Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

This is an odd theft, which could be a 'prank' theft. The bonnet on my Elan+2 has been lifted out of the car and stolen from where the car was parked on the street in Buckingham. I had been working on the car so the bonnet was resting on the engine bay rather than bolted in. If anyone is offered a Red Elan+2 bonnet with power bulge, I would be very interested. This bonnet is very unusual in that it is nearly twice the weight of a normal one, due to additional glass layers. Difficult for one person to lift, OK for two, but still a hefty item. It has finger cutouts for lifting and is black on the underside.

Any information please message me.

Jeremy Draper

It’s the wrong time of the year for student japes but if you do happen to have any student halls nearby I should go have a look. Anyone got CCTV in the street?

Thanks, yes we are a Uni town with HOR locally. Local social media alerted and Pub CCTV will be checked. I should have 'Locked Down' the bonnet, but hindsight is 20:20. New bonnets are available, but it going to be an odd insurance claim, if they accept it.

Jeremy

That's bizarre to steal your bonnet. At first I wondered if the wind had lifted it and blown it down the road (it happened to my S4 many years ago when I didn't connect up the spring overnight) but it hasn't been that windy the last few days. Some people will steal anything though. I had an old Victorian hat stand stolen at 2.00am outside a venue we were working at in central London. We were loading up a van from after an event and it was left out of sight on a seemingly deserted pavement for no more than 30 secs. Never saw it again.

In Melbourne I would say look in the nearest river or canal. Here people have a tendency to throw things in there

cheers
Rohan

JJDraper wrote: This bonnet is very unusual in that it is nearly twice the weight of a normal one, due to additional glass layers. Difficult for one person to lift, OK for two, but still a hefty item.
Jeremy Draper

My original bonnet on the Plus 2 was quite heavy.

I was told by the PO that mechanic had driven it out of a garage without fastening it. It took off and ended up in two halves.

The repair added a lot of weight.

I replaced it recently with a new one from Paul Matty. I did not replace the rear steel support and catches, but fitted locking pins. As it's a Plus 2 I've made up a spring-loaded front pin so I can remove it in about 30 secs.

It weighs 6 kilos.

Not blown away, although that was my first thought. Consensus is that is has been stolen to order - 2-3 men removed it at around 2.30am, and probably loaded onto a van.

The theft was heard by several neighbors, but as we are in the town centre, we are used to late night voices as people go home after a night out and rarely look out unless it is a good fight or public relationship breakup (or both!).

You have been warned, dodgy Loti people around.

re the weight - it is/was exceptionally heavy, having had several additional layers of glass. The additional glassing and weight are key identification features.

Jeremy
PS it weighed in at around 15-20kg

Surely they will strip it.
Wanna bet they are known to Police.
Someone will try sell it before long.

Yes, I checked our local river & local CCTV. The Police had no real interest, but I was touched by the concern of my neighbours and strangers, as once the word was out on FB, the local postman had told his colleagues on the other rounds to keep an eye out in case it had been dumped. Others have messaged to keep an eye out for it. The car is well known in the Town and everybody seems to know it, as I have parked in the same street for nearly 20 years. Sad that it has come to this..

Jeremy

as an elderly fella and with my back and with my 60s fasteners pip-pin: i have 3 bonnets: original 12kgs, a glass/carbon/lots of resin one at 5,5 kgs and my latest carbon, a tiny bits of glas and less resin at 4,0 - just right for my old back, as i prefer taking the light bonnet off in seconds + more clearance/less hood sandy

JJDraper wrote:PS it weighed in at around 15-20kg

20 kilo's......!
My money is on Colin's ghost...