Elan Plus 2 'Gold Leaf' / Type 49

[Ben Molloy]

Hello Chaps,

An opportunity has cropped up to purchase an Elan +2 here in Hong Kong,

I've always wanted one and it's a good price,

I'm in the process of inspection now and I’m also pricing up for new carbs and a speedo that it needs,

In addition to always wanting an Elan Plus 2, I have always wanted a classic Lotus in 'Gold Leaf' / 'Type 49' colours,

As this particular car is red I was tempted to add the colour scheme to it,

Now, I have seen lots of period Elans and Europas in Gold Leaf colours, but never the Elan +2,

I am trying to work out why; was it because, at the time, it didn't suit the lucury pretensions of the car

Was it never offered as a paint scheme?!

I have crudely photoshopped some web-sourced pictures with the Gold Leaf scheme and I think it looks great!







I’m just worried I’m doing something very ‘wrong’ if I do it!

Thanks,

Ben

---
Lotus S1 Elise & W108 Mercedes-Benz 280S

Moderator edit: leave out the links please.

Edited by jeremyc on Friday 14th August 08:35

[rossb]

guy here at work had a red 2 + 2 about 4 years ago - it was absolutely mint and he struggled for ages to sell it for £10k!!

re gold leaf - ditch the roundels - 2 + 2 was never really a comp car - but get a wrap done for the rest of the interpretation as you have done it

i think it will look elegant and reflect the more refined image of the 2+2 - pay lip service to a nice historical connection/footnote + be cheap to do the work and more importantly easy to remove come resale time - in the event that your homage to the gold leaf connection does not meet with approval from a prospective purchaser

[72twink]

There used to be (still might be) a very modified +2 in Gold Leaf colours used as a hill climb car in the Paul Matty speed championship. As it might be a less obvious choice to many would getting the lower half wrapped be sensible - then if you ever sell it can be returned to a less daring overall red.

[rossb]

72twink said:

There used to be (still might be) a very modified +2 in Gold Leaf colours used as a hill climb car in the Paul Matty speed championship. As it might be a less obvious choice to many would getting the lower half wrapped be sensible - then if you ever sell it can be returned to a less daring overall red.

great minds eh?

[Ben Molloy]

OOps yes! I forgot to mention it was my plan to wrap it and not paint it!

Thanks guys!

[Swampy1982]

good suggestion about the wrap, it has to be the way forward, it means you get all the benefits of the car you want, how you want it and then come resale time it is only going to be a benefit that the perspective purchasers can choose one of two colour schemes.

[72twink]

rossb said:

great minds eh?

[sparkey]

I think your assumption is right that Lotus at the time intended the +2 to be a more upmarket car and so didn't paint it up as a sports car.

I think it looks good apart from the roundels.

I've got a carnival red +2 which needs repainting and I was considering a gold leaf scheme too.

Gratuitous pic of my +2 in action....

[fieldl]

Let me know if you don't want it.
I've been looking at an R32 GTR but could easily buy another +2.