Lotus Badges - which ones?

[Dilkris]

I am rebuilding a TCS first registered 18.10.73 - am I correct in thinking that the World Champion Car Constructors Badges should be 6 years up to 1973 complete with Laurel? (Or is my car too early to show the 1973 year?)   

[Pfreen]

I am not an expert, but my car was registered in 1974, but it was built in December, 1972.  Lotus had won the World Championship by December of 1972, so I have the 1972 badge.  FYI, my sn number is 2963R.

[SilverBeast]

Mine (2267P) was built November 1973, by the chassis number, but not registered until November 1974. It has the 6 year badge (including 1973) but doesn't have the laurel. It's the same on both sides. I believe at least one has been replaced though, from receipts passed to me.

You probably need to go by build date, rather than registration date.

[Dilkris]

Thanks for the replies - what exactly is the significance of the the Laurel anyway? In my ignorance I thought it was connected to the passing of ACBC - but that was 16.12.82 - so it can't be.   

[literarymadness]

My car (2758R) was built October of 1972 and came with the 1970 badge.  Odds are most likely in an October, 1973-built car would still be wearing the 1972 badge from the factory unless it was swapped out by the dealer. But since your car is a 1974 MY, a 1973 badge would certainly be appropriate.

[Dilkris]

So Lotus were awarded 7 Constructors' Championships (1963, 1965, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1978) and 6 Drivers' Championships (1963, 1965, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1978)
The 1973 Formula One season started the 28 January (73) and ended on 7 October (73).
So with my chassis number showing the car build date as October 73, (73102227P), on the proviso it was prior to the 7th - I should be displaying the 6 year badge (up to 73) - correct?
The significance of the Laurel still remains as 6 year badges exist with and without it.      

[Pfreen]

You stated your car was registered in October of 1973?  In the U.S., that is not the same as the build date. 

[SilverBeast]

You stated your car was registered in October of 1973?  In the U.S., that is not the same as the build date. 

The post above yours corrects it to build date, as evidenced by the chassis number, which is 40 before mine.

[Pfreen]

I guess the party last night blurred my brain.

[literarymadness]

Lotus would have ordered the badges sometime after October 7, 1973 and would have started placing them on cars at least a few weeks after that if not longer. Lotus would have waited till the old badges were used up (Most likely sometime in November). I have a early TCS and it came with the earlier TC tachometer face plate with the lower redline and not the updated on later TCS's. My car is also Colorado Orange which was no longer being offered in the 73MY but Lotus was using up leftover paint from the 72MY and built nine till the paint was gone because Lotus didn't keep old stuff around and was notorious for overlapping features from MY to MY especially if your car was built early on in the prior production year (for example my 73MY TCS built in 10/1972 and so on). 

[Dilkris]

Thanks for all the feed back - rightly or wrongly I'm going for 6 years and 73 without the Laurel - I think they look cool   

[BobW]

Thanks for the replies - what exactly is the significance of the the Laurel anyway? In my ignorance I thought it was connected to the passing of ACBC - but that was 16.12.82 - so it can't be.   

I've always thought the laurel represented the laurel wreath given to the race winner as part of the victory celebration. That symbolism continues the classical Roman custom.

[BDA]

Thanks for all the feed back - rightly or wrongly I'm going for 6 years and 73 without the Laurel - I think they look cool   

You won't get an argument from me! My car has the final 7 year badge even though it was built in the summer of '73. I wasn't going to miss Mario's championship in 1978!

[Dilkris]

Thanks for the replies - what exactly is the significance of the the Laurel anyway? In my ignorance I thought it was connected to the passing of ACBC - but that was 16.12.82 - so it can't be.   

I've always thought the laurel represented the laurel wreath given to the race winner as part of the victory celebration. That symbolism continues the classical Roman custom.

So did I - but in 73 they didn't win the Drivers Championship - only Constructors and it doesn't seem to make sense that a Laurel would be included for that - or does it?    But it's Lotus - who knows ?? 

[Broadside]

My car came with a 5 year badges and its a 1969! so clearly an add on, but I think they'll have to go back on, just because..............