On the road to resurrecting project cars, countless affronts threaten progress: something complicated breaks, costs overrun budgets, spouses get cranky, storage disappears, another car comes along. Here on eBay is a 1969 Lotus Elan Plus 2 with a broken water pump, bid to $12,000, no reserve. The car was well along in its restoration, with substantial improvements already deployed when the water pump stopped pumping about two years ago. For those unfamiliar with the 1558 cc twin-cam four-banger in these cars, water pump failure is a true heart sinker. It is possible to replace it without removing the engine, but only if you have the patience of Job. Otherwise, you’re in for an engine-out experience. In any case, you’ll be towing this one from Dyersburg, Tennessee.
The Plus 2 was longer and wider than the Elan roadster, in order to accommodate 2+2 seating. The Plus 2 dash reminds me of an airplane instrument panel, saturated with switches and gauges. The roadster is more basic – akin to an MGB – and its dash is plain wood, not polished. The seller notes that his car’s seats and headliner were refurbished five years ago, and an aftermarket steering wheel engraved by Colin Chapman is installed. The door window lift motors are not working so both windows are stuck down. The motors that open the headlights are from a Toyota Celica, so at least they’ll be reliable. Speaking of electrical things, the Elan has scads of wiring thanks to the fiberglass body: all those gauges, electric motors, and the more conventional items such as the engine want grounding – somewhere.
The offending water pump is an integral part of the timing cover, and that is not the only inconvenience – the distributor sits under the intake manifold. An optimist might view pulling the engine as a way to examine all its components more readily, but anyway you view it, the exercise will involve dollar signs. This car comes with an extra Stromberg head (the holy grail is a Weber head) and a set of Stromberg carburetors. Mikunis are currently installed. A Coolex alloy radiator has been swapped for the original; the fuel tank is also alloy. Portions of the suspension have been rebuilt, and the front brakes are Wilwood. The rear brakes still need attention. The car has a high-flow oil pump, an alternator conversion, a stainless exhaust, and a rebuilt differential. The restored components and upgrades enhance what is already an elegant, quick, well-handling car from the factory.
Stress cracks and paint issues marr the cosmetics, but that can all be dealt with over time – after the car is running. The styling is a blend of the Elite’s rear and the Elan roadster’s front. It’s a shape that the market has decided to favor lately, as these have grown in price steadily. Gone are the days when the 2+2 configuration was viewed with scorn: now enthusiasts are bidding nice examples past $25k, in synch with a big increase in Elan prices generally. The current bid is a fair price for a car with needs in front of it.
Bid to $12k yes with only one bid. I see a newer Lotus in the garage.
Evora?
I think that is a Elise.
And now that one bid is gone, it was a retraction.
Those are known to have issues with the mounting points delaminating in the fiberglass body over time. Didn’t notice their condition being pointed out.
I believe you are thinking of the early Lotus Elite (the one from the fifties) It used the fiberglass for suspension mounting. Later cars had a separate frame that the body was bolted to via glassed-in metal bobbins. There is little stress on those and not an issue that I am aware of.
No, there are not the issues you allege.
Queation,,,being a 1969 shouldn’t it be a Weber headed motor??
69 Elan roadster would be an S4, definitely a Stromberg motor. I would guess this would follow suit.
1969 had Stromberg head.
No British project is ‘easy’.
…or ‘simple’.
Not one good picture of the overall car
$12K or it gets junked. Not the best way to sell a car but I can understand the frustration.
Can’t imagine that being such a hard engine out job…unless it really needs to be rebuilt after ceasing.
I’m really not into British go karts but an Anglophile under 5’10” could have a good time bringing this one back…at half the price…
Michelle, with your level of knowledge I’m surprised you’d title this a “ simple project”, even with a question mark. And then the description makes it clear it’s far from that.
As an aside, I never thought I’d see an ugly Elan of this vintage, but here it is!
The title was changed by editors. I had “Wants Water Pump:” Not sure why it was changed, I sure didn’t see this as simple.
Thanks. I wondered if someone else had done that!
Fwiw- there are aftermarket solutions for the water pump that include a pump “cassette” that can be removed without disassembling the cylinder head and oil pan. Nice upgrade.
Looks like a tidy car considering it’s age. That motor is not so complicated and an upgraded water pump with removable cassette as previously mentioned and electronic ignition would simply maintenance.
To properly change the water pump which is pressed into the front timing chain cover which Lotus engineered to convert a pushrod engine into an overhead cam motor the head and pan have to be removed as its sandwiched in between. The modified cover which uses an insert pump is a good mod but the head and pan still have to be removed to install it. Maybe it could be done in the car but why would you. On something like this you’ll be ahead of yourself to pull the motor and tend to everything you can. Remember a Lotus isn’t a car as much as it is a hobby.
I have one of these and it’s been great fun, but yes, always a little tweaking. I looked at another one and they had installed an electric water pump which bypassed any need to deal with the timing cover water pump, might be a quick way to get it on the road and those Mikuni’s are supposed to be great although I’ve always done well with the Strombergs on mine, Gordon S.
Ended 0 bids.