Bringing this thread slightly up to date and linking in the +2 BRM thread (read that so you will understand what I'm on about)... hopefully...
http://www.lotuselan.net/forums/elan-plus-f13/price-lotus-elan-brm-for-sale-pistonheads-t18661.htmlWhilst Paul Matty might have said that there were "a small run of +2s given the BRM treatment" during a conversation I had with Alan Rigarlsford, who worked at Mike Spence and painted all the cars they converted, he said that there was one +2, painted polychromatic metallic green, fitted with Minilites and one Europa; which he thinks went straight to a customer in Portugal.
Mike Spence developments continued (he reckons) for 4/5 months after he died, mainly preparing twin-cams for F3 cars, but also for Lotus road cars; interestingly he said that Ian Walker was also supplying BRM twin-cams at this time. MS Developments BRM engines were built at Maidenhead by Telford Cook, prior to this they had been supplied by BRM at Bourne.
The total number of BRM Elans built at Mike Spence was no more than fifteen, all were S3, about 50/50 fhc/dhc but one was painted in Jaguar dark blue with the day-glo orange bumpers.
Initially some BRM engines had standard cam-covers, than a BRM plate was riveted on standard covers and finally a special finned casting with BRM script. MS Developments engines had this casting in orange crackle finish and a Mike Spence engine plate with unit number stamped in it.
Alan meticulously kept a notebook detailing all the cars, engine numbers, chassis numbers, registrations, dates, etc. but this was borrowed by a chap who's name was well-known in Lotus circles and who subsequently denied all knowledge. This is a tragedy; he is a bastard.
I have a couple of other leads to follow up, which I will do in the fullness of time.
Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 2:12 pm
