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GHOSTHUNTER wrote:Hi Alex, we may end up checking wheel moulding numbers and inner body casting numbers, just to satisfy ourselves that it comes from a period of production pretty close to your other #5 Lotus models in Purple, do other members have several Lotus models to also check their numbers, just to give Alex a starting point and then we can work around that.

GHOSTHUNTER.

I have just purchased a jewellers loupe for that purpose funnily enough, When it arrives i will be in a better position to check for moulding numbers etc as my eye sight is not the best!

Open bumper Lotus is a great find, sounds like both cars came from an interesting collection.If the silvery Lotus has a matt or satin finish then it may well be a car in primer that never had the candy coat applied,indeed the tacky finish could explain a car that never went into the oven for baking because the candy coat wasnt applied which at best would make it some sort of worker assembled lunchbox special rather than one of a mass run for sale

SMS88 wrote:Open bumper Lotus is a great find, sounds like both cars came from an interesting collection.If the silvery Lotus has a matt or satin finish then it may well be a car in primer that never had the candy coat applied,indeed the tacky finish could explain a car that never went into the oven for baking because the candy coat wasnt applied which at best would make it some sort of worker assembled lunchbox special rather than one of a mass run for sale

Mick,

Thanks for adding another twist to the plot!!!!,

Firstly, both of these #5's have come from not only an interesting collection, but a truly outstanding collection belonging to a very highly regarded fellow forum member.

I had not considered that this may be a model which had not had the final paint coat applied. That may well provide an explanation for the uniform appearance of the paint finish on the model and the tacky feeling to the touch. Thanks for that Mick, your opinion is always valued.

Maybe it's one that Nicks big sister sneaked out during her break, let's hope so!!!!

if this is from Nick´s collection then perhaps he can tell us where it came from - London area collectors had the best chances to get factory oddities that escaped through workers pockets rather than store bought items. If I had known Nick was selling these 2 I would have been bidding!

SMS88 wrote:if this is from Nick´s collection then perhaps he can tell us where it came from - London area collectors had the best chances to get factory oddities that escaped through workers pockets rather than store bought items. If I had known Nick was selling these 2 I would have been bidding!

Mick, it wasn't Nick who was selling these.

I was only considering the theory that a former worker at the factory may have sneeked it out and I recalled Nicks sister used to work there.

Perhaps the previous owner cares to comment about the provenance of this toy or did in the auction listing?

Hi Alex, I am glad you put this one up for discussion as it is an interesting model. I am beet-red by your kind comments about your source for this!

This one was from one of my auctions I ran before the holiday. As I mentioned to Alex, my bias is to think this is a discolored/faded model but I am unsure as the color is uniform and I have another Lotus of an identical color (will picture it below). The origin of this model was simply a poorly advertised auction on ebay uk several years ago from a seller who is not involved with the hobby (to my knowledge). I acquired the Lotus pictured below under similar circumstances.

-David

Looks like David has shown us better photos of a 2nd car that displays enough grain in the satin pink tinted silver not to be confused with the standard very glossy pink candy coat.The extra grain alone is proof enough for me that these are both cars in primer that missed their top candy coat + trip through Lesney´s ovens

Mick,

I cant get images quite as luxurious as David has posted due to having a crap camera phone to take photo's with!!!

David has assured me that the lotus i bought from him is identical in shade texture etc. I am delighted that you are confident that this is not a sunfade but rather a primed car minus its top coat. I am extremely happy to now own one.

Thank you very much for your valued input and i am sure that David will be equally delighted with your conclusions regarding this unusually coloured version of the SF#5.

I can only go by what I see in the photos,I may be wrong,even if we know from paint stripping cars what the primer layer underneath looks like and that it is thinner than candycoated finish.If some sort of chemical bleach had been used that could destroy the gloss but it would also damage the wheel chrome and near perfect wheel chrome is a good indicator of no chemical contamination.