Emerson Fittipald??s Lotus Elan +2

[fittielan]

Hi all:

Recenttly during a visit to a website devoted to Lotus Elan +2 collectors , I found this photo


In the description says the car was specially built for Emerson Fittipaldi. The car now resides in Italy
Does someone know if Emerson owned that car?....once Iread something about a yellow Elan during his Lotus years
Info and photos are welcome

[trw99]

This LHD European spec +2S 130/5 came off the production line in March 1973. It is oft attributed to be Emerson Fittipaldi's car, though I have seen no proof or photos of him with it in period.

Chapman did give his F1 drivers Lotus road cars, a fact well documented. Emerson joined Lotus in July 1970 and became No 1 driver at the end of the season, following Rindt's untimely death. It is therefore likely that he would have had a new Lotus road car in early 1971, shortly after the Sprint and +2S 130 went into production. Again, I have never come across either of these earlier cars with an Emerson connection. Since he was married and a father at the time he would probably have gone for the +2S 130.

So if this yellow +2S 130/5 was indeed Emerson's, it would most likely be his second, or even his third, Lotus road car.

Tim

[archigator]

I have a magazine clipping somewhere in my files wherein Emmo states that he would leave his Elan parked at the airport, and upon returning home after various Grand Prix races, he never knew whether it would start or not. So he did own an Elan(s), but I don't know if it was a +2 or not.

Gary
'71 Elan Sprint FHC
Miami, FL