My bigest shock in 2012

[paul m]

Ok so Im not the bigest club, or show person , but this year I took my +2 to our nearest show at a local stately home. Its run every year to raise money for Marie Curie a cancer charity, and is always well attended with over 200 classic cars of all types on show They parked me next to an imaculate lamborghini countach ,which had just been restored , and a series 1 E type convertable in gun metal grey with red leather ,again concourse and a series of others witch included a georgous early 2 seater Elan in my favorite light blue ( The colour of my old E type , witch I ran for 9 glorious years ). Now my car is no beauty queen, with micro blisters a few jell cracks, and a drivers door that sticks out at the bottom, so I just kind of sneaked off for some lunch, a bit embarased to be in sutch exalted company. After an hour or two I came back to the car and started her up in order to leave , when a stern faced offical ran over waveing his arms around, and stoped me in my tracks " Im sory but your not allowed to go " he shouted " You have to wait over there" After a while a few people began to gather , then over the tanoy came " Ladies and gentle men ....we would like to anounce the priz e for most populal car in show ..I know this is the one you want to win as its voted for by the publick here today, and as you can see there is some stiff competion....... It goes to.....The little red lotus elan +2 I just couldent belive it . I have never won any thing in my life , and I had just won a competition I didnt even know I had entered !!!! Flabergasted I asked if there had been some kind of mistake, but assured that there hadnt and went on to say that you dont see many early ones of those, and the shape and style had won it the most votes . So there we have it proof, if any were needed that when up against any british sports car from the 60 s The Lotus elan +2 in the eyes of the un -informed show goer is the best looking car

[rgh0]

I think the plus 2 style and shape is aging extremely well - they look better to me now than they did when i bought mine 30 years ago

and who said the general british public had no taste

cheers
Rohan

[peterako]

Ditto.

Although I have mine only a short 6 or so years it seems to be aging well and still looks relatively contemporary.

Ok, the skinny tyres do give it away, but from most angles it flows so well.

There's something special about the lines of the pre S +2 cars too, with the lack of spotlights.

Though I am getting a bit tired of people thinking it's a Jag...
Or even an MG!!

Shortly after I got my +2 I organised a Lotus 'stand' at one of the biggest Vintage and Classic Shows here in Ireland.

Was chatting to the organisers after. My car and another (67) +2 had been positively commented on quite a lot by those in the 'know' and the general public.
Both the +2's are daily drivers and nowhere near 'concours'.

Considering the 'real' exotica there I took that as great praise indeed.

Merry Christmas!!

And well done to your +2 Paul!

Peter

[miked]

Whilst I have lots of Love for the Elan I must admit the lines of the Plus 2 are very pleasing on the eye everytime I go in the garage. This is my third and I think it grows on me more and more. Looks so low and sleek. The 14 wheels make it too. Mike

[GrUmPyBoDgEr]

Whilst I have lots of Love for the Elan I must admit the lines of the Plus 2 are very pleasing on the eye everytime I go in the garage. This is my third and I think it grows on me more and more. Looks so low and sleek. The 14 wheels make it too. Mike

Yeah! The 14 wheeler +2; bring it on! That'll show the "Zetec Boys" where it's at!

[miked]

You got me there Mr Pelly. What's another inch between friends?

Mike

[peterako]

You got me there Mr Pelly. What's another inch between friends?

Mike

I recommend that you start a new thread for the above discussion......

And for the 14 wheeler +2's......

[GrUmPyBoDgEr]

You got me there Mr Pelly. What's another inch between friends?

Mike

I recommend that you start a new thread for the above discussion......

And for the 14 wheeler +2's......

Oh yes & how you'd love that wouldn't you!!

I dunno how you could let it slip out like that Mike, now we'll have all of 'em wanting to know more.

Cheers
John

[stugilmour]

Paul, congratulations on the award and welcome to the forum. Now you must post a pic or two of the new champion!

[GrUmPyBoDgEr]

Most remiss of me Paul, I got caught up in "the moment" so to speak, to say this.
That must have been a really lovely surprise; a special moment that so many of us would like to sometime happen to us.

Cheers
John

[dougweall]

Yes we'll done Paul. Have you been to see us at Nyloc just down the road from you.

The Buckles on the A64 every 4th Tuesday of the month. We would be glad to see you, we don't bite.
If you decide to come, probably when the weather gets better, I'll keep an eye out for a prize winning +2

Doug

[RichC]

very nice post ... Happy Christmas to all

[alaric]

Hoorah for the Elan +2

Happy Christmas all.

[paul m]

Thanks for all the replies, I would love to post some pictures of my car but dont have a camera yet , however I am working on this, and will do so soon.
Hi Doug , I have been to a couple of NYLOC meetings last year, hopeing to meet the owner of chasis no 50/0052 which belongs to a member. we did meet up ,and parked the cars together for the first time, since they were in the factory together 45 years ago ! Intresting to note the the same hand writing on the chasis plates this would be hard to fake as it is quite distinctive. I am hopeing to get there this year when the weather gets better as this car has disapeared from the regester, and I was hopeing it hadent been split for spares like so many others

[1964 S1]

At gas stations here in the midwest USA my very attractive +2 is frequently accused of being an Opel GT. We don't take offense but can soon glaze over the eyes of the questioner with quick banter concerning chassis, fiberglass and the Indy 500...
At a car show the most prominent question is , "whadwll she do?"