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A few more cars that do not seem to be on the register: AU09 CYV. 05/06/2009. Grey/Oyster. GX09 KRZ. 08/07/2009. Black/Oyster. SN59 JYO. 01/09/2009. Burnt Orange/Charcoal. AU59 AFZ. 01/10/2009. Grey/Paprika. DK59 AXX. 13/10/2009. AU59 AGY. n/a. Black/Red. (Not on DVLA.) AU59 AHF. n/a. Blue/Oyster. (Not on DVLA.) AU59 AHZ. 22.10.09. White/Black. AU59 AZR. 07.12.09. Pale Blue. AU59 DSY. 22.10.09. Grey. AU59 DSZ. 22.10.09. Blue/Oyster. AU59 DRO. 11.11.09. Blue. AU59 DUA. n/a. Red. (Not on DVLA.) Dates of registration suggest that they all might be LEs. Also: AU59 DTZ and AU59 DRV appear on the Dev list but their VINs put them in among main production. AU59 DTY also on the Dev list does not appear on searches under that registration. If anyone can confirm registration numbers of any of the dealer demonstrator cars, that would be useful.

That's not one of the original press cars but there was lots of AU59 cars registered (at least 23 by my reckoning) and quite a few of those appeared in articles (particularly in the Lotus Club International mag). All of the colours that I have stated have come from DVLA data and in nearly every case checked against photos. I think I have at least another 15 cars that are not on the LE register but I can't verify yet if every one is a launch edition. AU59 DSZ is still registered on that plate. By the way, all of the registrations that I have listed are also still valid (other than the two that I mentioned that weren't).

Here are some cars that pre-date the first deliveries serial number of 0721, including the press cars: AU09 AZR. Silver. LHD. 01/04/2009. LOTUS EVORA 4 V6. AU09 AHY. Canyon Red. LHD. 01/04/2009. LOTUS EVORA 4 V6. AU09 AKK. White. RHD. 01/04/2009. LOTUS EVORA 4 V6. AU09 AKJ. Grey. RHD. 01/04/2009. LOTUS EVORA 4 V6. Scrapped. AU09 AKZ. Red. RHD. 01/04/2009. LOTUS EVORA 4 V6. AU09 AKY. White. LHD. 01/04/2009. LOTUS EVORA 4 V6. Scrapped. AU09 AOG. Light Blue. RHD. 21/04/2009. LOTUS EVORA 4 V6. AU09 EJZ. Orange. RHD. 01/06/2009. LOTUS EVORA 4 V6. AU09 EKC. White. LHD. 17/06/2009. LOTUS EVORA 4 V6. Scrapped. AU09 EJY. Yellow. RHD. 10/06/2009. LOTUS EVORA 4 V6. These are in serial number order. There is also AU09 AHZ, LHD in pale blue that doesn't appear on DVLA records - possibly had a registration change, same for AU09 AKN that is on the register but I have no photo of that one. Most of these cars were sold on by Lotus.

Some more info: VP01 = AU58 EWR. White. RHD. 01/12/2008. LOTUS EVORA 4 V6. VP02 = AU58 EWF. Black. RHD. 01/12/2008. LOTUS EVORA 2 V6 VP05 = AU58 EWE. Red. LHD. 01/12/2008. LOTUS EVORA 4 V6. VP07 = AU58 EWD. Silver. LHD. 01/12/2008. LOTUS EVORA 4 V6. VP09 = AU58 EXP. Orange. LHD. 01/01/2009. LOTUS EVORA 4 V6. All of these have engine size given as 3498cc. The Evo article of Jan 2009 stated that 15 running validation prototypes were being made (the Tippler book gives 23 as the total, accounting for crash test cars, etc.); they featured the first one coming off the line but said that VP02 would be the yellow car shown in the pictures, although that didn't turn out to be the case (it might have been the second car finished but was not given the VP02 VIN).

See earlier reply about LEs finishing before 09MY end, and EuropaSman's post on page 1 about when the change occurred.

The difference in quotes to fix or replace was not very large so it wasn't such a difficult decision to go new. Thankfully I didn't pay list price for the 'box. It's a long-term investment.

It is an NA. The latest available clutch from Lotus (B142Q0007S), fitted at Silverstone.

The excerpt from your provenance document posted earlier says that LE production finished before the end of 09MY production. The numbers indicate that 22 non-LE cars were produced of the 257 total for that MY.

