While this Lotus Elan +2 is narrowly tucked into a garage, it’s not exactly a barn find. It’s been fully restored to “daily driver status” and apparently only needs new gas and oil before leaping into life. Find it here on eBay, with an asking price of $25,500. If you want to tempt fate, you can try to start it where it sits in San Mateo, California, and drive it home. This coupe is one of the most elegant of its era, conceived to cater to Lotus customers who grew up with Elan roadsters but now wanted room for the whole family in an upmarket package. Lotus was always a specialty, low-production maker, so despite its eight year run, only somewhere between 3000 and 5000 Elan +2s rolled out of the factory; another 12,000 Elan two-seaters were made.
Although the numbers were small, Lotus made a dizzying array of variants. The two-seat Elan was launched in 1962 as a roadster bearing a 1500 cc engine, but only a couple dozen of those were made before the engine was updated. New trim versions arrived shortly thereafter, then coupes, then more updates to the roadster. All these shared a steel chassis, fiberglass body, some version of a twin-cam four-cylinder, and Colin Chapman’s design philosophy: “simplify, then add lightness”. When the Elan +2 arrived in 1967, it was both longer and wider than earlier cars. The larger interior dimension conveyed luxury and served to accommodate the whole family. The engine was the same 1558 cc twin-cam four found in roadsters, backed by a four-speed manual. Later, Lotus introduced the +2S, with a Big Valve version of the twin cam and considerably more power; a five-speed gearbox also became available. This example has a new battery, though the car has been sitting for six months without running, so a charge might be required. Once it runs, do not doubt its performance: these lightweight cars were both handy in the curves and satisfying on the straights – if you aren’t measuring against a Shelby GT500!
The Elan +2 interior ranks near the top in my book for “Britishness”. I am particularly enamored of the dash, with its polished wood and what seems like a thousand gauges. Lotus must have kept Smith’s working overtime. This example even has a clock. If this were my car, after attending to its mechanical needs I would change out the trim ring on that clock for chrome. Sheesh… Note that the upholstery is not perfect, but the blemishes are minor. If you’ve never driven a Lotus, you’re ready for a treat – the ergonomics are on the tight side, but if you’re around 5’8″ or less, everything falls to hand beautifully. It’s a cliché, but you wear a Lotus – you don’t sit in it.
A shop manual – that fat, green, familiar thing – and maybe a few parts come with the car. The seller notes that the paint has developed a few cracks – a common issue with painted fiberglass. On the value front, the seller’s price is a bit aggressive for a car that might not run at the moment. Recent sales hover around $23k to $25k, and that’s for the Big Valve +2S with a five-speed. I’d ask for a price concession here; what do you think?
This car has been shopped around for a while. I’ve seen it in various places and described in various states of repair. It’s pretty but if all it really needs is “some gas and oil”, then why not do it and show a running/driving video? Bring a trailer, some cash, and this might be a good buy.
Agreed. Gas and oil is an odd place to draw the line on an alleged restoration…
Lotus Daily Driver….quite the oxymoron.
Buy it and drive it home? Maybe if you’re his neighbor.
Runs well, if you can get it running?? The one photo has the door open, why not push it out and get some way better photos?
Back in the 70’s, my brother and I both drove Elan’s as daily drivers…. not an easy thing if you didn’t like to repair them constantly. However, the fun of driving them was worth it back then. I found an Elan +2 s130 in a garage in NJ in the 90’s that was a true barn find for $6000. It was in great original condition, however it was white with the silver metal flake top which was how they came out of the factory. I wasn’t particularly fond of the those silver tops and I sold the car to my brother. He was very daring with the car and cut the top off and made it a +2 roadster which was actually a very good looking car. He drove it like that for a while and eventually reinstalled the top back to original. He repainted it,, installed custom Minilite wheels made for the Lotus knockoffs and sold it to guy in Australia….. away it went to the opposite side of the earth! I think the S130 +2 is one the best looking cars every made. It’s not a 4 seater, really, however it is bigger and more refined that a standard roadster. I, too always loved the aircraft styled dashboard with lots of gauges! It was very cool for its day! Good memories of fun cars, but not for the faint of heart. You needed to be diligent with driving and maintaining a Lotus……..
I do agree that the price is a bit steep for a non Big Valve +2 version, especially that it is not running. However, there are not that many of these cars left in circulation and what do really get for $25K today? If you have the money lying around and you want the experience of having a Lotus, go for it! The experience has its ups…. and its downs. Be prepared for both!!
Our fellow car addict, Rob Siegel (BMW CCA, Hagerty) recently acquired a +2 along with extensive rodent housing and has documented a lot of his work, of course. You can find him with a FB search, among other places.
Looks like a pretty big plate of spaghetti wiring below the steering wheel.
I bought a +2 on the basis of how beautiful it is, and the intention to do the full Spyder Engineering upgrade and conversion (https://www.spydercars.co.uk/). That was until I visited them and went for a ride in one of their showroom/test vehicles. This was about 10 years ago and the hearing in my left ear has recently returned. Also my kidneys seem to be moving back to their original and intended position. As a daily driver? Not so much. With noise cancelling earphones and a kidney belt it is unmatched fun though.
At the British car meet in Dobson, North Carolina,
there were TWO of these,both in really nice condition.
As I said before,I had a friend loan me one to use
for the weekend,& take it to the All British Field Meet in
Portland,Oregon.
As I picked it up at his house in Tillamook,Oregon,
I thought to myself – “i’m driving a car that I’ve never seen
before.This will either be one of the coolest things I’ve ever-
done,or the stupidist”.
As I headed towards Portland,I noticed that as the light
on the speedometer wasn’t working (big surprise),I had no
idea how fast I was going,but could read the tach.Later,I realized
that I was hitting over 100 MPH in it!
This was a fun to drive car,& he later sold it to Chris Bebe,
Peter Egan’s friend.
Auction has closed
Auction has closed