Lotus Serial Numbers

Deciphering Lotus serial numbers takes a bit of detective work.  Many bicycle builders code the date of manufacture into the serial number of the frame, but Lotus serial numbers seem to be proprietary and all of the codes have yet to be decoded. 

LOTUS SERIAL NUMBERS WITH 2 LETTER PREFIX

Your serial number may be close to a bike that has already been dated.  The two-letter prefix found on many serial numbers does seem toJapanese bicycles
represent model years, or at least production runs.  For example, we believe the prefix KY represents 1980 production for at least the Legend and the Classique.

TSUNODA BUILT LOTUS BICYCLES

Most Tsunoda-built Lotus serial numbers are stamped onto the underside of the bottom bracket and consist of two letters followed by five, six, or seven numbers (AB12345++).  It seems that later model bikes have more numbers than the earlier bikes. This may be an important clue to dating a vintage Lotus. Some bicycles have been observed with serial numbers stamped on the seat tube near the bottom bracket.

PACIFIC CYCLES BUILT LOTUS BIKES

If you have a Pacific Cycles built Lotus Elite, Elan, Special, Sprint or Prestige your serial number will begin with the letter P, as in the example shown below on the Lotus Elite. P stands for Pacific Cycles.  The second number represents the year of manufacture and the third and fourth number, the production week. The final numbers are the individual frame numbers. So number P3151234 was the 1234th frame number built during the 15th week of 1983.

LOTUS BIKES BUILT BETWEEN 1986-88

Some Lotus bicycles built in 1986-88 use a Y6C1234 style code.  The first letter is possibly a vendor code, the second number is the model year and the third letter is probably a fortnight code. C represents the 3rd fortnight of 1986 production.
Lotus bicycles were built by many different factories to Lotus specifications. If you view the chart, specific numbering styles are starting to appear.  Each different numbering style may represent a different factory. So far we know that Lotus used Tsunoda, Pacific Cycles and Maruishi to make their bikes.