It might not be quite as simple as that! 100 Evoras were taxed. LEs were all MY09 so all built in 2009 but when did MY10 commence? At least one LE on the list was registered in 2010, so how many more were? Of the 100, that would include press cars (supposedly 8, which all came before customer cars) and dealer demonstrators (17 reportedly) so if they are all LEs, that would leave a maximum of 63 customer cars and the balance presumably later, non-LE cars.

A few for starters: EP01 = AU08 JNK. Silver. RHD. 01/08/2008. Scrapped. EP02 = AO57 EYU. Blue. RHD. 01/02/2008. EP03 = AO57 EYV. Black. LHD. 01/02/2008. Scrapped. EP06 = AU08 GHA. Silver. LHD. 01/03/2008. Scrapped. EP08 = AU08 DSY. Grey. LHD. 15/04/2008. Scrapped. EP09 = AU08 DSZ. Black. RHD. 15/04/2008. EP12 = AU08 EEB. Canyon Red. LHD. 01/06/2008. EP18 = AU08 DSX. Green. LHD. 15/04/2008. Exported.

I went to fetch my Evora yesterday after the fitting of a new gearbox, and of course a new clutch. I was told that the clutch would feel lighter but I was not expecting it to feel quite so light - it's a major transformation! I shall no longer dread being stuck in traffic, or clutch wear, or gearbox failure... Oh, and if anyone fancies a spare gearbox to play with or rebuild for whatever reason, I have one sitting around doing nothing. It does have some rather worn parts but if anyone wants to take it off my hands and lighten the recent load on my wallet, I am off to place an ad for it now.

I have compiled a list of a few cars over the years, including EP and VP vehicles, which I will share when I have a moment. The "development" section of the register seems mainly made up of press and factory (possibly management) cars, though; what criteria has been applied to put them in that section? Only the top two are definitely prototypes. It is worth noting that by the end of 2009 only 100 Evoras were taxed in the UK, and 194 by the end of 2010. None of the evaluation prototypes would be included in those numbers as they were not registered with the Evora name.

It'll just be the first V5C issued, delayed somewhat by, er, delays at DVLA. Date of issue has nothing to do with date of registration.

Unfortunately, the location is a nine-hour round trip away, otherwise I'd happily volunteer to take my 2001 Elise. There must be a few down that way, surely?

That looks like a Jensen Healey engine number - B 73 05 2816. It fits in sequence with other numbers from 1973.

On my dry sump motor, if it has not run for a while I switch off the fuel pumps and crank until oil pressure builds towards 60psi before switching on a pump to start. It does take a while, so it pays to have a charged battery.

I know it seems to be getting more common but that doesn't make it correct. I am happy to be classed as a nerd, though. And I think the writer here knew what they were doing but - as is quite common - another person chose the picture, and got it wrong.

Is that article supposed to be about S3 and Turbo cars, or just S3s? The photo used just confuses what I assumed was a piece on non-turbo cars.

He had only just finished the car the week that the article was prepared; it suggests that the ski holders still needed testing so he is likely to have needed to fettle a bit.

As I said in my earlier post, OPW 676W is a dry sump car (look it up on the register and you will see). The owner didn't have to replicate the body or interior because he sought out the correct car to start with. (The reg did come off an Elite that he had bought.) It also has Goodyear NCTs. You might say that it is more authentic than Fabian's, even if the ski rack shape is slightly different. If you read about the car and owner in Absolute Lotus Nov/Dec 2018 you will see that he also has a white S1 and a white turbo, among other Lotus.

The car in the photo is OPW 676W. With a black screw cover to make the last 6 look like an 8.

That's not Fabian's car; I think it is a genuine dry sump version.

The Minister for Transport (or whatever the title is) owns the registration number. Nobody asked me about modelling my car, and I don't take offence; quite the opposite, in fact.

To be fair, they are making money by manufacturing and selling a model of a car made by Lotus. And they pay Lotus for the rights to do so. How would they even go about contacting the owners of all the cars that they model?

I have only had mine for just short of three years. I first drove one in January 2010, having been smitten by the car at Hethel in 2008. I also had a go in the Gumball Evora around the test track at the factory in 2011, which was fun! Unfortunately, it took a few years to realise I needed one in my life, including wasting two years after I foolishly convinced myself to buy something else instead (alongside other Lotus, of course). I was lucky to have use of a GT430 for a day shortly after buying my car, and although it was superb, I was delighted to get back in my NA version at the end of the day. I do make up for my brief ownership in the mileage, though, as I have driven about 20,000 miles in that time. First lockdown year accounted for about 8,000 of those; driving into London was a joy on a couple of occasions, although leaving home at 03:30 wasn't exactly fun! The plan is for the car to be with me for the long term, certainly.