Hi, can anyone tell me the origin or donor of the door locks (the actual single lock unit which the key fits into) on a S4 & Sprint? Im sure they will be off some British Leyland cars but what. Kind regards Neil
Hi Chaps thanks for all the replys. I imagined this would be really simple
but as we all know in the Lotus world it never is. Just to restate my question all I need to know is - ON A ELAN S4 & SPRINT - WHAT OTHER CARS USED THE SAME EXTERNAL DOOR LOCKS. I`m not interested in upgrading, I just want the standard chrome lock unit including barrel as originally fitted.
My first “funny” answer is I think they were originally used on the Lotus Elan +2, but then…
I really don’t know the answer as the actuating tab at the rear has variations but any British car of that era which uses the double edged key should work. Are you missing your entire lock?
How many key designs were there in Great Britain during our era?
I think this has been discussed in depth in the forum, it must have been a couple of years ago, but it included info on how to repair barrels, or how to change the barrels to make it fir different keys - so new locks would not be required.
I’m pretty sure that the lock were fitted to MGBs amongst others (Maxis etc). They were fairly standard BMC locks and that’s the problem, they are easily picked.
My +2 had worn locks when I got it and was broken into a couple of times - when they split the dash trying to wrench out the radio/cassette, I replaced them.
I found Yale locks (as fitted to Rolls Royce cars) were readily available from a local lock shop and an exact fit into the door. They are much more secure than the originals but are not quite a direct repalcement.
I made up some slightly different linkages (very easy using wire coathangers IIRC). Also they don’t have the same self centering action so I had to accept that I couldn’t link them to the interior lcoks - the driver’s door can only be unlocked from the outside and the passenger from the inside. As part of my current rebuild I’m going to look at this again.
If you mean the outer door handle assembly with the push button and key/lock barrel they come from the Austin 1100, the tab that acuates the lock at the rear of the assembly is a Lotus part but easily fabricated.
Having re-read the original post, are you just looking for the lock barrel (the brass part with the tumblers). If so, it’s a very standard part and any automobile lock suppliers ought to be able to help.
I found the original post at unibrain.org/2003/05/13/re-key-locks but it links to the same 404 page. Paul Zimmermqn wrote the original article. If anyone knows him, maybe he can repost the article.