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 a steel backbone chassis that
gave it superb 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. The Elan addressed many of the Elite's quality
issues, and the costs were kept low by replacing the costly Climax
engine with a Ford-based four-cylinder topped by a twin-cam head.
Lotus retained the rigid and light backbone chassis to ensure
precise, balanced handling. 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,
returning nearly the same performance as the Elan but with more
luxury, sophistication, and a bit of extra space for children or
luggage. Chapman asked for a car with "the front of an Elan and the
rear of an Elite," so designers stretched the Elan's chassis and
revised 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 plucky little Lotus was a direct competitor with
the Porsche 911, the Jaguar E-Type 2+2, and the newcomer Datsun
240Z. Despite its comparatively tiny displacement and 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! The Elan shines when the road gets bendy, proving that
horsepower isn't everything for a truly great driver's car.
Finished in a period appropriate shade of Jaguar willow green over
a freshly restored blue leather cabin, this 1969 Elan +2 is an
appealing and usable example of Colin Chapman's remarkably capable
Grand Tourer. It is the subject of a good quality cosmetic
restoration, exhibiting attractive paintwork, excellent chrome, and
factory-appropriate panel fit of the fiberglass body. On close
inspection, some minor paint imperfections are visible, yet the car
has a consistent overall finish quality. The clean and uncluttered
exterior is finished with a set of period-correct Minilite
center-lock alloy wheels fitted with appropriately vintage-looking
Vredestein tires. Under most recent ownership, the four-seat cabin
was fully restored using distinctive "cornflower blue" leather
upholstery with matching carpet and a custom Alcantara headliner.
The trim is beautifully finished, with supple, high-quality
materials and excellent detailing. In addition, the wood dash is
restored with a high-gloss finish and fitted with the correct
instruments and switchgear. The thin-rimmed three-spoke steering
wheel is a delight to hold, transmitting the Elan's precise, almost
telepathic steering feel directly to your hands. Despite its
relatively small capacity, the Ford-based, 1,558cc Lotus Twin Cam
'four packs a healthy punch, giving the feather-light Elan +2
impressive performance. It breathes through a pair of Weber 40 DCOE
carburetors, features a tubular exhaust header, and sends power
rearward via a four-speed manual gearbox. As with most Lotus cars,
detailed production records are unavailable, though experts
estimated that of the approximately 5,200 +2s produced, fewer than
1,200 remain. This rare and appealing Elan +2 is a charming example
of the breed, and a ready, willing partner for dancing along your
favorite ribbons of tarmac. Offers welcome and trades considered
For additional details please view this listing directly on our
website https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/7317-1969-lotus-elan-2-coupe/