Hello –
Long time occasional lurker. Recent sign up after becoming the willing servicing custodian and occasional driver of an Elan +2.
For those interested in some details, here’s the auction record – https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1972-lotus-elan-2-7/.
Located in Ontario, Canada, on most days in Ottawa and occasionally Toronto. Recently (semi)retired. Several projects to keep me busy so adding just one more was an excellent idea.
Best to all … Ian
Nice car
Ontario and bc lotus clubs both worth the $25
Welcome
Welcome Ian!
Welcome
Welcome!
Hi There
Wish you well to drive her. Looks to be in great condition. I really like the colour. My only comment is that she is sitting rather high. I wonder if the springs are correct?
All the best
Berni
I would say the right height is about right for a standard car on original springs. Inline to the ride height of my car before i changed away from the standard springs.
Hello –
While experience is somewhat limited I agree with this second observation.
It handles well, and consistent with long distant memories of Elan and Elan + that I’ve had the pleasure of piloting. If you read through the notes and comments the front has been fully redone with Spyder and other reputed components. The rear is original with fresh dampers and springs, etc. Lowering would look more “modern”. That’s not necessarily beneficial overall. Did this with a BMWtii many years ago and results were definitely mixed. Looking into fresh tyres and hoping to source faithful to original 165/13 versus the 175/13 that are now installed. Not seeking authenticity, whatever that might mean. However, placing some confidence in the original intentions of the Lotus design team.
I do really enjoy the colour and both friends and strangers seem in full agreement. And those photos barely do it justice. It is well worn in at this age as it’s about 40 years old.
Thanks to all who shared a welcome, and advice offered. Look forward to years of occasional participation. More thoughts and comments are invited. What’s old is new to me.
Best … Ian
Re the ride height thing.
Yes I tend to agree with Berni that it looks to be a little high. It certainly sits a lot higher than my+2S130.
However I have come to the conclusion that on photos I have seen of US +2’s the ride height is always higher in comparison to +2’s here in the UK.
I wonder if back in the day that the ride height of cars exported to the US from Lotus had to have the suspension lifted and have a higher ride height to comply with Federal car regulations of the day?..Does anyone know?
Just my thoughts,
Looks a lovely car by the way…Enjoy!
Alan
Fairly sure your correct. The big 3 N Americans didn’t like anything from anywhere else. So they had lunch with DoT and made headlights be…The +2 was a bit low, thus taller springs. I think the shocks were the same, so who really knows. I also believe they are heavier, as the extra coils.
I had also read that because of pot-holes and hugely overweight Americans, and or all the baggage now carried by media controlled ninnies, but these are likely gossip, rumours, innuendo, speculation and the like.
OK, interesting. If someone provides some method guidelines and specific dimensions for measurement I’d be happy to do the work and share results.
Best … Ian
I don’t know for certain but I don’t not believe this.
It was true for the Europa and you can back that up by looking at the parts manual that clearly shows different springs for federal Europa.
The +2 manual shows the same springs for all variants. It is possible the springs did change over time, but would guess it more likely a supplier change than spec change. Maybe resulting in different ride height or more resistance to sagging over time.
My car is a UK spec car, that had high ride height in line with other cars I have seen, so another point against it being federal springs.
The pattern I have observed is that early cars tended to ride lower, later cars higher. The reason will probably never be known for certain but lotus normally did update the parts books when changing part specifications which suggests to me there wasn’t an intentional change here.
Or Lotus never changed the manual, to reflect Fed changes. Some UK springs are shown tall.
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I would guess if your carrying 4 250lb passengers, a few animals, luggage for a Brazilian vaca, you might go for a tighter wind, thicker material and etc
Hi Ian,
My September '71 +2S130 is a sister car to the one you have just bought.( Yours I see is August '71) Your car started life in Colorado Orange and my car is still Colorado Orange.
A simple non scientific crude measurement i have just taken is that my car ( on newish 13inch tyres, from the ground to the centre of the wheel arch measures exactly 25inches, both on the front arch and also the rear arch. If you measure your car the same way we can see what the difference is?
Alan.
Yes I understand the CN36 is a good tyre.
However my comment re newish tyres and the ride height on my car was because new v old tyres can sometimes make quite a few mm difference.
Alan
Cool seeing original colours. I’m happy with the odd grey (slate sort of) that was chosen for me 40+ years ago but I’d be just as happy with those.
I will make that semi-accurate measure and report back.
Best … Ian
I will look into it. I did speak with Perelli Canada, and was discouraged to hear they could or would not do one-off importation. I did mention off-shore sourcing in my conversation and they didn’t discourage that.
Best … Ian
Hi
Lovely cars! The UK (where I am) spec cars definitely sit lower as standard. That used to be true of the MG’s of the time also.
All the best
Berni
Costs of shipping is included, not duties, tariffs or taxes etc.
