New car now with pics!

[sulzeruk]

Hi all, I am looking at buying a +2 S130/4 that my neighbour has had for about 10 years. The car has been fully restored (with an original chassis!), engine rebuild, gearbox, back axle, full new wiring loom (guy was an electrical engineer!), new dash , completely retrimmed interior, good stereo, rebuilt brakes, etc, etc.
The car was done about 9 years ago and was last on the road in 2001 after doing 2,400 miles since restoration. It has sat in the garage and never seen the light of day ever since I have been in my house (nearly 6 years!), a crying shame. There is an album full of pictures of the rebuild.
Car is on Dellortos and not running at present as battery is dud. It is a flat purple blue colour WITH the original metal flake roof in silver in PERFECT condition with not a single mark on it, this must be somehting of a rarity now.
I can probably get it for ?6 grand, worth it??????
My friends Dad had a +2 when I was a kid, OSS 11G was the reg, anyone seen it about in Scotland, still taxed according to the DVLA computer?

[kenny]

If the car is as you describe and there are bills to back up the considerible amount of work done then without me seeing the car I'd say it was a very good buy.

If the garage was dry where it was stood then it is reasonable to believe the all important chassis is still spot on......is it galvanised??

Was it stored with wheels on the ground or on blocks? was the motor prepped for its long stand? Has it got its original steering wheel?

If I were to buy another the 2 critical and expensive jobs I'd be glad to see done are the new chassis and the paint to a good standard (is it 2 pack or celli paint?). With the bonus of the rewire which believe me is a nightmare I'm in the middle of now and the new trim it seems too good a car to resist.

If theres a bit of history with it and the guy promises the motor is OK then job done. Other people here will add far more informative comments then mine though.

I should really have said it's a pile of crap and bought it myself

Good luck,
Kenny

[sulzeruk]

Hi Kenny, the plugs were out when i went to look at it as he rocks it back and forward occasionally to ensure the brakes don't seize and keep the engine turning over. It has been stored in a dry timber garage with the wheels on the deck. Tyres still look brand new but may have flat spots now but they don't look too soft.
I have yet to see bills for the parts, his son has them i believe. There is a good few pictures of the restoration in progress in the photo album covering from start to finish of the project.
It seems to be a good buy for the money and all work has been done to a high standard by the looks of it. He seems to have done a bit of modernisation with regards to the wiring, etc which I suppose can't be a bad thing if it stops it from going on fire!
He picked up a new battery for it the other day so looking forward to hearing it running and having a shot!
Al Cowan

[Matt]

Hi

As it's a neighbours car I would try to get an hour on it with a few tools just to get a good clear picture. The 'original chassis' isnt really a bonus I would inspect the front turrents with a large screw driver ! .it's a rather big job if the chassis is pants. Also get as much info on the engine rebuild as you can, ?3k to have it rebuilt is comon

The retrimmed interior look as the original should ?

I think ?6k is about right if it's as good as you say, you could post some pics here and we may be able to help more.

They are a lovely car to drive and own

Good luck with it

Matt

[sulzeruk]

Hi Matt, the original chassis was cleaned off and inspected. There was no rot to see at all apart from the vacuum tank being slightly dinged where the numpties had jacked it up before! The turrets seem to be in fine fettle from the looks of it in the pictures, it was derusted and then primed and smoothrited, about 5 coats is what he said if I recall. The engine is still on the correct, original block and was low mileage apparently. Didn't need a grind or bore, had new rings installed as well as guides and valves, water pump, etc.
Interior is bog stock and in very good condition as most of it was retrimmed. The centre tunnel and all the fibreglass backed trim parts were replaced with alumium backed panels, refoamed and then retrimmed. New carpets fitted as well. Had a new dash fitted as well, old dash comes with the car. Also has a full stainless exhaust system and alternator, was this standard on this year of car. Will try and get some pictures of it in the next couple of days,
Al Cowan

[Elanintheforest]

Sounds excellent, Al, just the way 'bargains' are to be had...let someone else do the work and spend the money. Unfortunately that someone is always me! If it's a purple colour, it could be Roman Purple, a really nice and quite unusual colour for a Plus 2. Have a look at the chassis plate and see what the paint code is.
Don't be put off by an original chassis...I have 2 cars that still have theirs, and they are both fine and dandy. It may be worth checking out the side (sill) members to make sure that they have been replaced or are otherwise solid. Your seat belts are attached to these. If they are duff, no big deal to replace.
it may be worth trying to get it going before the final commitment. Dellortos don't like sitting about too much, and may require cleaning, but little else. Webers don't seem to mind so much.
Sounds great...go for it.
Mark

[sulzeruk]

Hi, it sounds like a bargain, the sill have been replaced by steel ones the guy made himself (he was a time served turner and machinst I think!), I have an ultrasonic cleaner so that should sort the carbs out, they have a bit of gunge in them! What is the piant code for Roman Purple?
Al Cowan

