Author Topic: Restoration - 1970 S2 type 65 - UK/Federal Hybrid  (Read 1707 times)

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Offline Bryan Boyle

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Re: Restoration - 1970 S2 type 65 - UK/Federal Hybrid
« Reply #15 on: Wednesday,October 25, 2023, 12:03:30 PM »
I wouldn't do that.  A replacement chassis is perfectly acceptable.  Stamping numbers into frames is a crime in many juristictions.

A few years ago, the people's republic of Connecticut state police wandered through a car show and started impounding vehicles where it was obvious that the owners had removed the vin plates (rather than mask and paint around them) and re-riveted them back after refinishing regardless of whether the numbers matched other stamped locations.  Lots of legal wrangling for the owners to get them back before they were sent to the crusher.

A buddy of mine (Pat Dennis, who I'm sure some of you know...) sold his S2 with a Brian Hart twin cam/5-speed conversion and the subsequent owner proceeded to stuff the car into a barrier, essentially destroying it.  Somehow, the windshield and bonnet plates ended up in Canada on a road/race car, registered in Ontario...Jerry and I discovered it while updating the registry...and I got the original info (xerox of the title, registration, and photos of the destroyed car) from Pat to correct the registry entry, much to the current (at that time) owner's dismay.  Don't know what the follow on was, but I can tell you he was NOT pleased.

I made it a practice, from all of the cars I broke up, to destroy the plates and turn in the titles.  Got more than a few folks who asked if I wanted to sell them back in the yahoogroups days, believe or not.  Never did. 
Bryan Boyle
Morrisville PA
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Currently working on 3291R, ex 444R, 693R, 65/2163, 004R, 65/2678
http://www.lotuseuropa.us for mirror of lotus-europa.com manual site.

Offline Thijs

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Re: Restoration - 1970 S2 type 65 - UK/Federal Hybrid
« Reply #16 on: Thursday,October 26, 2023, 06:59:01 AM »
I wouldn't do that.  A replacement chassis is perfectly acceptable.  Stamping numbers into frames is a crime in many juristictions.

Here in The Netherlands it's not allowed to replace the chassis, as far as I know! Stamping numbers into frame isn't either, obviously.  ::)

Offline Thijs

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Re: Restoration - 1970 S2 type 65 - UK/Federal Hybrid
« Reply #17 on: Thursday,October 26, 2023, 07:01:19 AM »
:Welcome: Welcome Thijs!

My car is a later Special, and has the chassis number stamped on top of the right side chassis leg, very close to the firewall. I believe the S2's are the same. The guy that punched the letters apparently was very weak so they are hard to see. Judging from the photo of your car's engine bay I would search somewhere, directly below the inline fuel filter.

I'm a little curious about what you'll find, since the original US number would be '65/nnnnR' but it must have been changed/relocated(?) to something like '65/mmmPR' when the car was converted to RHD.

The VIN number is 7010....PR, october of 1970.  :D

Offline pboedker

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Re: Restoration - 1970 S2 type 65 - UK/Federal Hybrid
« Reply #18 on: Thursday,October 26, 2023, 07:12:25 AM »
The VIN number is 7010....PR, october of 1970.  :D

Exactly, but the number stamped in the chassis will be a combination of the type number + the serial number + the P/Q/R letters.
Peter Boedker
3904R Special
Denmark

Offline Thijs

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Re: Restoration - 1970 S2 type 65 - UK/Federal Hybrid
« Reply #19 on: Thursday,October 26, 2023, 07:16:43 AM »
The VIN number is 7010....PR, october of 1970.  :D

Exactly, but the number stamped in the chassis will be a combination of the type number + the serial number + the P/Q/R letters.

Okay, that's good to know. Thanks!  :D

Offline pboedker

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Re: Restoration - 1970 S2 type 65 - UK/Federal Hybrid
« Reply #20 on: Thursday,October 26, 2023, 10:39:43 AM »
Here is an example of a chassis number.  ;D
Peter Boedker
3904R Special
Denmark

Offline Thijs

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Re: Restoration - 1970 S2 type 65 - UK/Federal Hybrid
« Reply #21 on: Saturday,October 28, 2023, 01:30:49 AM »
Here is an example of a chassis number.  ;D

Thanks! It kinda looks like the locations were all over the place. No surprise for a small manufacturer, part of these cars were sold as kit cars as well I believe... A lot of stuff happened to those, probably.  :welder:

Offline dakazman

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Re: Restoration - 1970 S2 type 65 - UK/Federal Hybrid
« Reply #22 on: Saturday,October 28, 2023, 03:16:59 PM »
  Thijs,
     here is where mine is located. Just the last four digits and a letter.
Dakazman