Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Hello
I have owned lotus for 18 years. Two +2. One of which I still own and an Esprit gt3.

I have restored lots of cars and both of my +2 .....but.... I have never spent any time at all learning about the 2 seater elans.

All I know is that there are four series. And that there are desirable 26R and Sprints.

I know how to identify those last two but how do I identify the other series ??

Why the sudden interest ??

Last year I spotted an elan (not coupe) in a container tucked away on a farm... while I was looking at an Alvis. I enquired and got no response.

This weekend I have been invited to view the lotus with an option to buy !! All I know is that it is primrose yellow. Has a servo in the nose, no hood/roof and has been sitting in an open container for 20+ years so it will have been eaten by field mice and spiders ! (I am in the UK so nothing poisonous)


But I really don't know how to identify which series it is and it's value. Given that it will need a full restoration which I intend to do.

Can someone give me an outline or point me at another thread of how to identify the different series and a current market value. I want to be fair as my intention is to keep it but I also don't want to be unrealistic.

Will share "container find" pictures here if owner agrees

Thanks in advance.

L

I just found this
http://www.elanregistry.org/guide.php

So I am almost there.... anyone guide me on current values ?

Project Elans are around ?12k to ?15k if they are complete, with provenance and all the rare bits, Obviously if the engine is missing, or the rare bits such as instruments, door frames, seats, dash top, steering wheel etc. are missing or damaged, then the price drops a fair bit. If it's an S1 or S2, pay particular attention to the door furnature, instruments and dash top as these are very hard to find.

If it's an S3, S4 or S4 Sprint, make sure that it has a chassis number starting with 45, and as with all cars, make sure it has a chassis plate and the documentation to back the chassis plate up.

Mark

Broad indicators, which I think are correct.

S1, S2, S3 have toggle switches in the dashboard; S4 & Sprint have rocker switches.

S1 and maybe S2 have the dashboard in two pieces.

S1 & S2 (?) have individual round rear lights, S3 have a sort of torpedo shape rear light cluster, S4 & Sprints usually have a rectangular rear light cluster with rounded corners, though some S4 might have the S3 type lights.

S1 and S2 have a boot lid which is inset into the rear body, Later cars have a boot lid that wraps over the rear edge of the car so the numberplate light is in the edge of the boot lid not on the back panel.

S1 rear lights and not non-wrapover boot lid.




S3 rear lights




S4 & Sprint federal rear lights and note wrapover boot lid. (corrected)


Are Federal and UK S4 rear lights the same?

Picture of the rear end of a PLUS 2 may not be quite so helpful.

Craven wrote:Picture of the rear end of a PLUS 2 may not be quite so helpful.

OOOPs sorry. These are pictures in the gallery, but I'll find a more suitable one.

<later>
Done.

S3, S4 and Sprint have chrome side window surrounds.
S3 wheel arches are more round. S4 and Sprint are more square, especially the rear arches.
Dan

S2 models also have the torpedo shaped rear lights like the series 3 but I think there were some series 1.5 cars that carried some bits over. All my series 2s had one piece dashes with glove boxes.

Hello
Visited the elan
I believe it to be a 1969 s4 dhc in primrose

It has the following mods: looks like engine has definitely had work. Twin weber with regulator and braided hoses. Electronic ignition. Custom rear tank with solid state pump. Udjustable perch shocks. Stainless exhaust. Braided brake pipes.

Original and intact: seats dash top. Dash. Steering wheel. Wheels. engine. And spare.
Front bumper.

Damage: door skin on passenger side is separate from the frame. Rear bumper has multiple inpact and big damage in the centre. Rear driver side rear has had a collision with new gel and matting visible inside. General body cracks everywhere and a big impact on the bonnet where the weber hits the bonnet. rusty chassis, with red oxide showing in places but generally rusty with areas of the centre section crumbly.

screen is cracked. Hood is rotten. Badges are missing. Side indicators look like they are from an mx5. Rear lights are cracked and one is smashed. No mirrors. Front grill has rusted out. No carpets left. Mice and squirrel debris, leaves and general evidence it sat outside a while.(container has holes)
airbox and hosing missing
centre console missing pad

Other identifying features
It has a twist handle boot lock.
A bonnet pull above the steering column.
Choke and heater controls above radio.
Rocker switches
Electric windows
Glovebox with push open
Chapman steering wheel intact horn push
Motorola radio
Twin numberplate lights on boot lip
Little flap air things on dashboard.
Original gear knob
Felt like a 4 speed with a round gaiter. Central tunnel has some holes at the rear as if something has been removed.

Other condition
Steering wheel turns the wheels but needs bushes and joints !


Rolled forward so brakes not siezed. Handbrake appears to work. Brake pedal and clutch had pressure ! Disks are very crusty and doughnuts are flaky.
Oil cap revealed healthy (non rusty) engine internals. I think the engine turns. I rocked it in gear. I can see some mastic on the internal head bolts.... that worries me.

Steel wheels with standard eared spinners.(not safety) spare steel wheel present. Tyres hold air !.

More pictures to load later.

Let me know your thoughts on value.

Liking the s4 very much

Thanks all

Some more pictures to help with valuation.

I wouldn`t worry about the mastic if you`re rebuilding the whole car...............and you`ll need to. It`s probably worth, I think, a bit less than Mark`s valuation. It is pretty bad. I`d guess ?10k but what you`re prepared to pay is what counts. It will cost more to restore than its finished value, I`m sure you realise.
Jim

Yer definitely gonna be busy for a while.

Hello L,

a great find!

I hope you can agree on a price and start to restore the car

Mark