Lotus Elan Plus2 No1
Posted:
Sun Dec 13, 2015 9:12 pmby john.p.clegg
Dear All
Just watched this...
http://www.itv.com/hub/shed-and-buried/2a3399a0006Looks like they've found No1 ?
John
P.S. you have to sign in to access it
Re: Lotus Elan Plus2 No1
Posted:
Mon Dec 14, 2015 10:31 amby gherlt
And you have to be in the UK ...
Re: Lotus Elan Plus2 No1
Posted:
Mon Dec 14, 2015 12:19 pmby john.p.clegg
Re: Lotus Elan Plus2 No1
Posted:
Mon Dec 14, 2015 1:54 pmby Chancer
But you still need to be in the UK do you not?
Re: Lotus Elan Plus2 No1
Posted:
Mon Dec 14, 2015 2:35 pmby trw99
I believe we have discussed this before, because the car came up for sale in June 2014:
"LPW120E was the first Elan+2 produced by Lotus. Registered 19th June 1967 it was the development mule for Lotus Cars Ltd, and was the test car for 1967 Motorcar Magazine article. Launched around the same time as the more powerful Jaguar E Type 2+2 Lotus fitted a factory tweaked 1558cc twin cam engine to the car to boost performance figures. This engine remains with the car. This is the most famous Elan +2 of all, it features in many books / magazines and was a star of many TV and film productions. (Randell & Hopkirk Deceased, Department S, )It comes complete with original documents still bearing the name of Lotus Cars Ltd. Having been lost for some 24 years it was recently discovered and will require full restoration. A worthy cause indeed."
In fact it was not the 'development mule'. There were two of those. M20/1 was a lengthened and widened Elan FHC that was run from September to December 1965. Concurrently the better known M20/2, or Metier, version was built, ready to be shown to the Lotus board in December 1965. Ron Hickman used the car and bought it for ?125 when he left Lotus. He continued to use the car into the early 1970's before scrapping it or so he thought. The car later turned up in London and was restored by Malcolm Ricketts, who then sold it via Paul Matty in 2012.
Tim