Tuesday 1st April 2014

Lotus Elan: Spotted

The clocks are forward, summer is on its way. How better to enjoy it than with an old Elan?

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Wandering around the car park at Goodwood, trying in earnest to remember where your car is lurking, is never the chore it may sound to some. That's because it's guaranteed that the fields will be crammed with interesting cars. And at the Members' Meeting on Sunday, there seemed to be a host of Lotus Elans in attendance.

Dealer a treasure trove of lovely classics

It's not hard to see why. Those achingly pretty looks combine with dynamics that are unanimously praised to create one of the most coveted roadsters ever. With basic amenities like a radio and heater (travelling in a Caterham makes you appreciate these) makes it usable too, or at least realistic summer transport. A British roadster entering its sixth decade will need careful maintenance, sure, but doesn't it look worth the effort?

Furthermore, being recognised as one of Lotus's greatest cars means Elan values are strengthening. An online buying guide from November 2010 stated that prospective buyers 'should be prepared to spend well over £20,000 for the best models'. On PH the lowest price Elans are £20K with nearly double that now required for the very best. Admittedly the Elans at nearly £40K are fabulously restored Sprints, probably better than new, but it's worth illustrating all the same.

Power not far off new Elise and even lighter!

The chassis and the paint appear to be the big issues with Elans, with around £5K needed to renew each. This Elan S4 SE, one of the cheapest available on PH, has the former but not the latter so that would be worth bearing in mind. But dark green works so well with the wood and the oatmeal leather, so it must be worth preserving properly.

It's hard to look at the Elan and not wonder what a modern version would be like. The Europa proved a little too uncompromising for those after an everyday sports car, but imagine something pitched at the upcoming MX-5 with a similarly lithe kerbweight and perhaps a tad more focus. Perhaps the Ford Ecoboost engine that didn't quite work in Caterham could power it. The hood has to be easy to operate, you shouldn't have to fold yourself in and the stereo needs to be half decent. Some kind of boot would be handy. Lotus dynamics without the compromise. Lovely pipe dream, isn't it? Until then, the old Elans and dutiful care will have to suffice.

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LOTUS ELAN S4
Engine: 1,558cc four-cylinder
Transmission: Four-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 117@6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 108@4,000rpm
MPG: N/A
CO2: N/A
Year registered: 1968
Recorded miles: 80,300
Price new: N/A
Yours for: £19,995

See the original advert here.

 

[Steamer]

As lovely and fun as they are I can never quite understand the huge price difference between Sprints and Plus 2s

Was the Sprint built in more limited numbers? Was there a huge performance difference? - I've only ever driven a Plus 2 and have to say (for its time) the handling was brilliant the styling was fantastic and it turned heads like the best of what rolled out of Italy.

I'm not on my own in thinking the Plus 2 was a much nicer design am I?!

[Kronstein]

Be good if Caterham could buy up the rights and make some more...

[Big Rumbly]

Very strange, the car is an S4, and that ran on stroms, hence the bonnet bulge. The one in the picture is on webbers.

[MiseryStreak]

Lots of Stromberg equipped cars have had Webers retrofitted, and some Weber cars have had the Stromberg bonnets fitted. Even the factory mixed things up a bit.

I think the Plus Two values being lower is purely down to demand, what buyers are willing to pay. They are effectively more car for less money. Personally, I fell in love with the Elan DHC and even though a Plus Two would have suited my height better, it was the only one for me. They're all great cars, and I think the values should continue to rise meteorically.

[VladD]

Steamer said:

I'm not on my own in thinking the Plus 2 was a much nicer design am I?!

I always think the +2 is slightly awkward looking.

My Dad had one and buried it in a headge one Christmas eve with me in the passenger seat, so that was the end of that. He loved that car though.

I think a garage with a drop head Elan and an Elite would be heaven.

Edited by VladD on Tuesday 1st April 13:00

[angelicupstarts]

Steamer said:

As lovely and fun as they are I can never quite understand the huge price difference between Sprints and Plus 2s

Was the Sprint built in more limited numbers? Was there a huge performance difference? - I've only ever driven a Plus 2 and have to say (for its time) the handling was brilliant the styling was fantastic and it turned heads like the best of what rolled out of Italy.

I'm not on my own in thinking the Plus 2 was a much nicer design am I?!

