fresh minted forum member
26 posts
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Hello --
Long time occasional lurker. Recent sign up after becoming the willing servicing custodian and occasional driver of an Elan +2.
For those interested in some details, here's the auction record -- https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1972-lotus-elan-2-7/.
Located in Ontario, Canada, on most days in Ottawa and occasionally Toronto. Recently (semi)retired. Several projects to keep me busy so adding just one more was an excellent idea.
Best to all .. Ian
Long time occasional lurker. Recent sign up after becoming the willing servicing custodian and occasional driver of an Elan +2.
For those interested in some details, here's the auction record -- https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1972-lotus-elan-2-7/.
Located in Ontario, Canada, on most days in Ottawa and occasionally Toronto. Recently (semi)retired. Several projects to keep me busy so adding just one more was an excellent idea.
Best to all .. Ian
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didit - First Gear
- Posts: 18
- Joined: 27 Oct 2022
Nice car
Ontario and bc lotus clubs both worth the $25
Welcome
Ontario and bc lotus clubs both worth the $25
Welcome
Born, and brought home from the hospital (no seat belt (wtf)) in a baby!
Find out where the limits are, and start from there
Love your Mother
Earth
Find out where the limits are, and start from there
Love your Mother
Earth
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h20hamelan - Coveted Fifth Gear
- Posts: 2059
- Joined: 25 Sep 2010
Hi There
Wish you well to drive her. Looks to be in great condition. I really like the colour. My only comment is that she is sitting rather high. I wonder if the springs are correct?
All the best
Berni
Wish you well to drive her. Looks to be in great condition. I really like the colour. My only comment is that she is sitting rather high. I wonder if the springs are correct?
All the best
Berni
Zetec+ 2 under const, also 130S. And another 130S for complete restoration. Previously Racing green +2s with green tints. Yellow +2 and a couple of others, all missed. Great to be back 04/11/2021 although its all starting to get a bit out of control.
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berni29 - Fourth Gear
- Posts: 827
- Joined: 10 Mar 2004
berni29 wrote: My only comment is that she is sitting rather high. I wonder if the springs are correct?
I would say the right height is about right for a standard car on original springs. Inline to the ride height of my car before i changed away from the standard springs.
'73 +2 130/5 RHD, now on the road and very slowly rolling though a "restoration"
- mbell
- Coveted Fifth Gear
- Posts: 2752
- Joined: 07 Jun 2013
Hello --
While experience is somewhat limited I agree with this second observation.
It handles well, and consistent with long distant memories of Elan and Elan + that I've had the pleasure of piloting. If you read through the notes and comments the front has been fully redone with Spyder and other reputed components. The rear is original with fresh dampers and springs, etc. Lowering would look more "modern". That's not necessarily beneficial overall. Did this with a BMWtii many years ago and results were definitely mixed. Looking into fresh tyres and hoping to source faithful to original 165/13 versus the 175/13 that are now installed. Not seeking authenticity, whatever that might mean. However, placing some confidence in the original intentions of the Lotus design team.
I do really enjoy the colour and both friends and strangers seem in full agreement. And those photos barely do it justice. It is well worn in at this age as it's about 40 years old.
Thanks to all who shared a welcome, and advice offered. Look forward to years of occasional participation. More thoughts and comments are invited. What's old is new to me.
Best .. Ian
While experience is somewhat limited I agree with this second observation.
mbell wrote:berni29 wrote: My only comment is that she is sitting rather high. I wonder if the springs are correct?
I would say the right height is about right for a standard car on original springs. Inline to the ride height of my car before i changed away from the standard springs.
It handles well, and consistent with long distant memories of Elan and Elan + that I've had the pleasure of piloting. If you read through the notes and comments the front has been fully redone with Spyder and other reputed components. The rear is original with fresh dampers and springs, etc. Lowering would look more "modern". That's not necessarily beneficial overall. Did this with a BMWtii many years ago and results were definitely mixed. Looking into fresh tyres and hoping to source faithful to original 165/13 versus the 175/13 that are now installed. Not seeking authenticity, whatever that might mean. However, placing some confidence in the original intentions of the Lotus design team.
I do really enjoy the colour and both friends and strangers seem in full agreement. And those photos barely do it justice. It is well worn in at this age as it's about 40 years old.
Thanks to all who shared a welcome, and advice offered. Look forward to years of occasional participation. More thoughts and comments are invited. What's old is new to me.
Best .. Ian
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didit - First Gear
- Posts: 18
- Joined: 27 Oct 2022
Re the ride height thing.
Yes I tend to agree with Berni that it looks to be a little high. It certainly sits a lot higher than my+2S130.
However I have come to the conclusion that on photos I have seen of US +2's the ride height is always higher in comparison to +2's here in the UK.
I wonder if back in the day that the ride height of cars exported to the US from Lotus had to have the suspension lifted and have a higher ride height to comply with Federal car regulations of the day?...Does anyone know?
Just my thoughts,
Looks a lovely car by the way...Enjoy!
Alan
Yes I tend to agree with Berni that it looks to be a little high. It certainly sits a lot higher than my+2S130.
