TLF GT430 Club

[dcmp]

12 minutes ago, dcmp said:

 

I've 'think' seen some variation on the badges - I don't believe they are uniformed. 

However, my statement about the badge was a bit tongue in cheek - as hinted at by the smiley.

Top one was a silver one from silverstone. The 2nd empire green on sale at hoffmans. 

So not all the same.

[C8RKH]

14 minutes ago, dcmp said:

However, my statement about the badge was a bit tongue in cheek - as hinted at by the smiley.

I know, but the badge would be the icing on the cake. Easily done. Easily changed and reversible. I'm looking to get one done for my 410 Sport, if i get it done I'll post up a pick and details of from where etc.

[exeterjeep]

The parts list just has a choice of 2, may be that's the difference?

07 Build Plaque GT430           A710V0016F  

07a Build Plaque GT430 Sport A710V0017F

 

[dcmp]

Maybe, but at first glance one is the sport and 1 isn't. The 2 I referred to were both GT430 full fat with wings.

[OakMan]

As I understand it the commemorative badges are all identical saying 1 of 60. 
 

By sheer coincidence (I’m the second owner) my car was the first GT430 off the line, so the badge is correct 😉

Or is it like the stopped (analogue) clock that’s right twice a day ? 

Edited December 20, 2021 by OakMan

[dcmp]

https://www.lotussilverstone.co.uk/vehicle-details/Lotus-Evora-U204/

 

[scotty435]

12 hours ago, DarrylV8 said:

Thanks Keith

Happy birthday pal 👍

[OakMan]

What can’t speak can’t lie ! 
 

Looks like typically Lotus, we ran out of those other badges 😁 

I’ve owned various Lotus since 1984 the factory has often been inconsistent with trim spec and badging.  
 

I see that the silver car is a ‘19’ plate where mine is an October ‘17’ car, another quaint anomaly for the Lotus files.  Both cars supplied by Silverstone Lotus too. 
 

Did Lotus actually make the target 60 cars ? 

58 minutes ago, dcmp said:

https://www.lotussilverstone.co.uk/vehicle-details/Lotus-Evora-U204/

 

 

[Birtyboy]

I’m of the understanding that 60 cars were produced on the same time run however not all were registered. The later 19plate cars one of which is mine just hung about a little longer.

[Bravo73]

43 minutes ago, Birtyboy said:

I’m of the understanding that 60 cars were produced on the same time run however not all were registered.

I don’t think that anywhere near 60 cars were produced. 24/25 ended up in the UK and about 15 elsewhere, IIRC. The actual answer will be on TLF somewhere. 

Regarding the plaques, ‘1 of 60’ is not the same as ‘Number 1 of 60’. Or so the marketing department might tell you. 

[scotty435]

Wow for me I don’t believe we are having a debate about a little badge on the dashboard on such a historic car and probably the best car the company as built for some time now into the future, sure there are better things to talk about for potential customers when they do come for sale, lets face it its not going to be very often. They are definitely going a 6 figure number car again in not the to distant future.

[DarrylV8]

5 hours ago, scotty435 said:

Happy birthday pal 👍

Thanks Scott 

[dcmp]

6 hours ago, scotty435 said:

Wow for me I don’t believe we are having a debate about a little badge on the dashboard on such a historic car and probably the best car the company as built for some time now into the future, sure there are better things to talk about for potential customers when they do come for sale, lets face it its not going to be very often. They are definitely going a 6 figure number car again in not the to distant future.

If there's a debate it's because people are asking questions or there is confusion that requires clarity. It might seem mundane or illogical but there is a difference is consistency, there is a conversation about whether 60 cars were actually produced. 

Maybe it would be wise to not knock a conversation that people are already having. 

That said, I think we are at the end of that subject. 

So, I noticed that my GT430 decals are slightly different to others....

[blindside]

@dcmpThe GT430 production numbers have been debated at considerable length on this thread already and conclusions reached.  Go back to page 45 or thereabouts and earlier, or do your own search.

[dcmp]

I started the conversation about the plaques, I Beleive it was OakMan that brought up the question about whether 60 cars were produced or not. 

But apologies, I will check through the forum in the future before making a comment. 