Serial
Number
 Model Name Main
Color
Frame Tubing Frame
Size
Seat
Tube
Date
Seat
Tube
Size
Alternate
Component
Date
Year?
 DK00126  America  Blue  Tange Champion  24″  81?
 DK00483  Red  Tange Champion #5
 DK00538  America (frame)  Silver  Tange Champion  21″  81?
 KE05489  Legend  Yellow  Tange Champion #2  21″  4-80  26.8  80?
 KH01329  Classique  Ivory  Cro-Mo Double Butted  25″
 KK02443  Odyssey  Pearl Ivory  Tange Champion #2  23.5  3-80  26.8  80
 KK02541  Odyssey  Pearl Ivory  Tange Champion #2  23.5  3-80  26.8  78, 80 Hubs  80?
 KK02678  Odyssey  Silver  Tange Champion #2  56cm  80?
 KM07097  Excelle  Silver
 KN00921  Unique  Ice Blue  25″  80?
 KN06713  Legend  Black  Tange Champion #2  80?
 KN07106  Grand Prix Mixte  Blue  Tange  21″  26.2  8-80 Hub  80?
 KN07237  Eclair  Silver  Tange Champion Cro-Mo  52cm  10-78 Der  80?
 KT05914  Classique  Red  Tange Champion  21″  1-80  26.8  9-80 Crank  81?
 KY02832  Eclair  White  Cro-Mo  23″  3-80  26.4  80?
 KY03801  Eclair  Blue  27″  80?
 KY07299  Classique  Ice Blue  Cro-Mo Double Butted  23″  3-80  26.4  1-80 Crank  80
 KY07396  Classique  Ivory  Cro-Mo Double Butted  25″  80
 KY10640  Legend (frame)  Ice Blue  Tange Champion?  23″  26.8  3-80 Fork  80
 MA05506  Grand Prix  Black  Tsunoda  22″  26.0  6-81 Der  81?
 MH01452  Odyssey  Orange  Tange Champion #2  56cm  27.2  81?
 MH01646  Legend  Black  Tange Champion #2  27″  81?
 MH10268  Eclair  White  Tange Champion #5  27″  81?
 MH10573  Classique  Ice Blue  Tange Champion #1  19″  12-80  26.8  81
 MK02473  Classique  Ice Blue  Tange Champion #1  21″  2-81 Crank  81
 MK02760  Legend  Ice Blue  Tange Champion  21″  3-81  81
 MK02761  Legend  Sky Yellow  Tange Champion #1  21″  26.8  2-81 Crank  81
 MK02823  Legend  Black  Tange Champion #2  25″  8-81  2-81 Crank  81
 MK02839  Legend  Sky Yellow  Tange Champion #2  23″  12-80  26.6  2-81 Crank  81
 MK02918  Odyssey  Silver  Tange Champion #2  61cm  26.8  81
 MK02928  Odyssey  Silver  Tange Champion #2  60cm  81
 MK02931  Odyssey  Orange  Tange Champion  58cm  2-81  26.6  3-81 Der  81
 MK0538  Excelle  Black  21.5  2-81 Stem  81?
 MK20810  Legend  Ice Blue  Tange Champion #2  58cm  80  26.6  1-81 Crank  81
 MM01326  Red  Champion CroMo  26″
 MM03182  Classique  Red  Tange Champion #2  23″  81?
 YK012  Super Pro Aero (Jim Black)  Pink  Tange Aerp  64cm  oval  81
 MM02674  Super Pro Aero  Gold  Tange Aero  oval  81?
 MM04196  Super Pro Aero  Gold  Tange Aero  56cm  oval  81
 MM04268  Super Pro Aero  Gold  Tange Aero  oval  81
 MY08659  Eclair  Blue  Tange Champion #5  81?
 MY09022  Eclair  Silver  Tange Champion #5  21″  81?
 DR07500  Eclair  Bronze  Tange Mangaloy 2001  23″  “0”  83?
 DR08734  Excelle  Black  Tange Mangaloy 2001  23″  12-82  26.8  12-82 Crank  83
 DR09044  America  Red
 P2271161  Elan (Pacific Cycles)  Black  25″  82
 P3011856  Special (Pacific Cycles)  Blue  18″  83
 P3104251  Prestige  Gunmetal Grey  Tange Mangaloy 2001  83
 P3142586  Elan  Red  83
 P3452543  Special  83
 P3452763  Special (Pacific Cycles)  Blue  27″  83
 P3524469  Prestige (Pacific Cycles)  Blue  Tange Mangaloy 2001  22″  84?
 3514444J  Elite  Champagne  Made in Taiwan  19″  26.6  83
 EM00415  Eclair  Bronze  Tange Mangaloy 2001  27″  2-83  26.8  2-83 Crank  83
 EY03984  Odyssey  Gunmetal Grey  Columbus  58cm  3-83  27.2  83
 EY04029  Odyssey  Pearl Orange  Columbus  23″  3-83  27.2  83
 EY04307  Legend Compe  Oxide Green  Columbus  58cm  3-83  27.2  4-83 Crank  83
 EY04480  Eclair  Pearl White  Tange Mangaloy 2001  25″  3-83  83
 EY04811  Unique  Violet Blue  Tange Mangaloy 2001  83
 M3G59325  Aero Sport (U.K.)  Silver  Tange Aero  23″
 EA01419  Odyssey  Pearl Orange  Columbus  23″  3-83  27.2  3-82 Crank  83
 EA09203  Aero Sport  Champagne  Tange Aero  60cm  oval  5-82 Crank  83
 EA09235  Aero Sport  Champagne  Tange Aero  oval  83
