Equipment
RHD. 1558cc Twin-Cam, four-speed, black Minilite wheels, leather-wrapped steering wheel, wood shift knob, newer radio, power windows.
Condition
#3 Good
Runs and drives well. Flaws not noticeable to passersby. Most common condition.
Sold from the estate of an engineer. Recent mechanical work with Elan specialists at Spydercars includes propshafts, chassis repairs, seals, a new starter motor, and new wheels. More work conducted in 2020 included an engine rebuild. In presentable cosmetic condition with light wear to the seats and upholstery but clear gauges. The dash doesn’t show the cracking endemic to Lotuses of this era. A solid driver that may have been sitting for a bit, but has enough reassuring mechanical work that it likely needs little to get out on the road again.
Market commentary
Introduced in 1962, the two-seat Elan was a hit that helped establish Lotus as a serious road car manufacturer. “[F]its like a Sprite, goes like a Corvette and handles like a Formula Junior,” quipped Car and Driver. Five years on, and there was a new +2 (aka Plus 2) coupe model. It was a slightly more plush but essentially very similar car. Lotus aimed it at customers who wanted a fun car that could accommodate small children, though a family friend who owned one used to joke that the only reason they made the +2 “was so you’d have a nicer place to wait for the tow truck.” When sorted, however, these are handsome, fun, quick cars with surprisingly nice interiors. This one was the first automotive lot of the sale; perhaps nobody was in the room, or few of them were tempted by a Lotus with needs, because this price is about condition #4 (“Fair”) money for it.