New S3 purchase - trying to figure it out - post 2 of 873 :)

[Darcy]

Hi, Darcy again.

 

I just picked up my 1970 S3 yesterday and I'm learning slowly.  I see this number on the brace in front of the brake and clutch master cylinders. 

 

It looks like someone stamped a number, changed their mind, and stamped a new number.  BL2170.  I found a mention that Universal Radiators stamped with a B, but I did not see mention of a BL.  Thoughts?  Is this typical of Universal Radiators? 

 

 

I

[Darcy]

You have to imagine the accent...

 

Oy mate! You stamped the wrong bloody number on that bloody frame. Bloody 'ell! Put the right bloody number on the bloody car for xxxxx sake! 

[EdWills]

Hi Darcy.  Message sent to you.

 

If you require a paint match for touch-up, please drop me a line.  I found a source for the oil based paint (Graphite Grey) in Calgary. W

Edited Sunday at 06:59 PM by EdWills

[Darcy]

Definitely will fixing all rust, so paint matches for body, frame, engine etc would be great. 

[theDreamer]

@Darcy As I’ve mentioned before check out this site:

https://www.anglocanadianlotus7.ca/lotus-seven-frame-and-chassis-numbers/

I’d say you have a Universal Radiators chassis as I’m sure they are the only company that used that particular area to stamp their number. Yes most have just a “B”, but also “UB” which some take to mean it was a replacement chassis. The “L” may be like it is with the Lotus serial number meaning LHD, which would fit your car.

Also as previously mentioned, forward this info, (Universal Radiators chassis number and lotus serial number) in text with photos to John Watson and he’ll give you what info he has.

http://www.historiclotusregister.co.uk/theRegistrars/newperrinwatson.php

[IamScotticus]

Do you have a Lotus SB#?

Arch made S3 chassis for Lotus late in production, didn't they?  When did those start?

Fortunate for you, you can MIG/TIG weld on a Uni-rad frame without worrying about any nickel bronze joint welds.

Please  start a project thread in the build forum with lots of pics! The "general" section is a black hole of everything.

https://usa7s.net/ips/forum/41-build-threads/

Edited Monday at 01:27 AM by IamScotticus

[EdWills]

Hi Scott. Lotus began production of the Series 3 in August 1968 according to records.  Arch would have switched from the Series 2 and the 2-1/2 at this time probably, as they already had the same jig set up to build the Series 3 and just needed to add a couple of extra brackets for the S3. W.  
 

Not sure where the story of the ‘U’ on Universal Radiator frames  being used for replacement chassis came from, but it would seem that the ‘U’ would just stand for Universal until Lotus decided that the ‘B’ or ‘BL’ should become the designation?  The ‘U’ seems to have been used on 1961 and 1962 S2 frames, but not much later than that.  Arch of course just used ‘AM’ for their frames with no lhd or rhd differentiation that I have found. W

[theDreamer]

@EdWills I stand corrected. I do not know the origin of the “U” being for replacement chassis but I had read that somewhere. I received an email stating similar in response to the “Barn Find” that I was recently making inquiries about.

You and John are two of the best when it comes to researching, recording and authenticating original Lotus 7’s full stop.

 

[EdWills]

Hi @theDreamer.  The information you had may well be true, as it’s anybody's guess what happened all those years ago?’ I have not yet found a contact for anyone who worked at Universal, but I’ll keep trying.  Any former workers would be in their 80s by now.  It took me a long time to find any information on the company because all of the books on the Lotus Seven that mentioned Universal, stated that the company was located in Northampton, England, but this was incorrect.  It’s possible that whoever mentioned the location to these authors were confusing the location with Cosworth, but again, that’s anyone’s guess.  As almost anybody connected with Lotus in the formative years has died, any information is lost if it’s not been previously recorded by them. Cheers W.