I got your PM. Thank you for the info on the company. I now have to contact the Lotus Archivist to see how much info he has on my S2 to fill in the missing parts of my front VIN plate.
Joji Tokumoto
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Got a reproduction VIN plate. If anyone has a clear picture of a TCS built around 3707R and could post or PM me a picture I would appreciate it. Thanks
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The plate for 3923R should be close enough.
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Thanks Grumblebuns, perfect!