1989 Turbo SE: Confused about VIN & Engine No - I have a Domestic Chassis with a US engine?

[John Bergqvist 0]

My father has bought a 1989 Turbo SE, with the following VIN: SCC082910KHD65037 and the following engine no: LP910890326008 (Looks like it should be LB rather than LP - probably a mis-translation over the phone).

Which is confusing me as from what I can see from the VIN number, I have a domestic chassis (D) yet a US engine (6)? The Engine number also states that it's a US engine too (L)? What's the explanation? Did all SE's have a US-spec engine in them, regardless of which market they were actually intended for? If not, is there anything special/different about the US engine in the SE?

Finally, what does the "PAS" means for the engine number identification, as described here: http://www.lotusespritworld.com/EGuides/ETechnical/EngineNumber.html ?

Edited April 10, 2016 by John Bergqvist

[Vulcan Grey 235 1 Vehicles]

That link you posted is for the later engines.

 

Your Father's 89SE should be LP

L= 50 states 

P= High Compression + air conditioning

910 of course, 

6008 was just a few dozen before my engine

And there should be a "C" wrapping around as shown in that link, which is for the Chargecooler on the 89SE

There was no PAS (power steering) on the 89SE.

As for the markets, there was also

A = Japan

C= Domestic

F= Sweden /Australia/Switzerland

H= Canada/ USA 49 States

J= California

L= 50 states.

[John Bergqvist 0]

Thanks. I'm still confused about why the VIN shows that I have a domestic chassis yet a 50States/US engine? Did all SE's have a US-spec engine in them, regardless of which market they were actually intended for? If not, is there anything special/different about the US engine in the SE compared to a domestic one?

[Vulcan Grey 235 1 Vehicles]

I'm not sure exactly, but I do think all the SE's had the catalyst and were 50 state legal, and that Lotus kept the catalytic converter for ROW, or at least most.

[Escape 599 2 Vehicles]

My '89 SE also has 'D' for domestic chassis and '6' for 50 states engine. My '90 SE had 'A' for Australian chassis, with the same '6' engine. As far as I know the car never went down under, but was first registered in UK and then made it's way to Germany and finally Belgium. I wondered about the difference between chassis and engine spec as well when I first looked it up.

Engine numbers both start with LP, for 50 states spec and high compression + AC (according to my manual).