Agree , a plus 2 is in my eyes a more mature design ....I'd take one in john player black and gold .....yum!

[VladD]

angelicupstarts said:

Steamer said:

As lovely and fun as they are I can never quite understand the huge price difference between Sprints and Plus 2s

Was the Sprint built in more limited numbers? Was there a huge performance difference? - I've only ever driven a Plus 2 and have to say (for its time) the handling was brilliant the styling was fantastic and it turned heads like the best of what rolled out of Italy.

I'm not on my own in thinking the Plus 2 was a much nicer design am I?!

Agree , a plus 2 is in my eyes a more mature design ....I'd take one in john player black and gold .....yum!

[suffolk009]

Oddly enough, I was have a little day dream session this morning and fell upon this exact car.

I prefer the shape of an S3; wheelarches, rearlights, and dashboard switches are all more elegant.

Sadly I cannot afford this, so will continue to make do with my galactic mileage Eunos.

[goron59]

The Sprint is one of my favourite cars in Forza5 and generally these look fab.
The Escort in the background looks nice too

[Lotobear]

The Plus 2 is an under rated car and also looks good in Wedgwood Blue - here is mine

[angelicupstarts]

VladD said:

angelicupstarts said:

Steamer said:

As lovely and fun as they are I can never quite understand the huge price difference between Sprints and Plus 2s

Was the Sprint built in more limited numbers? Was there a huge performance difference? - I've only ever driven a Plus 2 and have to say (for its time) the handling was brilliant the styling was fantastic and it turned heads like the best of what rolled out of Italy.

I'm not on my own in thinking the Plus 2 was a much nicer design am I?!

Agree , a plus 2 is in my eyes a more mature design ....I'd take one in john player black and gold .....yum!

That's gorgeous ....!

[angelicupstarts]

Lotobear said:

The Plus 2 is an under rated car and also looks good in Wedgwood Blue - here is mine

Looks good in the blue ....two nice cars

[VladD]

Lotobear said:

The Plus 2 is an under rated car and also looks good in Wedgwood Blue - here is mine

They're a great couple of cars to own. That blue is lovely.

[ads_green]

I've been banging on for years about this - just after Lotus announced their 5 year 5 car "plan".

They had a real gem with the elise but it was obviously too compromised for some. Mixing it up with Stuttgart's best straight after wasn't really going to pay out. If they had gone from the sub 30k two seat front engine, rear wheel drive market with a nice practical 2 seater that was fun to drive, light and gorgeous to look at then they could have been onto a winner.
At the time the only competitor really was the S2000 (a great little car) but now theres quite a bit.
All the rave reviews of the Toybaru FT86/BRZ about low power, great chassis and driving fun could have been had.

[tram50]

Steamer said:

As lovely and fun as they are I can never quite understand the huge price difference between Sprints and Plus 2s

Was the Sprint built in more limited numbers? Was there a huge performance difference? - I've only ever driven a Plus 2 and have to say (for its time) the handling was brilliant the styling was fantastic and it turned heads like the best of what rolled out of Italy.

I'm not on my own in thinking the Plus 2 was a much nicer design am I?!

The +2 has always been underated even though I think it is a better proportioned car. It doesn't have quite the same acceleration due to being heavier but has a higher top speed due to having the best aero figures for its time. They are also much rarer than the Elan with only approx 5000 +2's being made compared to I belive 15,000 Elans. +2 prices are increasing though, but will never match Elans.

My Father has had his +2 for 40 years. Plenty of breakdowns but they are addictive!

[SpudLink]

The Sprint was my boyhood dream car (even thought my childhood was mostly in the '70s).

It would still be 1st on my list if I could spend that sort of money on a car that I'd only use on the sunniest of sunny Sundays.

[Dave_newcastle]

Both the elan and plus 2 are great cars - there is no doubt. Here's my plus 2 - regency red

[Lotobear]

This is 'Wedgy' before the shell went back on with my old JPS in the background - I sold the JPS as I would never rebuild another one!

[Lotobear]

Hi Dave - we never did meet up - I'm the guy from near Brampton (Jon) - as you will see the car is now finished!

[mr2j]

I used to drive past one that was street-parked in SE London. It used to be accompanied by another for a while and has sat in the same spot for a few years with things growing in it, potentially a donor car for it's erstwhile companion. Driving past it the other day I noticed the exhaust had dropped off.