 EA06439  Supreme (Campy SR)  Violet  Columbus  56cm  83 Der  84
 EA06466  Competition  Blue  Columbus  50cm  2-81 Superbe  83
 EH00232  Aero Sport  Champagne  Tange Aero  56cm  oval  83
 EH00245  Aero Sport  Champagne  Tange Aero  58cm  oval  2-81 Crank  83
 EH02104  Classique  Ice Blue  Tange Champion #2  25″  10-80  3-83 SH 600 Cr  83
 EH02204 Classique  Ice Blue  Tange Champion #2  23″  83
 EH02243  Classique  Burg  Tange Champion #1  19″  Shimano 600  83
 EH02248  Classique  Ice Blue  Tange Champion #1  19″  10-80  26.8  83
 EH04948  Legend  Gold  2-83  83
 EH05075  Blue  Mangaloy
 EH06333  Legend  Oxide Green  83
 EH06356  Legend  Gold  83
 HO112  Legend (frame)  Oxide Green  Unmarked  22″  27.2  ’83 Details  83
 EK02048  Eclair  Navy Blue  54cm  84
 EK03040  Excelle  Black  Tange Mangaloy 2001  12-83 F Der  84
 EN00925  Unique  Violet Blue  61cm  84
 EN05515  Classique  Burg  Tange Champion  25″  12-83  26.8  11-83 Brake  84
 EN05702  Excelle  L Blue  Tange Mangaloy 2001  19″  3-84  9-83 R Der  84
 EN06432  Challenger  Red  84?
 EN06727  Eclair  Blue  Tange Mangaloy 2001  22″  84
 EN07459  Unique  Violet Blue  Tange Mangaloy 2001  24″  11-83  5-83 R Der  84?
 ET07549  Classique  Bronze  Tange Champion #2  25″  6-83  26.6  8-83 R Der  83?
 ET08206  Challenger  Red  Tange Champion  20″  26.6  8-83 Suntour  84
 DA15240  Legend  Ice Blue  Columbus  60cm  84?
 DA15334  Odyssey  Burgundy  Columbus  84?
 DH19010  Legend  Tan  Columbus  84?
 DH19101  Legend  Ice Blue  Columbus  52cm  84?
 DH19279  Legend  Ice Blue  Columbus  84?
 DH19482  Legend Compe (Campy)  Oxide Green  Columbus  60cm  84?
 DH19466  Legend Compe (Campy)  Oxide Green  Columbus  59cm  27.2  84?
 DH19706  Odyssey  Grey  Columbus  58cm  84
 DH19710  Odyssey  Grey  Columbus  58cm  27.2  84
 DH19780  Odyssey  Grey  Columbus  60cm  84
 DH19897  Competition  Oxide Green  Columbus  60cm  27.2  Pat83 Campy  84?
 DH19942  Supreme (Campy SR)  Violet  Columbus  56cm  27.2  84?
 DS1583-  Supreme (frame)  Violet  Columbus  61cm  84?
 DS15894  Odyssey  Burg  Columbus  54cm  84
 DS15909  Odyssey  Burg  Columbus  56cm  1-84  84
 DS15956  Odyssey  Grey  Columbus  58cm  27.2  83 Hubs  84
 DS15971  Odyssey  Burg  Columbus  58cm  27.0  Late 83 All  84
 DS16246  Legend  Lavender  Columbus  60cm  84?
DS16282  Legend Compe (Campy)  Champagne  Columbus  52cm  84
 DS16287  Legend Compe (Campy)  Champagne  Columbus  56cm  27.2  84
 DS16296  Legend Compe (Campy)  Oxide Green  Columbus  54cm  27.2  83 Crank/Der  84
 DS16302  Legend Compe (Campy)  Champagne  Columbus  56cm  27.2  83 Der  84
 SH00690  Classique  Blue  Tange Champion #1  58cm  2-84  26.8  84
 SH00780  Classique  Blue  Tange Champion #1  25″  12-83  84
 SH03745  Excelle  Silver  Tange Mangaloy 2001  48cm  1-84  26.6  84
 SH04462  Excelle  Silver  Tange Mangaloy 2001  58cm  84
 SH04679  Unique  Violet Blue  Tange Mangaloy 2001  22″  2-84  26.6  84
 SH04771  Excelle
 SH05929  Eclair  Blue  Tange Mangaloy 2001  56cm  2-84  26.6  12-83 R Der  84
 SU00018  Classique  Burgundy  Tange Cromemoly  19″  7-83 R Der  84
 SU00244  Classique  Blue  84?
 SU01046  Excelle Mixte  Blue  Tange Mangaloy 2001  21″  84
 SU01190  Eclair  Blue  61cm  84?
 SU01507  Unique  Red  Tange Mangaloy 2001  49cm  12-83  26.6  84?
 SU01702  Unique  Silver  Tange Mangaloy 2001  56cm  26.6  84?
 SU01718  Unique  84?
 SU01867  Unique  Silver  Tange Mangaloy 2001  84?
 SU01915  Unique  Silver  Tange Mangaloy 2001  24″  84?
 SY0475  Classique  Blue  Tange Champion  54mm
 SY06607  Excelle  Silver  Tange Mangaloy 2001  58cm  84?
 SY07045  Excelle  Blue  Tange Mangaloy 2001  19″  1-84  26.6  1-84 R Der  84
 SY07703  Eclair  Burgundy  Tange Mangaloy 2001  19″  26.8  84
 SY07717  Eclair  Blue  Tange Mangaloy 2001  18″  84?
 SY07910  Unique  Red  Tange Mangaloy 2001  22″  3-84  26.6  84
 HH00214  Challenger SX (Sport  Series)  Yellow/Black  Chromalite 503 Fork  8-85?  27.0
