SNG 359M ,Ronnie petersons Elite.

[SafraneV6RXE]

Hi folks,i thought i would just share a bit of history about my dads Elite and hopefully someone might be able to help.

My dad owns the Lemon yellow Elite SNG 359M,registered on the 1/7/74,i have copys of the build sheets from Lotus which all match up and confirm that the car was destined for RONNIE PETERSON,it was registered to Lotus cars,i have a few nice pics of the car,one with Ronnie standing in front of the car(numberplate clearly visable),another with Colin chapman handing Ronnie the keys,Ronnie is sitting in the car and Chapman leaning in(Ronnie is wearing the same cloths etc so its the same day)both these pics came from Fotopoint i think,but i believe all the pics have gone back to Lotus not long ago(is this true?)but theres more pics taken as the negative numbers on the rear have a gap,so i guess it was a group of pics from around early July 74.

I also have a pic of Ronnie sitting in the car with Jackie Ickx as passenger,now this appears to be the 19/7/74 on practice day for the British grand prix(20/7/74)this picture has appeared in a few Formula 1 books over the years,but again surely there was more photos taken?

So where do i go,who do i speak to and does anyone have any pics in there own collection of Ronnie with the Yellow Elite?

The car itself is it lovely condition,just have a few jobs sorted on it,but its got a lot of its niggles sorted,i just WISH i could get a few more pics of it with Ronnie or when it was new...

Forgot!

It has Oatmeal interior and on the seatbacks of every seat theres a Lotus sew on badge attached,fitted spoton and looks very neat,we where told this was for Ronnies car and not the norm.

[Loose Cannon]

One of the pictures you mention has been posted here before;

[SafraneV6RXE]

Ah yes thats one of them,its listed as a Plus 2 ina Lotus book!

The pic looks like an underground carpark,did Lotus HQ have one of these?

[cbclotus]

Great car to own .Fab history.Looking foreward to seeing more pictures.Ilike Elites.Cheers Mike

[SafraneV6RXE]

Well the car is nearly there,we are looking foward to going to the Lotus show on Saturday,is the autojumble any good?(not that we need much,thank god)when its all up together i will get some good pics of it.

[Emmerg]

Isn't that Chapman's Range Rover in the background - it was for sale recently wasn't it ??

[simonb]

I thought the Chapman RR was a bit younger, that has no headrests & is on the vinyl seats so 1972/3, has the vinyl rear 1/4 panel so is not a series 1970/71 (god I am a RR geek)

[SafraneV6RXE]

The photo was taken late June 74(car was completed on 25/6/74)notice the lack of B pillar badges,any reason?

Its never had these badges fitted,anyone know why?

Was it because Lotus planned on putting special badges for Ronnie?I,ve never found this out for sure,but this picture proves its never had these badges.

Just as a point

I,am a little confused as to how to exactly find out when the car was built?

I know the chassis number etc helps,but i have a period article from 1974 which says that Sir Lenard Crosslands demo was the 3rd or 4th car built,Ronnies car was listed next on the paperwork i have from Lotus,but i was also told its the 50th car built etc,i,am a bit confused!!!

[SafraneV6RXE]

Long shot

But does anyone know where i can get this image from the 1974 British grand prix?

http://photos3.fotosearch.com/bthumb/IST/IST539/1633997.jpg

[mat grant]

Hi, someone posted a while back on one of the forums about a service from Lotus where you pay them a fee and they tell you the provenance of the car. You could try doing that - I think it was about £35 or thereabouts.

Cheers, Mat.

Edited August 23, 2011 by mat grant

[Loose Cannon]

That image with the girl's arses, seem to remember an Ebay seller was making prints from the same set (1974 British GP and the Elite was circuit vehicle).....have not seen it for a while though.

Found some other pics on Flickr of RP with another "company car", this time a red Elite (Andretti had a blue Eclat)

[SafraneV6RXE]

Hi

Great pics,many thanks i have the Elite circuit pic in my collection,but i must admit i really fancy the girls arses pic aswell,very 70s...