[Xynagy]

I did an excel sheet, link is in this thread somewhere. Unless validation I still think it is more than 60.

Edited December 21, 2021 by Xynagy

[Bibs]

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1C7kh3l5RtV3CIbsEWdPQ0xvFn3SYqNH4soaU2851Hkw/edit?usp=sharing

[dcmp]

Cheers Xynagy, Bibs. I've had a look at this for the first time (apologies I don't always keep upto speed on here) and have a question and point;

1. Does column A represent anything in particular? i.e. Is the Essex blue owned by oakman the 1st made given it says '1' or is it just an ordering local to the spreadsheet. The reason I ask is mine is supposed to be the 8th.

2. Mine is listed as black but in fact its gun metal grey (military grey?)

I have Sparco seats and a carbon panel too.

Is this spreadsheet for us all to update or only by a select few?

Thank you.

[Xynagy]

No - the number was just for me to keep track. Left side is RHD, right side LHD.
 

Correct as you wish, will not be the only error. Most entries are just from pics and dark grey can look dark. 🙃

[OakMan]

That makes more sense, I only put my moniker next to the first one as it was an Essex Blue car and the original owner said his was the first car off the line.  Another owner on here said his 430 was also on the same delivery lorry to Silverstone Lotus with what is my car now.  

Bibs rightly pointed out the discussion has been had before, it has resurrected due in part to the enquiry by a potential buyer for one and my responses to that.  

Over the last few years Lotus have produced so many 'Special' and "Limited Editions" as to be bewildering, it's an often scoffed at situation on Pistonheads and other forums.  An extra confusion they have created is that some are actually properly sequential numbered editions IE.  25 Lotus Elise S2 Supercharged Jim Clark cars, and many others are not.  At a basic level its just sales and marketing for box shifting product and others are made a little more special to justify a higher price for virtually the same commodity.  It's nothing new in the car game and Lotus have done it for years. 

I used to own a Commemorative edition 1974 Lotus Elan +2S 130/5  They were painted exclusively in Black with Gold metal flake roof and unique to the cars matching sills.  It was to celebrate Lotus 50 F1 Grand Prix victories.  The general belief was they built 50 cars to match the F1 wins - they actually made 85 and mine was no 84. The clincher for me was when I was restoring the car in the late 1980's the car had lost its commemorative Badge.  I contacted the factory and they referred me to Peter Day in Cambridge who was an official service agent and one of only two Lotus specialists involved (Miles Wilkins also) with resourcing parts for the Classic Lotus cars at that time.  Peter wanted my chassis number as he would not supply the badge without checking my car was indeed a genuine model.  It was him who told me it was number 84 of 85 built, that they all went through production and paint together at the factory - no doubt a similar situation to the GT430's being built in 2017 to early 2018.

[DarrylV8]

Not wanting to get into a debate, however our car was built May 2018 (we actually went to the factory 22nd May during its build) and it was not the last UK GT430 off the production line

[jep]

340R are numbered....mine is 184 of 340....but the factory did not record Ltd Ed number to chassis number.

I've spent 10 years+ with Andy G trying to match Ltd Ed to chassis. 

I wonder if LF1 (81 cars individual numbered) are matched at the factory. Probably not.

Justin

 

[Yan]

13 hours ago, Bibs said:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1C7kh3l5RtV3CIbsEWdPQ0xvFn3SYqNH4soaU2851Hkw/edit?usp=sharing

I've updated the GT430 Sport list based on the info on my CoP and the image @Black Forest Power put up in this thread some time ago.

There are:

• 2 RHD (UK, Australia)
• 6 LHD (2 Germany, 2 France, 1 Switzerland, 1 Belgium)

[Heathermead]

On 20/12/2021 at 22:22, dcmp said:

https://www.lotussilverstone.co.uk/vehicle-details/Lotus-Evora-U204/

 

 

Just now, Heathermead said:

 

That’s my car 🙂

[Bahaddin Ayan]

On 21/12/2021 at 14:14, Bibs said:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1C7kh3l5RtV3CIbsEWdPQ0xvFn3SYqNH4soaU2851Hkw/edit?usp=sharing

Mine listed black. The only gt430 in Turkey is mine that is dark grey. Mine is sparco seats, carbon panels and auto.