However I have come to the conclusion that on photos I have seen of US +2's the ride height is always higher in comparison to +2's here in the UK.
I wonder if back in the day that the ride height of cars exported to the US from Lotus had to have the suspension lifted and have a higher ride height to comply with Federal car regulations of the day?...Does anyone know?
Just my thoughts,
Looks a lovely car by the way...Enjoy!
Alan
Alan
'71 +2 S130/ 5speed Type9.
'71 +2 S130/ 5speed Type9.
- alanr
- Fourth Gear
- Posts: 968
- Joined: 14 Sep 2018
Fairly sure your correct. The big 3 N Americans didn’t like anything from anywhere else. So they had lunch with DoT and made headlights be…The +2 was a bit low, thus taller springs. I think the shocks were the same, so who really knows. I also believe they are heavier, as the extra coils.
I had also read that because of pot-holes and hugely overweight Americans, and or all the baggage now carried by media controlled ninnies, but these are likely gossip, rumours, innuendo, speculation and the like.
I had also read that because of pot-holes and hugely overweight Americans, and or all the baggage now carried by media controlled ninnies, but these are likely gossip, rumours, innuendo, speculation and the like.
Born, and brought home from the hospital (no seat belt (wtf)) in a baby!
Find out where the limits are, and start from there
Love your Mother
Earth
Find out where the limits are, and start from there
Love your Mother
Earth
-
h20hamelan - Coveted Fifth Gear
- Posts: 2059
- Joined: 25 Sep 2010
alanr wrote:I wonder if back in the day that the ride height of cars exported to the US from Lotus had to have the suspension lifted and have a higher ride height to comply with Federal car regulations of the day?...Does anyone know?
I don't know for certain but I don't not believe this.
It was true for the Europa and you can back that up by looking at the parts manual that clearly shows different springs for federal Europa.
The +2 manual shows the same springs for all variants. It is possible the springs did change over time, but would guess it more likely a supplier change than spec change. Maybe resulting in different ride height or more resistance to sagging over time.
My car is a UK spec car, that had high ride height in line with other cars I have seen, so another point against it being federal springs.
The pattern I have observed is that early cars tended to ride lower, later cars higher. The reason will probably never be known for certain but lotus normally did update the parts books when changing part specifications which suggests to me there wasn't an intentional change here.
'73 +2 130/5 RHD, now on the road and very slowly rolling though a "restoration"
- mbell
- Coveted Fifth Gear
- Posts: 2752
- Joined: 07 Jun 2013
Or Lotus never changed the manual, to reflect Fed changes. Some UK springs are shown tall.
viewtopic.php?f=42&t=28885&start=
viewtopic.php?f=51&t=45522
viewtopic.php?t=33727
viewtopic.php?f=42&t=35316&start=
viewtopic.php?f=42&t=44334&start=0
viewtopic.php?f=42&t=21207&start=15
I would guess if your carrying 4 250lb passengers, a few animals, luggage for a Brazilian vaca, you might go for a tighter wind, thicker material and etc
viewtopic.php?f=42&t=28885&start=
viewtopic.php?f=51&t=45522
viewtopic.php?t=33727
viewtopic.php?f=42&t=35316&start=
viewtopic.php?f=42&t=44334&start=0
viewtopic.php?f=42&t=21207&start=15
I would guess if your carrying 4 250lb passengers, a few animals, luggage for a Brazilian vaca, you might go for a tighter wind, thicker material and etc
Born, and brought home from the hospital (no seat belt (wtf)) in a baby!
Find out where the limits are, and start from there
Love your Mother
Earth
Find out where the limits are, and start from there
Love your Mother
Earth
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h20hamelan - Coveted Fifth Gear
- Posts: 2059
- Joined: 25 Sep 2010
Hi Ian,
My September '71 +2S130 is a sister car to the one you have just bought.( Yours I see is August '71) Your car started life in Colorado Orange and my car is still Colorado Orange.
A simple non scientific crude measurement i have just taken is that my car ( on newish 13inch tyres, from the ground to the centre of the wheel arch measures exactly 25inches, both on the front arch and also the rear arch. If you measure your car the same way we can see what the difference is?
Alan.
My September '71 +2S130 is a sister car to the one you have just bought.( Yours I see is August '71) Your car started life in Colorado Orange and my car is still Colorado Orange.
A simple non scientific crude measurement i have just taken is that my car ( on newish 13inch tyres, from the ground to the centre of the wheel arch measures exactly 25inches, both on the front arch and also the rear arch. If you measure your car the same way we can see what the difference is?
Alan.
Alan
'71 +2 S130/ 5speed Type9.
'71 +2 S130/ 5speed Type9.
- alanr
- Fourth Gear
- Posts: 968
- Joined: 14 Sep 2018
Born, and brought home from the hospital (no seat belt (wtf)) in a baby!
Find out where the limits are, and start from there
Love your Mother
Earth
Find out where the limits are, and start from there
Love your Mother
Earth
-
h20hamelan - Coveted Fifth Gear
- Posts: 2059
- Joined: 25 Sep 2010
26 posts
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