+2 S

[Ross Robbins]

Well, it's quite clear to me that the "S" stands for Sea Ranch, since that is the only photo of the added driving lights shown here. Besides that is the car that once was mine and my middle initial is "S". That is my final answer!

[Sea Ranch]

I'm touched!

Good point, though, Ross; the added driving lights are a definite sign of the S model. And for some strange reason, I really like the pop-riveted black plastic buckets Lotus used on the early S models. They just do it for me. (though I don't like the Stromberg bulge on the bonnet; too square-ish).

In any case, Ross, you take the credit for the "S" ; I'm just happy to have all my puddle lights, door edge lights, engine bay lights, instruments, etc. What wonderful excess!

Though, come to think of it, this (below) may be the best way to view the Plus 2S . . . . . .

[trw99]

[quote="Gordon Sauer"]Common lore of course was that the two rear seats were to capture the family as they grew out of the two-seater Elan but as I've shown my car some people have suggested that England had a tax break on four seatters at the time, is that true Gordon Sauer[/quote]

Nope!

Tim

[dougal9887]

It's obvious. The "S" stands for:

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.

English:
adjective

informal
Extraordinarily good; wonderful:
the only word to characterize Kepler?s discoveries was ?Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious?
a supercalifragilistic day of fun

Dougal.

[Spyder fan]

It stands for Spyder on my +2S

[oillite]

S is for slow as all that extra padding added weight.

[Craig Elliott]

I think the info from Trevor Sparrow"s site is slightly wrong in that I'm pretty sure the JPS +2s were S130 - S130/5s... The last time I spoke to the Lotus historian he also estimated they'd made something like 110 but it was hard to tell as they weren't specifically listed as "JPS editions" but as having black paint.

[Grizzly]

Is it correct that the JPS cars where the only +2's to be finished in black from the factory?

[LotusArchives]

To the best of my knowledge the black cars were black and gold Commemorative models. I have found 115 + the original design car in the Lotus records.

The note that fog lamps was introduced at 0250L (1970) doesn't make sense as these were introduced with the introduction of the +2S in October 1968. I have checked the parts list, and that shows the nose cone changed with the introduction of the +2S to allow for the fog lamps, but the parts list also lists fog lamp from 0250L so perhaps there was another change to the lamps or suppliers??

What the 'S' stands for is not documented, but I would go with 'Special', as in Europa Special and Special Equipment variants. I did bid on a document that detailed the introduction of the +2 'S' on ebay, but missed out so if anyone else has a copy I can have for the Lotus archives please let me know.

[Sea Ranch]

When was the change made from cut-out hole with black plastic bucket for the driving/fog lamps in Plus 2S to the more "permanent" molded-in recess/bucket for the driving/fog lamps?

Perhaps that is what might be indicated by that 1970 serial number??

My Feb 1970 car is still the cut-out and plastic bucket version . . .

Randy

[Bud English]

As does my 70, 0053N.

Bud

[Sea Ranch]

Nice, Bud

Mine is 7002040010N, which - if I'm getting it right - is a 1970, February, batch 4, unit number 0010, and Federal.

Now I'm really getting off topic, but . . . is the unit number continuous through the months and years? This appeared to be the case with the older 50/ type numbers. In other words, is mine the tenth car produced after the new numbering system change-over in January 1970? Or the tenth Federal car produced since the new numbering system, or the 10th car in the month of February??

Just wondering . . .

[roblotus79]

Slightly tangential. Randy, will you be at the ABFM this year(?) and with your car? Hope to meet you there

Rob

[Bud English]

. . . is the unit number continuous through the months and years? This appeared to be the case with the older 50/ type numbers. In other words, is mine the tenth car produced after the new numbering system change-over in January 1970? Or the tenth Federal car produced since the new numbering system, or the 10th car in the month of February??

All good questions as even the numbering system is "Special." (See what I did there? Still on topic.) All my paperwork, even my import paperwork, shows mine as simply "serial number 0053N", year of manufacture 1970. I was lead to believe that mine was a March car. There are so few existing records for +2's I don't know if anyone knows what's what.

[Chris]

I have an original sales catalogue for the +2S from 1969/1970. It has no definitive reason for the "S", but it refers to the 118 BHP "Special equipment version of engine fitted as standard to the "S". It also refers to the fact that so many extras were fitted as standard nothing else would be required therefore the car can be considered
"Standard".
My money is on Special.
The fitted extras were:-
Push button two wave twin speaker radio.
Reclining seats and safety belts.
Occasional rear seats with let down luggage shelf.
Electric windows, clock, and tachometer.
Wide base knock off wheels, with radial high speed tyres and servo assisted disc brakes.
Twin quartz Halogen fog lights.
Heater demister and air flow ventilation.
118 bhp "Special Equipment" engine with 4 branch high efficiency exhaust manifold.
Twin double choke Webber 40 DCOE carburettors
Close ratio gearbox.
Rust protected chassis.
air horns.
Chris