Author Topic: Just bought a 1973 Lotus Europa  (Read 2353 times)

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Offline GavinT

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Re: Just bought a 1973 Lotus Europa
« Reply #30 on: Tuesday,June 30, 2020, 07:30:06 PM »
At one time I did read why the ammeters were Lucas and the other gauges were Smiths. The best I can remember, and this information is probably not worth what you're paid for it, back in the day, Smiths and Lucas divvied up the market and Lucas took the electrical part (i.e. things having to do with the electricity and Smiths took the rest. A quick look didn't find any information on the subject much less confirmation of my memory so you may have REALLY over paid for my information!
Yes, that's the way I heard it too, which explains why pretty much all British sports car of the era had Lucas ammeters.
Here's the back story for anyone interested. (scroll down a bit)

https://www.redlineauto.com.au/s-414-smiths.aspx

Offline BDA

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Re: Just bought a 1973 Lotus Europa
« Reply #31 on: Wednesday,July 01, 2020, 06:27:09 AM »
Thanks Silver and Gavin! It's nice to know I haven't lost all my mind!

Offline 4129R

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Re: Just bought a 1973 Lotus Europa
« Reply #32 on: Wednesday,July 01, 2020, 07:02:59 AM »
I wonder what they agreed measured electricity so Lucas got the nod.

A temperature gauge and a fuel gauge measures the voltage from those senders.

A tachometer measured electrical pulses.

All I can see that are mechanical are the speedometer, and the oil pressure gauge.

Offline GavinT

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Re: Just bought a 1973 Lotus Europa
« Reply #33 on: Wednesday,July 01, 2020, 09:10:37 AM »
I wonder what they agreed measured electricity so Lucas got the nod.

Probably a consideration that Lucas had a significant R&D investment in the ongoing supply of their wiring harness replacement smoke . . .