I wonder if SNG made it to the British grand prix?,i know it made the practice as i have a pic of him and Jackie ickx 19/7/74 and i wonder if Ronnie took the press on a flying lap as he seemed to do this,previous years in a Europa then in 73 ,a 2 plus 2,did he hammer SNG around there?

I wonder what he had between SNG 359M and the RVF 401R?

Mat any links to the £35 site?

I did get a few pics from Focalpoint who did Lotus pics for them,but i only have 2 pics,there must be more?

[mat grant]

Hi,

They are great pics! A reminder of the heritage of these cars! PS you've got to post a link to the one with the girls arses now ;-)

I'll dig out the details for the guy at Lotus who can arrange the provenance document and let you know - I am going to get the document for my car just out of interest - don't think there's anything of real significance.

Cheers, Mat.

[Loose Cannon]

Here are some pics of the girls giving their arses a rest (on an Elite) and a flying lap

[SafraneV6RXE]

Thats made my night!

I wonder why they never used Ronnies car for the fast lap? maybe it broke down...

Them girls are stunning i really want to get some pics of them as i know its all period to my car and it may of been at this actual meet and i want to get some pics together as a display etc,where can i get good pics of these Mark?,i REALLY want that arse shot aswell,the wife isn,t best pleased but i tell her its research.

[Loose Cannon]

The pics are the 1974 British GP I think (just think the ladies will be grandmas now!).

The pictures came from personal collections of members of the F1 forums nostalgia thread, the one about historic photos taken in the paddock. Just think how much treasure must be buried in boxes in attics everywhere waiting for someone to make the effort with a scanner!.

[mat grant]

Hi,

Yes here are the details. It's £35, for details ring Andy Graham (see below)

Cheers, Mat.

Please call me on the phone number below and I can take payment over the phone, or I can phone you if you prefer?

Yes please pass on my details to any fellow Lotus owner. The more we can promote the service the better.

Andy Graham – Technical Publications and Archives

LOTUS AFTERSALES, Units 6 & 7 John Hyrne Way, Longwater Business Park, Costessey, Norwich, Norfolk NR5 0AF England.

T +44 (0)1603 732178 agraham@lotuscars.com

www.lotuscars.com

[mat grant]

Probably because the black car has the JPS branding so it's a bit of exposure for the sponsor.

Research!!! lol

[Loose Cannon]

Another picture of the 1974 JPS Elite surfaced as someone dusts off the scanner, from Pistonheads "period Classic pictures" thread;

 

[mat grant]

Brilliant! Are they the original 118 guys?

[Loose Cannon]

I like the period tyres (Michelin XWXs?), wish they still made some decent rubber in 205/60r14

[johnpwalsh]

Hi I know its late for this post but does anyone have pics of the Gold Éclat that was used as the PR car, 79 through to 85, It's now restored and used regularly as daily transport. She was originally registered to Lotus with Andrew Ferguson as the registered keeper under Lotus address. Any info at all would be great.

[KarenW]

My Dad owned this Lotus for a couple of years in the late 70’s early 80’s I loved it 

where is it now? 
 

dad also has 4 alloy wheels that were for it along with the tyres which he isn’t sure what to do with? Any ideas? 

[exeterjeep]

On 29/06/2013 at 08:26, johnpwalsh said:

Hi I know its late for this post but does anyone have pics of the Gold Éclat that was used as the PR car, 79 through to 85, It's now restored and used regularly as daily transport. She was originally registered to Lotus with Andrew Ferguson as the registered keeper under Lotus address. Any info at all would be great.

John, just looked at this old thread as there was a new post, saw the request about the gold Andrew Ferguson car. Went to the Club Team Lotus do at the Post house Norwich, around 3 weeks before Chapman died. Had a chat with Andrew and his wife at the do. His car was parked outside at some time during the day while things were getting organised. And was later replaced by an F1 car. - as it was then under cover,. Did post this pic on another thread, but can't seem to post it here.

 

[johnpwalsh]

Thanks Keith. Another bit of history to add to her file.

Here she is with Noel Edmunds when he was testing a Lotus.

 

 

John.