The Lotus is dead, long live the Lotus!
Discussion
Alas, the financial pressures associated with divorce and a whomping tax bill compelled me to sell my much loved 1972/3 Lotus Europa Special. It has gone to Hong Kong, and may not drive much anymore, but who knows?
This left a Lotus-shaped hole in my life. As the storm clouds have rolled past, I have splashed out modestly on a low mileage 1974 Elan Plus 2 130/5 in very good but not show condition. This, of course, has the same Lotus/FordBig Valve Twincam, with a pair of twin choke Dellortos, as the Europa had. It is rated at 126BHP, but the ever spivvy Mr Chapman badged the car as a 130. The five speed gearbox, a Lotus lash-up based on Maxi cogs, is much better than the frankly not very good Renault box in the Europa Special. The car is, as they say, fully loaded, by the standards of a 70s GT. Lotus was trying to sell this contraption against the 911, so it got all the toys, and more clocks than a Swiss railway station.
Although heavier than a Europa or a two seater Elan, the Plus Two is still a light and rapid vehicle. Some pundits reckon that it actually handles even better than a small Elan, as it is a bit wider. I do not have enough road experience of the variants to comment on this. My girlfriend will find getting in and out of the car without disclosing, ahem, too much information, a lot easier; and there is room in the back for my seven year old daughter, who cried when I sold the Europa (I wanted to cry also, but I had to be stiff upper lip).
With good Elan Sprints now commanding prices north of 30K, the Plus Two remains a lot of classic Lotus for sensible money. I note, by the way, that Paul Matty has for sale what is rumoured to be the best JPS Europa Special in the Lotiverse, but he is asking almost 30 for it, so no thanks, even with a good haggle.
Now, as my Breadvan has gone to deliver Dim Sum Dumplings instead of Muffins, I need a new handle. Maybe "Blokewhatcouldn'taffordaproperElan"?
Here is the jalopy:-
This left a Lotus-shaped hole in my life. As the storm clouds have rolled past, I have splashed out modestly on a low mileage 1974 Elan Plus 2 130/5 in very good but not show condition. This, of course, has the same Lotus/FordBig Valve Twincam, with a pair of twin choke Dellortos, as the Europa had. It is rated at 126BHP, but the ever spivvy Mr Chapman badged the car as a 130. The five speed gearbox, a Lotus lash-up based on Maxi cogs, is much better than the frankly not very good Renault box in the Europa Special. The car is, as they say, fully loaded, by the standards of a 70s GT. Lotus was trying to sell this contraption against the 911, so it got all the toys, and more clocks than a Swiss railway station.
Although heavier than a Europa or a two seater Elan, the Plus Two is still a light and rapid vehicle. Some pundits reckon that it actually handles even better than a small Elan, as it is a bit wider. I do not have enough road experience of the variants to comment on this. My girlfriend will find getting in and out of the car without disclosing, ahem, too much information, a lot easier; and there is room in the back for my seven year old daughter, who cried when I sold the Europa (I wanted to cry also, but I had to be stiff upper lip).
With good Elan Sprints now commanding prices north of 30K, the Plus Two remains a lot of classic Lotus for sensible money. I note, by the way, that Paul Matty has for sale what is rumoured to be the best JPS Europa Special in the Lotiverse, but he is asking almost 30 for it, so no thanks, even with a good haggle.
Now, as my Breadvan has gone to deliver Dim Sum Dumplings instead of Muffins, I need a new handle. Maybe "Blokewhatcouldn'taffordaproperElan"?
Here is the jalopy:-
As with all cars, it looks better in photos than in real life, but it is a very tidy example of the type. It is good to be back. I had a period of hating the automobile, its agents, minions and familiars, and could not bear to look at car sites on the net, but now I have fallen in love again.
The colour scheme is a very deep blue, almost indigo. Many of these cars started life with a sparkle fleck silver roof, but I think that I prefer this single colour style, although the silver roof does look good with Lagoon blue.
The colour scheme is a very deep blue, almost indigo. Many of these cars started life with a sparkle fleck silver roof, but I think that I prefer this single colour style, although the silver roof does look good with Lagoon blue.
Edited by Breadvan73 on Friday 9th March 10:30
I have never really warmed to the looks of the two seater Elans, great cars though they be. This is the first car of any marque that I have ever bought with pop up headlights, as generally I think that style makes a car look "blind". At least the sidelights give the Plus 2 some facial aspect, and it looks jolly when it has one or both eyes open. I am told that winking Elans are to be expected, as the wet gets into the vacuum system and the lights go wobbly. They are supposed to be failsafe up, but I am told that this is not always the case.
That front bumper is, as any fule kno, from a Ford Anglia. I am glad to say that the Marina inside door handles are still going strong.
Here are some more views of the sculpture, plus proof that it is a Plus 2.
