Early vs. late

[GreekS1]

Hi all!

I?m talking about a pre S ?68 +2 model vs. the later ones (S and S130).
I?m aware of the engine and interior upgrades but is there anything else that would make a later car the better purchase?
Are there major differences in the usability between them?

[ppnelan]

Late models have (supposedly!) simpler wiring - a single fuse box in the dashboard instead of 3 (or 4?) in the engine bay. Check the wiring diagrams in the Workshop Manual...
5-speed gearbox was available on later models - could be viewed as an advantage OR as a disadvantage! It depends who you speak to and what you will use the car for.
Later models have the remote-operated boot (trunk) lid. Again, could be seen as good or bad - probably bad if the cable breaks but I think it makes the (UK) number (license) plate look neater on late models without the handle in the way.

Matthew

[Elanintheforest]

I think that Matthew has covered most things. A couple of other points:

The later cars had a little more power?maybe 10bhp or 15bhp or so.

More options are available for the later cars on the exhaust system. The early cars rear silencer sits across the boot floor rather than along it, in a similar fashion to a S3 Elan. This can?t be changed without some mods to the boot floor.

The early Plus 2 has the full width radiator, whist the later car had the smaller one. The later cars ability to cool the engine on a hot day in traffic is marginal. However, it?s a simple upgrade to put a more efficient radiator / fan in either car.

The seats are fixed-back in an early car, reclining in a later car.

I have a very early car (chassis 32) and a very late car, and if I only had one it would be the?.no it wouldn?t it would be the??..Oh, I don?t know.

The early car is much more like the 2 seater Elan?same style wheels, seats and trim, boot lock, and I think it looks a little cleaner because of the wheels and the lack of spotlights on the front. It?s pretty basic, and that?s part of the appeal of the early car.

The later cars got a little fussy, with the alloys, spots and metallic roofs, but it works and is very period. The 5 speed box, reclining seats and very impressive dashboard make it a comfy (and fast) cruiser with a greater sense of luxury?for a 1970s car.

I think that you should really get both!

Mark

[peterako]

Hi,

I have a '73 +2S.

At a gathereing of Loti here in Ireland I happened to have it parked beside a '67 +2.....

On their own each car looks wonderfull.

But, in my opinion the '67 car looks really beautiful, even more so than the later cars.

Subtle things like the smoother lines on the front due to the lack of fog lamps. The rear of the car (boot opening mechanism, exhaust routing etc.).

But...beauty IS in the eye of the beholder!

I'd still choose the later car due to it's creature comforts....like decent seats.
And more important things like better chassis and body bracing.

And...even with my 'puny' radiator I have not yet had an overheating problem, even whilst stuck in Dublin rushour....

Peter
Tha pathanomei oli!!!

[tower of strength]

Peter, the chassis is the same on all plus 2's, ot's the replacements that are different, the very early cars lacked bump stop rubbers on the rear shocks, most if not all should have had them replaced, pre S130 models had the S/E spec twink in supposedly 118bhp (or is it 116?) webber form or similar output Stromberg engine. The 130 had the big valve/sprint/ super S/E spec engine with webbers or Dellorto's and 126 (ish) bhp and a five speed option on the last ones.

For my car (opens the can of worms) its a very,very early plus 2 with a 1970 plus 2s engine, 1995 Scorpio 5 speed, S130 dash and looms and the later S recliners trimmed in leather! I've also got different gauges and an extra one as well, just to be awkward!!

I prefer the simpler look of the very early cars without the plethora of mismatched badges and without the front spots, but the later dash,trim and wiring appeal for comfort and convenience, ditto the 5 speed conversion.

Mark

[Stuart+2]

I would add that the toggle switches on the dash of older cars look so very much cooler than rockers

[rdssdi]

My 1969 federal (US) version is pre "S" and has the longitudinal silencer with bodywork to match.

I also have rockers as it was a government mandated safety requirement.

Some people like the early cars without the headrest. Odd but my car has those no-head restraint seats. I guess Lotus smuggled that one in.

Could have been a PO "mod".

Bob

[rocket]

Which cars came with head rests?

[GreekS1]

Thanks for the replies!

Looking at a '68 LHD (non federal) car which has a later style interior (i.e. plusher front seats and 'individual' style rear seats). Is this a retrofit or did lotus upgrade the interior for '68 export cars???

[davidj]

To add to the confusion, there were at least 3 different types of pre S cars.

The original, with the rear boot lock, silencer across the rear and different door handles.

The "mark 2" ( post serial number 750 I think?) with the later 'S' door handles, exhaust etc.

The US "pre S" version with rocker switches, twin servo's, and high back seats.

David

[1964 S1]

I've got one of those federal models apparently. Built in December 1969. No fog lamps, high back seats, twin servos, rocker switches and cable boot release. (and Strombergs)
In the end, there is no absolute on what changed when. (I imagine it was like if all of us were in the factory, building these things in OUR huge garage, you went to the parts bin, got the part, put it on and then had lunch or whatever.)
Lotus was not "consistent" in their production procedures and it seems no one watched if you got the newest or oldest part out of the box on the shelf.
It's one of the things I like about Elans, the fluidness of it all, design, production and driving them....