Vehicle Description
Following in the wheel tracks of the radical Elite, Lotus' equally
brilliant Elan proved to be Colin Chapman's most successful venture
to date. The Elite made headlines with its highly advanced
fiberglass semi-monocoque body with steel subframes that gave it
exquisite handling in a featherweight package. While the Elite was
highly regarded for its deft handling and brisk performance, it
suffered from quality control issues and a high price which
hampered sales. With the Elan, many of the Elite's quality issues
were addressed and the costs were kept low by replacing the costly
Climax engine with a Ford-based four-cylinder topped by a twin-cam
head. A rigid and light backbone chassis was developed to ensure
the exquisite handling buyers expected. The Lotus Elan proved to be
a massive success and Lotus production was booming throughout the
1960s and into the 70s. Very early into the Elan's development,
Colin Chapman ordered the addition of a "family man's Lotus" to the
lineup; one that would return nearly the same performance as the
Elan, but with more luxury, sophistication and a bit of extra space
for children. Chapman asked for a car with "the front of an Elan
and the rear of an Elite", so designers set about stretching the
Elan's chassis and revising the styling to better suit the longer
wheelbase. The result was the Elan +2, introduced in 1967. Despite
the brief for a more luxurious Elan, the +2 continued with Lotus
ethos of "simplify, add lightness", and even with the additional 7
� inches of length added to the chassis, the bigger car exhibited
superior stability in cornering and at speed. Throughout
production, the +2 was continually fettled by the factory, with the
renamed Plus 2S arriving in March of 1969 with larger carbs and a
host of other refinements. The Plus 2S 130 added yet another boost
in performance courtesy of the Big Valve cylinder head and enlarged
Stromberg carburetors on US spec cars. The Elan Plus 2S 130 was a
worthy competitor to the likes of the Porsche 911, Datsun 240Z, and
even the E-type 2+2. Despite its comparatively tiny displacement
horsepower deficit, the Elan came in at just 1,975 pounds - that's
nearly 400 pounds lighter than a 911E and a whopping 1,300 pounds
shy of an E-type 2+2! Proof that power isn't everything, as soon as
the road gets bendy, the Elan truly shines. Our featured example is
a rare and desirable 1973 Elan Plus 2S 130 finished in the original
colors of Lagoon blue with a metallic silver roof. It is one of
just 153 US market cars of this type and is a very well-documented
two-owner example that has been sorted at no regard to cost and
treated to numerous yet discreet performance upgrades. It presents
in beautiful, standard appearance, yet has been thoroughly upgraded
to deliver outstanding performance. Records indicate the Elan was
delivered new in 1973 from Lotus Cars UK to the primary East Coast
distributor Lotus East of Millerton, New York. From there, it was
sold via F.A. Kinsella Auto of New Milford, CT to Boris Churyk of
Stamford, CT. Mr. Churyk cherished his Lotus, as shown in a letter
to his insurance company dated 1991 which states: "Under no
circumstances will anyone other than myself be driving the 1973
Lotus Elan". He goes on to explain that he bought it new as a
present to himself - clearly a man who was passionate about his
Lotus! After 34 years with his prized Elan, it was sold to Alan
Andrea of Lake Forest, IL. Mr. Andrea kept the car for another
decade, performing extensive restoration work and performance
upgrades, all while ensuring the car retains a stock outward
appearance. The paint presentation is very good in the factory
correct Lagoon Blue (LO12) on the main body, accented by a
metal-flake silver roof. The paint is attractive and glossy, with
just a few superficial flaws visible. The included Lotus Heritage
Certificate confirms this as the original paint scheme - including
the metal flake roof, which was a standard treatment for S130s.
Body fit is very good, consistent and factory appropriate, while
the chrome bumpers, window trim, and rain gutters are in excellent
condition. The car retains its original Lucas fog lamps with their
plastic covers as well as an original tool roll and jack. It rides
on beautiful 13" knock-off wheels with Vredestein sprint classic
tires that give the right look without sacrificing performance.
Speaking of performance, a highlight of this Elan is under the
bonnet in the form of a 1,721 CC Twin Cam built by PHP Racengines
Inc. of Wauconda, IL. Built in 2008 at a cost of nearly $12,000,
the fully documented build includes 10:1 compression pistons, a
flowed head, enlarged 34 mm carburetor chokes, and numerous other
upgrades for power and reliability. Breathing through twin Weber
carbs and a custom exhaust, this little powerhouse produces 140
horsepower at 6,000 RPM - on its way to a screaming 7,000 RPM
redline. Wisely, the owner used a donor engine and the original,
numbers-matching Stromberg-spec engine is intact and will be
included in the sale. To handle the extra power, the rear axles
were upgraded with billet units from Tony Thompson Racing, and the
brakes upgraded with stainless caliper pistons. Cooling is handled
via a high flow alloy radiator. Suspension features new Tony
Thompson shock absorbers and thoroughly refreshed bushes and
hardware. A large binder of receipts from the previous owner
documents the tremendous amount of work that went into this
fabulous Lotus. Like the body, the cabin has been maintained in
exceptional factory-correct condition. Much of the interior,
including the dash, door panels, and seats, remains in remarkably
good original condition. The wood dash is an excellent original,
showing a few cracks in the lacquer which is not unusual, and
retaining the original labels, gauges (including the S130s ambient
temp gauge) and even the original Clarion radio. The tachometer has
been upgraded to work properly with the Pertronix ignition and the
electrical functions work as they should. Extensive documentation
courtesy of the most recent owner demonstrates how no expense was
spared to ensure this is one of the best driving examples of its
kind. Included in the sale are the original tool roll, factory
service manuals, owner's manual, original brochure, a Lotus Classic
Certificate of Vehicle Provenance, and copies of the original
registration verifying this as a two-owner example. We are thrilled
to offer this outstanding and very rare Lotus Elan Plus 2 S 130; an
exciting car that is sure to charm its next keeper with its
intoxicating power, astute handling and understated good looks.
