Lotus +2 convertible

[Mazzini]

Two friends i have here in France have Elan +2 converted to ragtops.
They have Spyder Chassis so are a bit stiffer to help.
Also they both have never fixed the problem with the Fuel Tank Breathers and smell of Petrol.
Maybe they need a Fuel Tank like the Baby Elan.
Alan

Alan! 'Baby Elan'?!! How could you?

[alan.barker]

Bonjour Mazzini,
But my Sprint is my baby with Lagoon blue eyes. I place a nappy under it's Sump for when it wants to pee pee engine oil.
It's big brothers are 2 TVR M series with growling V6 Essexs.
Amicalement Alan

[David Nogueira]

Good Morning. Thanks for the feedback. To understand my dad bought this car in the 90s from a person who bought it in the U.K. convertible, blue, but he thought at the time that it wasn't original and closed the roof and painted it red, today I wanted to see how it was (I have papers that prove it was a cabrio) but I don't know where to get parts.. Thank you

[alan.barker]

David,
I suggest that you see one in the flesh and if possible drive it.
Maybe someone here on the forum could offer you to visit theirs.
Then you will really know if you want to do it or not.
Good luck
Alan

[h20hamelan]

Convertible rear window?
That would give lots of airflow. Not sure how you would secure it while in the big city.

Modern plexiglass is versatile

[Foxie]

It was MANY years ago but I followed the "logic" that since I had removed a piece which provided rigidity I needed to replace/enhance that rigidity. A piece was fabricated which went on top of where the front of the original roof had been, another piece was joined to THIS piece just under (and barely visible unless you were 2"4" tall) the dashboard.

I then tied THOSE pieces into other 'bits' which descended into and replaced the aluminium (foil?) crash thingies in the sill.

Since I never needed nor wanted an actual top for this car (I used a terrible made but serviceable tonneau) I whacked in a strut across the back and covered it in fiberglass more for looks than results.

It was a while ago, so...maybe my scuttle did shake but I truly never noticed.

Thanks for your reply, but I'm still not quite sure what you did. Did you fabricate a steel structure ?
Did you link it to the sill members ? Any drawings or pics ?

I have fitted Spyder replacement sills, tied into my roll cage, they are substantial pieces of kit.

[trw99]

A few years back I wrote the attached article on Plus 2 Dropheads, which may be of interest.

Tim

[Harvey]

Tim,

Thanks for sharing that comprehensive review of Plus 2 cab conversions. You have provided the website with valuable history of these conversions.

Lee

[h20hamelan]

[Slowtus]

Thanks for your reply, but I'm still not quite sure what you did. Did you fabricate a steel structure ?
Did you link it to the sill members ? Any drawings or pics ?

I have fitted Spyder replacement sills, tied into my roll cage, they are substantial pieces of kit.

No drawings, no pics, it was done as I went along, had bits made by others and joined together as needed and yes, they were linked to the sill members.

[Donels]

Just read Tim’s article and the bit on scuttle shake reminded me of my Spitfire experience. To replace the clutch on a Spitfire you took the gearbox out from the inside having removed seats, tunnel cover and a H shaped bracing structure that bolted the dashboard structure to the floor over the tunnel.
When I put it all back together I left the floor bolts out of this while I checked everything worked. It was terrible, the bolt holes moved over half an inch side to side on corners and bumps, along with the steering wheel. It had advanced scuttle shake!
A similar H section structure would probably be beneficial to convertible +2.

[Foxie]

A few years back I wrote the attached article on Plus 2 Dropheads, which may be of interest.

Tim

That's an excellent article, long waited for.

Answers many questions I would have about the convertible conversions.

[stugilmour]

I am a bit late, but just noticed this lovely Spyder Zetec Plus 2 that Alan posted in the forum for sale elsewhere section. The pictures on the Spyder site show details of the top that might be of interest.

Link to Alan’s earlier thread flagging this great looking ride.

viewtopic.php?f=34&t=51275

Link to Spyder’s for sale page.

https://www.spydercars.co.uk/lotus-elan-2-zetec/

I would love this car. 170 hp with the MT75 transformed my Plus 2. I went the Britax Sunroof route.

Interestingly when I bought my car in Ontario the seller had a Plus 2 convertible on offer as well. Here is a link, indicating it ended up in France….

https://kmbritishcars.ca/1973-lotus-ela ... -h-d-blue/

HTH

[alan.barker]

Hi Stu,
the blue +2S Cabriolet is not one i know of.
My 2 friends here in France have 1 +2 cabriolet gun metal and the other is red.
Alan