 HH00886  Excelle Triathlon  Grey/White  Tange Mangaloy 2001  54cm  Paint Fade  88?
 HH01349  Challenger  Blue  Tange 900 / 503 Fork  19  8-87  Sold New 4-89  88?
 HH01416  Challenger  Blue  Tange 900  21″  88?
 HH01749  Challenger  Violet/Blue  Tange 1000  25″  Biopace
 4361  Prestige  Dark Grey  Tange mangaloy 2001  22″
 5374  Prestige  Dark Grey  “WH” R Der
 010109  International  Metallic Red  Hi-Ten Steel  18″  1-86 Brakes  86
 050300  Unique  Coral  Ishiwata EXO  56cm  1-86  86?
 050943  Unique  Coral  Ishiwata EXO
141032  Viking  Purple/White  CR MO Tange CR MO Fork  21″ 1-88  Sold New 10-88  88
 191115  Cherokee  Teal/White  Tange ATB CrMo  18″
 230127  Challenger (Sport Series)  Blue  Tange 900  21″  87?
 316045  Explorer  Crimson  CrMo  21″  26.6  12-86 Brakes  87
 318298  Explorer  Bronze  19″
 336507  Challenger (Sport Series)  Blue  Tange 900 / 503 Fork  22″
 482150  Challenger (Sport Series)  Grey
 510131  Special (Sport Series)  Blue  Chromalite / 503 Fork  87?
 530094  Challenger (frame)  Blue  Tange 900 / 503 Fork  23″
 630277  Challenger  Blue/White  Tange 900 DB  56cm  87?
 HR169296  3000M  White  21″
 MCC6629  Pegasus  Brown  21″
 TH8709259937  Explorer  Black  Tange Cr-Mo  20″  87
 V6K2857  Legend Triathlon  Coral  Tange #1  48cm  87
 Y1C2295  Legend Triathlon  Coral  Tange #1  58cm  27.2  86?
 Y6A4930  Elite 600  Coral  Tange #2  44cm  87
 Y6C1654  Cyclone  Blue  Tange #2  56cm  1-86  26.6  11-85 F Der  86
 Y6C1963  Legend  Charcoal Grey  Tange #1  60cm  86
 Y6C2269  Excelle  Red  Tange 900
 Y6C2474  Excelle  Blue  Tange 900  23″  86 Equipped  86
 Y6H1343  Challenger SX  Blue  58cm  87
 Y6H1719  Excelle  Blue  Tange 1000  25″  3-86 R Der  87?
 Y6H1945  Legend  Coral  Tange #1  60cm  26.8?  87?
 Y6H2139  Excelle  Burg/White  Ishiwata
 Y6K2072  Excelle  Burgundy  Ishiwata  23″  10-86 R Der  87
 Y6K2284  Unique  Pearl  87
 Y6K2722  Elite 600  Coral  Tange #2  44cm  87
 Y6K2733  Elite 600  Coral  Tange #2  44cm  87
 Y6K3242  Excelle  Burgundy  Ishiwata EX 4130  23″  87?
 Y6K3376  Excelle  Pearl White  Ishiwata EX 4130  87?
 Y6K3503  Excelle  Blue  Ishiwata EX 4130  62cm  87
 Y6K773  Odyssey  White
 Y6M1678  Excelle  Burgundy  Ishiwata EX 4130  62cm  27.2  87
 Y6M1767  Excelle  Blue  Ishiwata EX 4130  62cm  27.0  87
 Y6M1970  Excelle  White  Tange Mangaloy 2001  54cm  87?
 Y6M1994  Excelle  Pearl White  Ishiwata EX 4130  23′  87
 Y6M2450  Challenger SX  Electric Blue  Tange 900  20″  1986  87
 Y6N1173  Excelle  Burgundy  Ishiwata EX 4130  23″  26.8  87?
 Y7B1062  Excelle Mixte  Blue  Ishiwata EX 4130  19″  27.0  12-86 Brake  87?
 Y7C1228  Classique  L. Blue  Tange #2  21″
 Y7N2780  Challenger SX Sport Series  Champagne  Cromalite 503 Fork
 Y7N4324  Excelle  White/Red  Ishiwata EX 4130  25″  27.0  88
 Y7N4544  Challenger SX  Champagne
 Y7N4945  Excelle  Blue  Ishiwata EX 4130  22″  88
 Y7N4960  Excelle  Blue  Ishiwata EX 4130  23″  Sold New 7-88  88
 YL6L296  Esprit  Aqua  Aluminum 7000  56cm  1-86  87
 YL6L307  Esprit  Aqua  Aluminum 7000  54cm  87
 YL6L335  Esprit  Coral  Aluminum 7000  56cm  1-86  25.0  87
 YL6L414  Esprit  Aqua  Aluminum 7000  56cm  87
 YL6L444  Esprit  Aqua  Aluminum 7000  56cm  87
 YL6L479  Esprit  Aqua  Aluminum 7000  87
 N8BE5140  Elite 600  Charcoal  Tange #1  58cm  26.6  88-Style Decals  88
 SC842113  International  Red  Cr.Mo. & 503  20″  2-88 Fork  88
 UO046573  3000R  Blue  Tange Triple Butted  23
 UO0620042  3000R  Teal  Tange Triple Butted  21″  3-90 Crank  90
 VO1017377  3000R  Teal  Tange Triple Butted  21″  1990  6B-89 Brakes  90
 MO313601  3000R  Blue  CR-MO  20″
 MO509854  3000R  Blue  CR-MO  23″  3-90  26.4  9-89 Der  90
 GD108417  2000R  Blue  CR-MO  Sears Purchase
 MO514330  2000R  Blue  52cm
 UO0470719  2000M  Red
 CD109149  2000R  Blue  Cr.Mo.  58cm  4-91  26.6  2-91 R Der  91

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