Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

My early +2 S (May 1970) came with this steering wheel. It is vinyl covered, unsigned 14" dia and has a dish of approx 2.5".

Would this be the correct wheel for my car or if not which model is it from?

Cheers.

Jono

Looks correct for the +2.

Peter

...I thought all +2 were 15"?

Jono

jono wrote:...I thought all +2 were 15"?

Jono

yep me too.....

thought the early cars had the signature wheel and the later cars had one without the signature and black spokes .........theyre the only 2 types I've seen for a plus 2.......the others are after market arent they???


could be an S3 wheel........???.......14" and looks very similar

Just out of interest....

Where is the 14" or 15" measured?

Centre to Centre (of rim)?
Outside to Outside?
Inside to Inside?

Aside:
I have a 14" Motolita with no dishing and could not imagine anything bigger or with dish allowing me to drive the car (my legs woudl get in the way of the wheel....never mind not being able to get in in the first place )

Peter

Here's the wheel off my 68 +2 and it is 15" O/D. I've had the car for 31 yrs and I believe it to be the original wheel. And yes it is a bit big and I have got a pattern 14" wheel to fit.
I would have thought that Jono's 14" wheel is from a S4 Elan?
Cheers
John

looks like the one from my 70 europa ---ed

It's definately a late S4 wheel, or maybe an early Sprint - 14" O/D & 2.5" dish is exactly the same as my Sprint wheel but unsigned.
However, having said that, I was under the impression that all 3 hole steering wheels were signed - shows how wrong you can be.

I don't use the original wheel as I don't find it comfortable. I use a TTR 26R type wheel, which for me, has a perfect feel when driving.

Jono, my 68 +2 came with a very similar wheel, 14" vinyl but the outside of the rim was bald in places where the vinyl had flaked off. I've just replaced it with a 15" wheel in leather but it has black spokes, not silver. Both are unsigned sadly. The slight increase in diameter is not a problem for getting in and out. The slender rim of the original wheels suits the car - the leather moto-lita rim for instance is much too chunky, fine in my mini but not "delicate" enough for the Lotus, I feel.

Jono,

I am new to the forum so am responding a bit late. My March 1971 Federal +2S came with a 15" unsigned wheel with black spokes. I have subsequently changed it out for a 14" Motolita leather wheel.

Harvey Lee

Jono I have an S3 with a 15" unsigned wheel, condition same as yours....interested in a swap?

Robert

That would be the perfect deal!
Jon, these are all Springall steering wheels, and they could be bought from car accessory shops as well as being standard fitment. My Plus 2, chassis number 10, has the same wheel as yours, except it is 15 inch. My BDA Plus 2 is a little later, and has the same wheel as chassis 10, but it's signed.

I suspect that yours has been swapped over the past 40 years from a 2 seat Elan or a bought one from an accessory shop. Robert has the correct one for you!

That is, Robert, so long as yours has holes in it rather than slots.....if it has the slots then it's an S/E wheel, which is one of the most desirable wheels.

Mark

Here's my situation, little car, big wheel

elanman999 wrote:Here's the wheel off my 68 +2 and it is 15" O/D. I've had the car for 31 yrs and I believe it to be the original wheel. And yes it is a bit big and I have got a pattern 14" wheel to fit.
I would have thought that Jono's 14" wheel is from a S4 Elan?
Cheers
John

My 68 Elan S4SE had the original wheel- just like the one in the photo but without a signature! It was crappy plastic and was split. It was 14 inch.

My 1969 S4 has a 15 inch, leather rim, black spokes with holes (not slots) non-signature wheel. Correct for the car or off a +2? Are all baby Elans supposed to have 14 inch wheels or is it just not that simple?

Thanks for any lght shed

Rob
S3
S4
7 S2