From 1962-75, Lotus Cars produced the Elan, a British-built rear-wheel-drive sports car. Beginning in 1967, they added a 2+2 version with a longer wheelbase and more passenger room to attract buyers with small children. This 1973 is one of the later +2’s and comes with a larger twin-cam “big valve” engine. The interior has been removed in preparation for a restoration that the next owner will need to complete. Located in Pittsford, New York, this rare project is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $8,500.

The target demographic for the Lotus Elan +2 was a young couple with small children who wanted a sporty car but also needed additional room. Although it was bigger to accommodate two more seats, the design of the Elan +2 was much like the 2-seater Elan. It continued with the use of a backbone chassis and fiberglass body, powered by a Lotus 1558 cc engine and a 4 or 5-speed transmission. Even some of the suspension components were shared with the smaller Elan.

Production numbers for Lotus cars are always fuzzy but estimates for output of the Elan +2 range between 3,300 and 5,200 copies, of which the seller’s project car is one of them. Either way, given the limited number that made it to the U.S., few of these machines can be roaming the highways anymore. At less than 45,000 miles, this Elan needs a restoration, but the body looks like it’s a solid candidate to work with. The yellow paint doesn’t look bad, at least in the photos provided.

Some of the interior has been removed and things like the headliner and carpeting will need replacing. We don’t know if the drivetrain is functional or whether rebuilding it needs to be included in the to-do list. Once restored as stock, this Lotus could have a top speed of 120 mph and reach 0 to 60 in under eight seconds. So, these British sports cars were no slouches in the performance department. Is there room for this rarity in your garage?