1970 LOTUS ELAN

First registered on the 10th February 1970, this beautifully presented Lotus Elan +2 S is an original UK-supplied, matching-numbers example finished in its factory-correct colour scheme of Cirrus White with Black vinyl trim. Supplied new by J.A. Else & Son, it left Hethel on the 19th December 1969 and remains today as one of the most attractive and desirable iterations of the Elan +2, benefitting from years of expert care and a documented restoration spend now exceeding £65,000.

The Elan +2 was Lotus’s answer to the demand for a more practical sporting GT, offering space for four without sacrificing the delicacy and engineering purity that made the Elan a legend. Sleek, elegant and light, the +2 was praised from new for its sharp handling and usable performance, and today remains one of the most rewarding classic drivers’ cars in its category.

This example has been treated to extensive specialist investment. Between 2019 and 2024, the car was the subject of a comprehensive programme of work carried out by respected names in the Lotus world, including Great British Sports Cars, Neil Brown Engineering, Tony Thompson Racing, Dave Rae Motorsport Transmissions and PJS Sports Cars.

The works have been wide-ranging, covering chassis and suspension overhaul, extensive rewiring and electrical rectification, braking system refurbishment, new driveshafts and springs, carburettor rebuild and balancing, as well as detailed cosmetic preparation. The engine, the original Lotus Twin Cam (number F/21420), was fully rebuilt by Neil Brown Engineering in 2022 at a cost of over £6,000, with new custom pistons, timing components, water pump and dyno testing. The correct Ford 2000E gearbox was rebuilt in 2021, and the car has since benefitted from further fettling with PJS Sports Cars to ensure reliability in service.

Invoices on file total in excess of £65,000, a sum which underlines the scale and depth of the work carried out. The result is a Lotus Elan +2 S that is not only visually striking in its crisp Cirrus White paintwork, but also mechanically and dynamically fit for regular use. The retrimmed interior presents superbly, with perforated black vinyl seats and the distinctive wood veneer dashboard housing its suite of Smiths dials. The engine bay is as clean and sharp as the exterior, reflecting the standard of detail invested throughout.

On the road, the car delivers exactly what Colin Chapman promised: lightweight precision, lively performance from the Twin Cam and the sort of balance and agility that few other GT cars of the period could approach.

Supplied with its Lotus Certificate of Vehicle Provenance confirming its build details and matching-numbers status, a large and carefully ordered history file, and its current UK V5C registration, this Elan +2 S represents an outstanding opportunity to acquire a car that has already had the hard work and investment lavished upon it.

Available for immediate viewing at our Nottinghamshire premises. As always at Classicwise, our coffee pot is hot – why not come and see this superb Lotus Elan +2 S for yourself?