Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

new member looking to buy a elan, i have found a "nice" (needs
paintjob ) 69? +2 but it is a US model with the strombers etc. but
the price is right around $7K - should i spend some more $ and get a
euro +2 for the extra 10-15 HP or is the baby elan so mutch better
that i should consider saving up some more to get that ?
if any have something for sale (pre 1970) or know of any please let
me know, also link?s to dealers with elans are welcome. - prefer LHD


Christian J
(Denmark)

Christian- welcome! No doubt you will get lots of different answers to yourquestions- here is my input. 7k (US?) dollars sounds quite high to what I'm seeing for UK prices at the moment for a car needing paint. Of course LHDmay be rarer this side of the Atlantic.
I would keep looking at as many cars as you can (maybe not easy in Denmark but I think there are some of your countrymen on this list).
The +2 and the +0 Elans are quite different, one is quite tiny whilst the other has the same amount of room as a modern car, of course you have the option of DHC with the +0 too. Prices are much higher for the +0, which is the opposite of when these cars were new, the +2 really was quite a luxury car in its' day.
Both cars drive pretty much the same- in other words absolutely great! The suspension is nothing like that of most sportscars, they soak up bumps in the road and handle amazingly.
Check out the classics magazines and eBay.co.uk seems to have +2's almost every week, although usually RHD.

Cheers,

Pete
----- Original Message -----
From: Christian Jensen
To: ***@***.***
Sent: Monday, January 10, 2005 8:41 AM
Subject: [LotusElan.net] +2 or baby elan ?



new member looking to buy a elan, i have found a "nice" (needs
paintjob ) 69? +2 but it is a US model with the strombers etc. but
the price is right around $7K - should i spend some more $ and get a
euro +2 for the extra 10-15 HP or is the baby elan so mutch better
that i should consider saving up some more to get that ?
if any have something for sale (pre 1970) or know of any please let
me know, also link?s to dealers with elans are welcome. - prefer LHD


Christian J
(Denmark)









To search the mailing list archives:
http://www.escribe.com/automotive/europ ... index.html






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Hi Christian.

I bought my +2S from Holland and it is also a US model. I paid about
9.000 Euros in scruffy condition but with a good engine--and it was
about the only one I could find as they seem to be quite scarce not
only in Europe but also in the US.

I like very much the +2 as it is bigger and feels and looks to me to
be a bit less like a toy than the baby Elan. I appreciate the extra
space in behind the seats and the trunk as it just makes life a bit
easier. I also like the shape of the +2 better than the Elan and that
is what attracted me to the car from the start.

One word of caution I would give you is be prepared to do some work
yourself. I was not much of a mechanic when I bought the car but a
laundry list of minor problems over the past 2.5 years has sharpened
my skills. These cars are now 30+ years old and require a
considerable amount of maintenance. In my area there are few people
who will even look at the car, so doing the work myself became a
necessity. The work is not overly difficult and the guys in this
group are a God send in providing help and advice.

Good luck with your search. Lotus cars are great fun and I have never
regretted my purchase.

David
1970 +2S
Helsinki

Welcome Christian
As Pete says you will get may different opinions but one thing they will
all have in common is that the enjoyment factor of either of these cars
outweighs the amount of cash you throw at them...and that?s quite a
substantial amount....which is why we are all here still talking about
the car and singing its praises......if you have not yet driven one then
I am sure that once you have, your desire of getting your hands on one
will increase significantly.....I have a +2 and love it.....Ive driven a
+0 (as Pete calls it) and enjoyed that too however went for the +2 as
its wider stance and longer chasis I felt gave it a better drive...hey
but that?s me....it also gave more practicality....as for price $7k US
seem a good deal to me...they are around ?3k in the UK for a 'needs
work' car and then ?2k for a basket case..as for upper limit.....it
really depends on what people are prepared to pay.....Ive seen them
advertised for upto ?15k but whetherthey sell I don?t know.....I have
however seen 'very good' examples for ?10k which have sold without must
of a to do.....its all a matter of your $$'s and what you want from the
car and what you are prepared to do to the car.....classic car prices
are always the same...its not like buying a second hand ford or bmw
that?s a couple of years old...these are all about its current state of
being...whats been done and what needs to be done
You?ve still gotta get one though....you'll love it......
Cheers
G

-----Original Message-----
From: Christian Jensen [mailto:***@***.***
Sent: 10 January 2005 08:42
To: ***@***.***
Subject: [LotusElan.net] +2 or baby elan ?




new member looking to buy a elan, i have found a "nice" (needs
paintjob ) 69? +2 but it is a US model with the strombers etc. but
the price is right around $7K - should i spend some more $ and get a
euro +2 for the extra 10-15 HP or is the baby elan so mutch better
that i should consider saving up some more to get that ?
if any have something for sale (pre 1970) or know of any please let
me know, also link?s to dealers with elans are welcome. - prefer LHD


Christian J
(Denmark)










To search the mailing list archives:
http://www.escribe.com/automotive/europ ... index.html



Yahoo! Groups Links

Christian
Just thought.....what make you think its a US model??? Is it just the
strombergs??
If it?s a federal version you should have orange reflectors on the front
and rear quarters too
Just a thought
Cheers
G

-----Original Message-----
From: Gareth Flanagan [mailto:***@***.***
Sent: 11 January 2005 14:37
To: ***@***.***
Subject: RE: [LotusElan.net] +2 or baby elan ?



