Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

learn to live life with a smile in the mist of difficulty

Good day all my name is Clark from Kennesaw GA. I recently rescued a backyard/barn Lotus Elan +2 she's rather mint and intact considering where she was kept for yrs.
Everything seems to be there, needs new rubbers seals, for sure a complete restoration. Motor looks strong the PO used to be a racer mechanic from the info shared by his late wife.
A few things has been done. He was swap the alternator, swap in axcel set up in the rear and he also adapt a breather connector to the carbs back into the exhaust, what be my guess to remove the build up fume out the carbs to be burn faster from the exhaust side. This Elan had to have seen some track times.

Welcome Clark.

A good find, later Federal Plus 2S Elans are quite rare. What is the VIN number?

The crossover tubes are original. They were fitted to all Federal spec Big Valve twin cam engines as part of the anti-smog craze sweeping through the US post Ralph Nader. Most people remove them and blank off the holes on the inlet side. However, you may choose to keep the car as original as possible, in which case hang on to them, since they may in time become worth something!

Good luck with the resto.

Tim

Hi Moody, she looks great, what a lovely colour! When you say Mint, you mean that in a colour sense, rather than "condition is mint"?!

Looks like she has two brake servos under the hood - not sure if this is a US thing or if it was a modification, as mine only has 1 (UK 1970 car, pic below for your reference)

Well done for rescuing her.

Tks Rich I met mint on how together she is pierces are not all over the place and the body has held up fairly nicely in comparison to where it was park fir yrs.
As far as the break servos, yes there are two I'm not sure if that was a US spec. I hope others would share some light on that regards. However, I do know for fact that the prior owner was a racer and mechanic.
She has definitely seen track time to much up grade has been done plus his wife info was a great addition to he history of what her husband hobby and passion was. I wish he had done a better job keeping records or his wife knew more than the facts. Never the less I'm please to learn all about her and restore her back to hit the road again on weekend drives.

Sounds good Moody. Yes it's definitely a good result to find such a whole car, saves on a lot of investigation on what parts are, and where they go!
All the best with the resto.

Rich

Congrats on finding a great original car.
Yes, the twin servos was a federal thing with split (front/rear brakes). No room for two servos on the baby elan ( ) so we didn't get any servos at all!

There's another owner close to you also renovating a late Plus2, I am sure he will be along soon...

pharriso wrote:Congrats on finding a great original car.
Yes, the twin servos was a federal thing with split (front/rear brakes). No room for two servos on the baby elan ( ) so we didn't get any servos at all!

There's another owner close to you also renovating a late Plus2, I am sure he will be along soon...

Tks can wait to meet him I need all the help I can get. I'm so eager to get going on working on her.

trw99 wrote:Welcome Clark.

A good find, later Federal Plus 2S Elans are quite rare. What is the VIN number?

The crossover tubes are original. They were fitted to all Federal spec Big Valve twin cam engines as part of the anti-smog craze sweeping through the US post Ralph Nader. Most people remove them and blank off the holes on the inlet side. However, you may choose to keep the car as original as possible, in which case hang on to them, since they may in time become worth something!

Good luck with the resto.

Tim

Tks Tim I intend on keeping her as she is during her restoration. Tks for sharing that bit of information. Her him #02467N

I don't want to be a "fly in the ointment" but....
seeing it outside there under tarps all those years and on the ground, I can image the frame is rusted away?
better check that out now before you do too much work on her...
welcome to the group and good luck with your restoration.

tedtaylor wrote:I don't want to be a "fly in the ointment" but....
seeing it outside there under tarps all those years and on the ground, I can image the frame is rusted away?
better check that out now before you do too much work on her...
welcome to the group and good luck with your restoration.

Not at all Ted that was s big concerns of mine as well and for some reason or another there's no frame rust. Don't know how long she was out for and it was park on concrete not in the dirt/mud. Time will tell how bad things are or how lucky we both are that i got to her. Tks for the welcome

I have seen photos of twin Servo US Elans with them both located in the nose ahead of the radiator compared to the Plus 2 where they were located on the left of the engine bay like this car. I have always assumed some at least originally came like this but maybe dealers or owners fitted them later if they wanted a boost

cheers
Rohan

[quote="Moodyr32"]Tks Tim I intend on keeping her as she is during her restoration. Tks for sharing that bit of information. Her him #02467N[/quote]

Hi Clark. That Unit No has one too many digits in it. Would it be 0246N?

The highest N type Federal Plus 2S 130 Unit No is 0315N

Tim

Hi Clark,
I'm that other Plus 2 owner near you. I'm in the Lawrenceville-Buford area of Gwinnett County, and I am indeed refurbishing a '69/'70 Plus 2.

I'm aware of one other Plus 2 in Georgia, over by Augusta. The owner is a member here but basically never posts anything and hasn't responded to my inquiries to talk offline or meet up.

There are a few 'baby' Elans in the Atlanta area of course and you'll get to know those guys (Frank, Greg, etc.) soon.

I really like your car's colour and would love to see it in the flesh! You're welcome to come see mine too and I'm more than happy to lend whatever help I can if you need it. PM me and let's talk more.

rgh0 wrote:I have seen photos of twin Servo US Elans with them both located in the nose ahead of the radiator compared to the Plus 2 where they were located on the left of the engine bay like this car.
cheers
Rohan

I?d love to see pictures & see if this was original .... must have been very tight...,

trw99 wrote:

Moodyr32 wrote:Tks Tim I intend on keeping her as she is during her restoration. Tks for sharing that bit of information. Her him #02467N

Hi Clark. That Unit No has one too many digits in it. Would it be 0246N?

The highest N type Federal Plus 2S 130 Unit No is 0315N

Tim

I'm Tim I went to take another look at the dash and the vin # I have is 0246/N I thought it was a (7)
Hope that clear the confusion. Let me know tks.