[Dave_Newcastle]

I believe that L21 is Roman Purple

See http://www.mikecauser.com/lotus/parts/paint_codes.html

Dave

[sulzeruk]

Thanks Dave, I will check the chassis plate,
Al Cowan

[chrishewett]

Al,
Sounds a good price to me. I think my chassis is original and I am happy that it is very sound. The only thing I would caution is that one of these cars left, albeit in good conditions, without using will mean that certain parts will deteriorate. You cannot expect a car that has sat in a garage for 5 years to be in the same condition as it went in. Be prepared to replace parts that were replaced during the original restoration.
These cars need running regularly.
Chris

[Garibaldi]

[quote="sulzeruk"]Hi all, I am looking at buying a +2 S130/4 that my neighbour has had for about 10 years.
-------SNIP-----------------------
I can probably get it for ?6 grand, worth it??????
-------------SNIP-----------------

I can't provide any particular Lotus-related suggestions, but I have a fairly foolproof process I use whenever I get the bug to buy another car:

Contact the Lotus Club near you and get the local Plus 2 expert to go take a quick look at the car and give you an opinion; buy him lunch or slip him a gratuity (which he'll probably refuse) for his help. If your Plus 2 passes this test, make arrangements for the car to be transported to a specialist nearby recommended by the Plus 2 expert. Pay him 100 quid to take a really long look at the car. A cylinder leakdown test at minimum to check the condition of the engine. If he can get it running, better still. Running, he can check the rest of the drive train. Ask for estimates to take care of anything that needs attention. Then and only then will you have a reasonable idea of what you're buying. Until then, it is a pig in a poke.

100-150 pounds spent to find out the car is knackered is money well spent. Cars in barns that don't run have an advantage than running cars don't: they can engage the imagination of the prospective buyer without having to produce any substantive proof that the desire of the buyer compares favourably with the reality. I'm not happy hearing that the plugs have been out of the car for years. Short of being submerged in seawater, I don't think there's much worse. Unless, of course, the plugs were hand tightened back in.

Get the car thoroughly vetted. Find out what it will take to have a specialist get it in top notch condition. Then decide if 6000 pounds is a reasonable price. If you're lucky, it will be the find of the century. And I, for one, hope that it is.

GP

[sulzeruk]

Hi all, went and had another look at the car, got the folder with all receipts and the guy has cleaned the car. Looks better now, car is Lasure Blue, looks purple to me under the light!
Car has had a new Lotus Chassis apparently, there is a receipt from Christopher Neill for one!
Paint has a bit of microblistering and a couple of chips on the rear wheel arch, nothing drastic though, needs a good polish!
Brake pedal was solid and wouldn't return after pumping the pedal, he had installed a new gel style Bosch battery so tested all the instruments and lights, even the map reading light worked! Stereo is kick ass as well with separate amplifier in the boot and 6 speakers, sounds good.
Can't seem to get pictures up at the moment! will add later!
Al Cowan

[sulzeruk]

Pics below










Al Cowan

[Robbie693]

Hmmmm... What's going on with that pop bottle with a tube in it?

Looks like the dash has seen better days. Do you know who did the repaint and if it was back to gel? And how long ago it was done?

6K sounds a bit high for a non-runner, unless you've got it started now (?). Sounds like the Brakes will need stripping which is common (and sensible) when cars have been standing for a while (mine had and I've so far replaced Master cylinders, one front caliper, pedal box rebuilt and I suspect next is the servo - although the pedal box wasn't due to the lay-up)

It looks like it's an early model 130 with the Plus 2S loom looking at the relays on the bulkhead - You were right to check the electrics thoroughly as these looms were some times problematic. You will probably have to do a lot of connection cleaning as a result of the lay-up.

I'm not trying to put you off, just pointing out what I have had to do to mine which has had a similar period of inactivity. I'd haggle him down a bit...

Cheers

Robbie

[Dave_Newcastle]

Al

It is always difficult to assess a car from photos alone to judge its value but IMHO I gain an impression that the car is a little overpriced at ?6k.

Once on the road and reasonably sorted it may be worth that value in a private sale but as a non-runner (despite the shiny paint and fact engine might be running) I feel less - based solely on the photos.

As well as the relays I note the non-original spot lights, but also the lack of oil pressure on the guage (and also battery meter and fuel not registering) when the tacho is showing 1000RPM?? . The photos dont convice me that this was a full restoration that has then been sat. I dont mean to sound too negative or put you off. Buying a plus 2 is a fine thing to do that can bring much pleasure in the looking after driving and the community of lotus and classic car ownership.

My thoughts would be to go and see a few other cars for sale to guage where your car fits in the market.

Its not too long until Donington where there will be lots of plus twos visiting - some with for sale signs in the window - if you are prepared to make/risk the seller waiting that long. Where are you in the country I wonder - I for one (and there are other people here) who would gladly show you their cars if it helped you reach the right price and decision.

Dave