That front bumper is, as any fule kno, from a Ford Anglia. I am glad to say that the Marina inside door handles are still going strong.
Here are some more views of the sculpture, plus proof that it is a Plus 2.
I might do. I have mixed views about the JPS Elan + 2. As you know, it has a gold sparkle fleck roof. Is it just a bit on the bling side? I really am not sure.
These photos do not quite make the point that I am aiming at, as, in the light and weather conditions that prevailed when they were taken, the JPS +2, which belongs to a very agreeable and non bling bloke, looks good, and not at all blingoid, but in sunshine I am not so sure. The Europa in the shots, by the way, was my one, dodgy gearbox and all. Farewell, lovely machine.
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These photos do not quite make the point that I am aiming at, as, in the light and weather conditions that prevailed when they were taken, the JPS +2, which belongs to a very agreeable and non bling bloke, looks good, and not at all blingoid, but in sunshine I am not so sure. The Europa in the shots, by the way, was my one, dodgy gearbox and all. Farewell, lovely machine.
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Edited by Breadvan73 on Friday 9th March 17:58
Breadvan73 said:
Some pundits reckon that it actually handles even better than a small Elan, as it is a bit wider. I do not have enough road experience of the variants to comment on this.
I've owned both: the two seater is significantly nimbler and feels more 'alive', but has a touch less grip overall (narrower track, so more lateral weight transfer) and for the same reason is a bit less progressive. It's therefore personal preference which you'd consider to be the 'best', but you could make a good argument for either.Did you try any 4-speeds, though? The 5 speed is much better than a Europa (what isn't!) but it's pretty poor for an inline gearbox, whereas the 4 speed is an absolute joy and a good one has one of the best gearchanges of any car, ever. They are a bit under-geared for fast touring, though, which is admittedly where the Plus 2 excels over the 2-seater... at least the 5-speed give you an overdriven top.
wildoliver said:
I sold my Elan Sprint a few years back, god do I regret it!
Doggy it may have been but had I kept hold of it and spent a few grand I would have easily made an extra 5-10k!
Doggy it may have been but had I kept hold of it and spent a few grand I would have easily made an extra 5-10k!
I made a minor killing on my Sprint, too, but it looks like there'd have been another £10K in it if I'd hung on to it for another year or so - values seem to be climing really quite steeply at the moment. It only seems recently that the pundits were suggesting Plus 2's would never breach the £10K barrier!
Cheers! The Fabboceptor lives on, although at the moment it might be better termed the Rustoceptor, after being used as an everyday car for a while (now I wonder why I went skint!). It is due for a respray soon, and I plan to keep it. I need an open car and/or two seater to complete the fleet. I still have a very knackered 1977 Alfa Spider in a shed, but that will cost quite a few quid to get going again, and the game may not be worth the candle. Maybe next year (I have been saying that for several years now).
I am aware that the four speed box is thought to be the better option, and current values reflect this, with 130/4s commanding higher prices than 130/5s in similar condition; but I do want to do some long range touring in the car, including a possible trip to Umbria and back this August, and that makes the fifth speed desirable to me. The one that I have bought seems to have a decent box on it, but time will tell.....
I am aware that the four speed box is thought to be the better option, and current values reflect this, with 130/4s commanding higher prices than 130/5s in similar condition; but I do want to do some long range touring in the car, including a possible trip to Umbria and back this August, and that makes the fifth speed desirable to me. The one that I have bought seems to have a decent box on it, but time will tell.....
Breadvan73 said:
Cheers! The Fabboceptor lives on, although at the moment it might be better termed the Rustoceptor, after being used as an everyday car for a while (now I wonder why I went skint!). It is due for a respray soon, and I plan to keep it. I need an open car and/or two seater to complete the fleet. I still have a very knackered 1977 Alfa Spider in a shed, but that will cost quite a few quid to get going again, and the game may not be worth the candle. Maybe next year (I have been saying that for several years now).
I have an Interceptor, too. Which probably explains why we both have financial pressures and are having to downsize our Lotuses as a result! At least we both did OK on the trades by the look of it.Breadvan73 said:
I am aware that the four speed box is thought to be the better option, and current values reflect this, with 130/4s commanding higher prices than 130/5s in similar condition; but I do want to do some long range touring in the car, including a possible trip to Umbria and back this August, and that makes the fifth speed desirable to me. The one that I have bought seems to have a decent box on it, but time will tell.....
Ah, our classic car soulmatery is over. My +2 ticks most of the less-desirable boxes – red, Strombergs, glass sunroof – largely because the only stipulation I made was it HAD to be a 4-speed. More work on the motorway for sure (though far more refined in a +2 than a baby Elan), but I would never have that five-speed as long as the 4-speed existed. It's one of the best sports car boxes ever.Gassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff