Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Hi guys, i'm new here, but my Dad has had his 1967 Lotus Elan +2 for 8 years, it was registered for the road on the 6/11/1967, and is chassis number 096. We were wondering if anyone knows of a car with a lower chassis number, it would be interesting to see if ours is the lowest, that would give it areally cool USP if it were ever sold. The poor car is undergoing a full restoration, with the aim of keeping the car as original as possible, as it is almost completely original. The car has a very special engine with a big valve head, very fast road cams, and unleaded conversion, and produces 145bhp. The car was refurbished in the 1980's when it was re-wired and the speedo was reset to zero, it has done less than 10,000 miles since it's rebuild. It was painted, in the early 70's in Porsche Bitter Chocolate Brown, but thats going in favour of Racing Green. We'll be cracking on as soon as, but it's going to be a big task, still, hopeing all goes well!
Thanks
Sean

Hi

Over to you Mark; is yours number 24?

Jason

Hello

I will take a guess that worldwide there could be up to 20 cars with a lower number....1 or 2 of which might poke their heads out on this forum.

Regards,
Richard

My number 24 isn't on the road, but it's not far off. It needs the side members doing (the seat belt mounts have come away, which is a bit of a giveaway!) but the chassis, engine, brakes have all recently been done, and it runs very well. It was on the road until a few months ago, and the plan is to get it back on the road next year. It's a bit tatty around the edges, and really needs putting back to the original Wedgewood or French Blue, but that can wait.

Number 32, which I bought 3 years ago, still has a way to go. That was taken off the road in 1977 with a rusty chassis, and was taken apart....very apart. The rolling chassis is now built up, and the body painted. So a few hours of work left!

Mark

Thanks guys, didn't think it would be the lowest, but still pretty early, so Elanintheforest, do you have a photo either of your rear bumpers, as i have never seen one like ours, it's totally different. I'll get a photo of it soon, if any of you can help me with it that would be great!
Oh yeah, and it has gold knock on wheels, anyone else got them??
Thanks
Sean

I'd like to see the pictures of it, Sean. The rear bumper should be standard, and the wheels silver. The first few cars had grey wheels, but nobody seems to know how many cars were produced with those. I've scratched the hand-painted hammerite off one of my wheels on number 24, and they are grey, but number 36 looks to have been silver from new. Of course, it coukld have had a new set of wheels at some time, or they could have been blasted clean before painting.

The best sources to see what the cars looked like originally are the contemporary road tests from 1967 / 1968, and the early brochures. Most cars have been mucked about with in the past 42 years! Mine has the Plus 2 'S' fog lights let in under the bumpers, which will be rectified when it gets painted. Many early cars had this done, and many others had the later interior with reclining seats fitted.

Mark

Greetings,

Does the chassis number or the unit number determine the sequence of production?
ie; production date.

Eric

Eric

I am no expert on the early cars, but by 1970 Lotus were only using the unit number, so my inclination would be to use the unit number for production sequence speculation.

Tim

Hi Eric
I'm easily confused with terminology, so here's my understanding.

The chassis / unit number is the same thing on a Plus 2. That is the number that is stamped on the 'ViN' plate and the chassis. The body shell also has a number moulded into it on top of the firewall above the carburettors...the body number. Formed from Dynotape.

Chassis 24 was built on 1st Sep 67 and has body number 30. It was the 9th Plus 2 built. Chassis number 4 was built on the same day.

Chassis 32 was built on 16th Nov 67 and has body number 10, so was about the 50th Plus 2 built.

Sean's car, chassis 96, was built on 18th Oct 67, way before chassis 32.

So in answer to your question I'd say.....roughly....give or take a month or two!

These build dates come from Frank's list, which unfortunately is an Adobe file. One day I'll type the numbers into a spreadsheet to get a more accurate picture of sequence.

Mark

Sorry about pics, camera troubles, but tomorrow, definatly ready for you. Thanks for letting me know about the build dates Mark, sounds very interesting. The body number is 51, does this list have any other information on the car. I knew that joining this forum would be a good idea! I know that the car could have been changed, but it has only had 2 owners and has been off the road for 20 years of its life. But, the car was painted brown when it was 3 or 4 years old, so they may have been done then.
Thanks guys!
Sean