At some stage i might need to re-do the veneer , but only once i’m sure i can find the correct replacement .
i picked upin the archive that early elans had teak veneer but mine looks a little too figured for teak
The early ones I hear are much darker than the later ones & i 'd like to keep it that way …
RichC
My understanding from books and things and the baby I have with “straight grain” and the plus with “burl” was that they were that way. So I’d say burl walnut–actually I think the straight grain on baby was mahogany from way it looks rather than teak but not sure–but burl walnut on plus, mine dark (1972). Gordon Sauer
My understanding is also that the Elan should have a teak veneer and the +2 a burr walnut one. My +2 came with teak veneer, but the dash was non standard. I liked the light colour of the teak, but also hankered after the interest of the burr walnut figuring… Classical Dash in High Wycombe had a a wide variety of veneers to choose from. After looking at some samples, I opted for a burr oak which will lighten up the cabin…
Your choice!
Jeremy
Not an easy answer here, before I saw Rich’s dash I would have said it should have had a Walnut dash. But Rich’s dash looks original but does not look like walnut?
Post a pic if you can Rich?
Jason
Hi Rich
Off topic.
A pic of my washer bottle attached, it is 4 inches dia and 6 inches from bottom to shoulder. I believe these early ones are from a Cortina.
Sadly all the ?20 MGB ones on Ebay are too small for the early +2.
Jason
Hi Rich,
I have a 68 +2 with the early dash. My veneer is walnut.
Cheers,
Jason
My understanding is that lotus only used teak ( with an oil finish) on the first elans ( AKA S1’s) with the 2 piece dash boards. the change over to a varnish and 1 piece dash occured in the fall of 1964. if I look/can find gary’s spreadsheet I could tell you the month -
George
Got It, thanks Gary - looks like end of July/August of 64 is when the full width dashes start to appear…
Rich
The veneer on my +2 dash (original) is a very pale timber. I
I’m no timber expert but it certainly is not teak and is too blonde for walnut.
I’d like to know what it is to be honest as it could do with a re-veneering.
Cheers
I have a reprint of Motor magazine-2nd Sept 1967.
It describes the dash as polished Walnut.
Maybe the burl Walnut was introduced with the +2s ??
I have an interest now as I’ve gone and bought a +2s 130/5