Battery compartment is fine, hinges differ, not 4 rear lights but only 2 rectangular uglies. spare wheel where it should. Prototype 1958? No, the squarish rear light appeared in the sixties at least on the Elan...
Prototype is right, but 1958 was wrong before and guess what? It's still wrong!
Although the earliest Elans had round rear lights similar to the production Elites' they were later replaced by Vauxhall Victor rear lights which were more rectangular but with pointed ends, and of course were horizontal.
The lights on this are the same ones as used on the AC Ace and very early Cobras.
It is the first Elite prototype so we just need the date now!