Hi Jett,
I know little about the Hoover Elites, but since no one else has responded at this point, and I like data collection I'm posting some information I found online.
Hoover USA's Elite series was launched in April 1988. It consisted of the 200, 300, 350, 400, 500, 600, & 700; although these may have been introduced at different times throughout the year. I didn't do an exhaustive search on years.
Hesco, Inc. or Quincy, Illinois, at one time had posted schematics on its website. Unfortunately, I was unable to locate them, but I did copy the model numbers that were listed and had posted them on another VL thread—all categorized as Elites, but actually a variety of model names. It is likely incomplete as I've found out with other brands, but it provides a framework. Anyway, I looked each up to find its model name and key features that were mentioned in online newspaper ads.
Hope it's of interest to you.
Encore
U4245, -030, -930
U4251-930
Soft & Light Supreme
U4266
Elite 200
U4455
U4457
U4467, -960, -970, -980
Sprint
U4247-030
(No info found)
U4297-910
U4609
U4701-970
U4681, -910
Elite 300
U4467
U4469
Elite 400
U4471, -9, -960 (5.2 amps)
Kmart models
U4265-910, -930 (Runabout)
U4481 (Elite, 5.0 amps)
U4483 (Elite, 5.2 amps)
U4485 (Elite, 6.0 amps)
U4601-900 (Elite LE, 5.0 amps)
U4717-930 (Elite, 7.2 amps)
U5035-930 (Runabout)
U5075-930 (Elite Supreme, 7.2 amps)
Sears Elite models
U4723 (5.0 amps)
Elite 350 – 5.0 amps
U4459, -940
U4461-9
U4463-9
U4509
U4533-9
Elite 600
U4465-9
U4473, -080
Elite 500
U4507, -9 (5.8amps)
Elite 700
U4511, -9
Elite SE
U4599-900
Elite II, 6.0 amps, 20-ft. cord
U4617-910, -920, -930
U4649-910
U4657 (5.0 amps)
U4671-910, -920, -930 (24-ft. cord)
U4689-910 (7.0 amps, 24-ft. cord)
U4697-910
U4709-910
Elite CE, 15.5 amps
U4715-930
Elite Energy Efficient
U4641-10, -920, -930
Deluxe Elite II, 7.0 amps
U4713-910
Preferred
U4655-930
U5051-930 (31-ft. cord)
Elite
U4639-930, -980
U4675-930 (7.2 amps)
U5061-900 (12.0 amps.)
U5062-900 (12.0 amps, hard bag)
U5070-930 (35-ft. cord)
Convertible (Elite Design)
U4535-930
Runabout
U4253-930
U4258-930
U4267-930 (7.0 amps)
Sprint
U4257-930
U4259-930 (7.0 amps)
U5068-900 (12.0 amps)
Encore Supreme
U4261-910, -930, -940, -980, -990 (7.2 amps)
U4263-930 (7.0 amps)
U4271-930, -980 (20-ft. cord)
U4283-970
U4293-930
U4299-930, -980
Runabout Supreme, 7.2 amps
U4269-930
Decade
U4295-930
Elite Supreme, hard shell
U5041-980
U5043-910, -930 (8.0 amps)
U5071-930
Decade Supreme, 7.2 amps
U5077-930
Runabout Deluxe, 7.2 amps
U5064-940
Convertible, UK
U5074-900
________
Also, here are some 1988 newspaper advertisements:
1. Apr 4 TUSCALOOSA NEWS - Hoover S3431 & Elite U4461-900
2. Apr 13 BEAVER COUNTRY TIMES - New Hoover Elite 350 & 600
3. Aug 24 OCALA STAR-BANNER Hoover Elite 350 U4461 & Elite 400 U4471
4. Jun 9 LODI NEWS-SENTINEL - Hoover Elite 350 ad
5. Nov 9 OBSERVER-REPORTER Hoover Elite 200, Spirit, Portapower, handvacs, Quik-Broom II
6. Sep 3 STAR-NEWS - Hoover Elite 700