Welcome Christian
As Pete says you will get may different opinions but one thing they will
all have in common is that the enjoyment factor of either of these cars
outweighs the amount of cash you throw at them...and that?s quite a
substantial amount....which is why we are all here still talking about
the car and singing its praises......if you have not yet driven one then
I am sure that once you have, your desire of getting your hands on one
will increase significantly.....I have a +2 and love it.....Ive driven a
+0 (as Pete calls it) and enjoyed that too however went for the +2 as
its wider stance and longer chasis I felt gave it a better drive...hey
but that?s me....it also gave more practicality....as for price $7k US
seem a good deal to me...they are around ?3k in the UK for a 'needs
work' car and then ?2k for a basket case..as for upper limit.....it
really depends on what people are prepared to pay.....Ive seen them
advertised for upto ?15k but whetherthey sell I don?t know.....I have
however seen 'very good' examples for ?10k which have sold without must
of a to do.....its all a matter of your $$'s and what you want from the
car and what you are prepared to do to the car.....classic car prices
are always the same...its not like buying a second hand ford or bmw
that?s a couple of years old...these are all about its current state of
being...whats been done and what needs to be done You?ve still gotta get
one though....you'll love it...... Cheers G

-----Original Message-----
From: Christian Jensen [mailto:***@***.***
Sent: 10 January 2005 08:42
To: ***@***.***
Subject: [LotusElan.net] +2 or baby elan ?




new member looking to buy a elan, i have found a "nice" (needs
paintjob ) 69? +2 but it is a US model with the strombers etc. but
the price is right around $7K - should i spend some more $ and get a
euro +2 for the extra 10-15 HP or is the baby elan so mutch better
that i should consider saving up some more to get that ?
if any have something for sale (pre 1970) or know of any please let
me know, also link?s to dealers with elans are welcome. - prefer LHD


Christian J
(Denmark)










To search the mailing list archives:
http://www.escribe.com/automotive/europ ... index.html



Yahoo! Groups Links














To search the mailing list archives:
http://www.escribe.com/automotive/europ ... index.html



Yahoo! Groups Links

Another giveaway are high backed seats.

Around '69 a batch of approx. 50 +2 were due to be shipped to the states but
missed the boat. These were later sold in Europe and some converted back to
RH drive and sold in the UK. I have one, complete with the reflectors. It is
serial number 2192.

The quality of the paint job is a big factor in the purchase of an Elan as
repainting is expensive, stripping the old paint even more so and repairing
all the damage and cracks discovered a major overdraft!

Consequently be very cautious of a shiny paint job, you don't know what
lurks beneath.

David



-----Original Message-----
From: Gareth Flanagan [mailto:***@***.***
Sent: 11 January 2005 14:43
To: ***@***.***
Subject: RE: [LotusElan.net] +2 or baby elan ?



Christian
Just thought.....what make you think its a US model??? Is it just the
strombergs??
If it's a federal version you should have orange reflectors on the front
and rear quarters too
Just a thought
Cheers
G

-----Original Message-----
From: Gareth Flanagan [mailto:***@***.***
Sent: 11 January 2005 14:37
To: ***@***.***
Subject: RE: [LotusElan.net] +2 or baby elan ?



Welcome Christian
As Pete says you will get may different opinions but one thing they will
all have in common is that the enjoyment factor of either of these cars
outweighs the amount of cash you throw at them...and that's quite a
substantial amount....which is why we are all here still talking about
the car and singing its praises......if you have not yet driven one then
I am sure that once you have, your desire of getting your hands on one
will increase significantly.....I have a +2 and love it.....Ive driven a
+0 (as Pete calls it) and enjoyed that too however went for the +2 as
its wider stance and longer chasis I felt gave it a better drive...hey
but that's me....it also gave more practicality....as for price $7k US
seem a good deal to me...they are around ?3k in the UK for a 'needs
work' car and then ?2k for a basket case..as for upper limit.....it
really depends on what people are prepared to pay.....Ive seen them
advertised for upto ?15k but whetherthey sell I don't know.....I have
however seen 'very good' examples for ?10k which have sold without must
of a to do.....its all a matter of your $$'s and what you want from the
car and what you are prepared to do to the car.....classic car prices
are always the same...its not like buying a second hand ford or bmw
that's a couple of years old...these are all about its current state of
being...whats been done and what needs to be done You've still gotta get
one though....you'll love it...... Cheers G

-----Original Message-----
From: Christian Jensen [mailto:***@***.***
Sent: 10 January 2005 08:42
To: ***@***.***
Subject: [LotusElan.net] +2 or baby elan ?




new member looking to buy a elan, i have found a "nice" (needs
paintjob ) 69? +2 but it is a US model with the strombers etc. but
the price is right around $7K - should i spend some more $ and get a
euro +2 for the extra 10-15 HP or is the baby elan so mutch better
that i should consider saving up some more to get that ?
if any have something for sale (pre 1970) or know of any please let
me know, also link?s to dealers with elans are welcome. - prefer LHD


Christian J
(Denmark)










To search the mailing list archives:
http://www.escribe.com/automotive/europ ... index.html



Yahoo! Groups Links














To search the mailing list archives:
http://www.escribe.com/automotive/europ ... index.html



Yahoo! Groups Links














To search the mailing list archives:
http://www.escribe.com/automotive/europ ... index.html



Yahoo! Groups Links

--- In ***@***.***, "Gareth Flanagan" <[email protected]>
wrote:

If it's a federal version you should have orange reflectors
on the front and rear quarters too

Not exactly. Amber in front, red at the rear.

Best regards,
Bob
________________________
***@***.***