Just got my first Lotus elan +2. Where do I get parts from

[Matt]

Hi
Just got my first Lotus elan +2 its a 1973 s130 it needs loads of parts but the most pressing is a front windscreen and edging , front and rear screen rubbers and the door rubber seals.Where do u get your parts from ?

Also it has oatmeal leather seats that need a real good clean whats the best way to clean them ?

Oh and the wooden dashboard is in poor condition can u get them re-veneered? if not where would i get one?

Sorry to have so many questions

Matt

[iain.hamlton]

Suggest you try here:

http://62.73.160.224/acatalog/Christoph ... rts_2.html

and here:

http://www.paulmattysportscars.co.uk

You can get most things.

Good luck and best regards, Iain

[Hamish Coutts]

The forum is here (amongst other things) to answer questions. Just glad to be of help. I was in exactly the same position about 1? years ago and probably wouldn't be in the position I am now if it wasn't for this forum.

Door trims can be got from:
http://www.woolies-trim.co.uk/
Components from:
http://www.s-v-c.co.uk/ (watch their pricing - they can be a wee bit expensive)

Lotus parts from those in previous posts plus Susan Millar 01728 603307.

Hope this helps.

Welcome to the land of Lotus.

Regards,

Hamish.

[theelanman]

matt
I have one that I'm going to be breaking up for spares very soon as it looks like onone wants to take it off my hand as an on going project......I'm going to give it a couple more weeks and if I dont get and serious takers then I'll be breaking it up!!!
let me know what you need........the car is in good condition...just needs a liner in cyl4 and a splash of paint but I havent got the time or space unfortunately as I already have 2 elans taking up the garage!!
doh....lotus is an addiction I'm affraid!!
cheers
gareth

[Matt]

Thanks for the info, been reading your forums all day !!

Loads of good stuff here.

Going to try to start it tonight ... fire extinguisher at the ready....

[Si_130/5]

Hi Matt,
A Plus Two that 'needs loads of parts'? Congratulations and welcome to the Lotus black hole - it'll suck in all your time and money but you'll still be smiling.
The S130 has a bonded in screen with a plastic surround. Getting the surround to bend neatly at the top corners is tricky but there are specialists if you don't fancy tackling it yourself.
Christopher Neil do competitive prices on the door seals and they are good quality - I've just fitted mine.
Only a handful of Plus Twos left the factory with leather interiors at the buyer's request and this increased the price astronomically. Either yours has been reupholstered in leather by a past owner or you have the normal oatmeal leathercloth - which is vinyl with a printed on grain. I find Auto Glum interior shampoo excellent for cleaning this and mine now looks like new.
Dashes can be relaquered but for all the trouble and expense it's probably better to get a new one. See as many as you can and choose the grain pattern you like best - it's a big job and you'll be starring at it forever after. Paul Matty have a good stock and their ones have the lettering under the laquer, I believe CN have theirs stuck on top. The originals were silk screen painted and rubbed off easily. Normal price will be ?160 - ?190 but there are specialist dash companies that might be cheaper. I've never seen a repaired and relaquered dash with a finish that looks as good as a new one.
Is your car red and did you get it in Cornwall by any chance?

Best wishes,
Simon

[Si_130/5]

I meant Auto Glym.

It pays to read back before posting.
Simon

[niallf]

I liked the sound of Auto Glum, I think I've used it during my restoration a few times.

Niall

[masermartin]

Hi Matt,
A Plus Two that 'needs loads of parts'? Congratulations and welcome to the Lotus black hole - it'll suck in all your time and money but you'll still be smiling.
The S130 has a bonded in screen with a plastic surround. Getting the surround to bend neatly at the top corners is tricky but there are specialists if you don't fancy tackling it yourself.
Christopher Neil do competitive prices on the door seals and they are good quality - I've just fitted mine.
Only a handful of Plus Twos left the factory with leather interiors at the buyer's request and this increased the price astronomically. Either yours has been reupholstered in leather by a past owner or you have the normal oatmeal leathercloth - which is vinyl with a printed on grain. I find Auto Glum interior shampoo excellent for cleaning this and mine now looks like new.
Dashes can be relaquered but for all the trouble and expense it's probably better to get a new one. See as many as you can and choose the grain pattern you like best - it's a big job and you'll be starring at it forever after. Paul Matty have a good stock and their ones have the lettering under the laquer, I believe CN have theirs stuck on top. The originals were silk screen painted and rubbed off easily. Normal price will be ?160 - ?190 but there are specialist dash companies that might be cheaper. I've never seen a repaired and relaquered dash with a finish that looks as good as a new one.
Is your car red and did you get it in Cornwall by any chance?

Best wishes,
Simon

Were most of the Plus 2's fitted with vinyl?

[Si_130/5]

Hi,
From new? Yes, all but about 5 or 6 from what I've heard. The price Lotus charged made it ridiculous.

Regards,
Si

[Si_130/5]

It was a special order option.

[masermartin]

Any clue on what they charged in "those days money"?

[Si_130/5]

I'm sorry I don't have that info. But it is funny the number of +2 ads you see with 'original leather interior' in the text - strange that they could have owned the car for years and not noticed it was vinyl.

Still, if you think that's strange I once turned down a +2S 130 because it had been reupholstered in leather and was not original.

Regards,
Simon

[masermartin]

Don't mean to hijack this post, but can you tell me the specific difference between the regular, S and S 130?

[niallf]

S130 has a big valve TC engine (130=130 abhp) and also had a metalflake roof option. I think that's it for early cars, later cars (circa 72) had new wiring with an internal 4 fuse arrangement and failsafe lighting with a solonoid headlamp switch, rather than dash mounted vacuum valve (this stuff might be S130/5s only)

Niall
(who may be talking rubbish !)