+2 - 1968 Restoration

[gino1]

Hi all. ...New project for Winter. .a 1968 +2 RHD. .in really good condition apart from some heavy star crazing on the entire front end..
Internals are like new...Weber head..Have all receipts from Last owner (tons)
Last on the road in 1993....dry stored in s warehouse for the last 20 years. ..

Keep you posted on my progress

Gino
Milano
Italy

[Sea Ranch]

Very nice, Gino!

But RHD . . . will you keep it or sell it on once you've refurbed it?

Randy

[gino1]

Hi Randy....i'm a little torn on whether selling or not after i've sorted the car out..It will not be a total rebuild but will obviously need a complete respray.
Everything else will be sorted.
I've also got a new LHD drive dash in Walnut with all new stickers on it...looks amazing and a new steering rack just in case along ruote I decide to change to LHD.

Gino
Milano
Italy

[Sea Ranch]

Ooo, a LHD dash. Hmmm . . .

Will this be your only Plus 2? If so, I would suggest you keep it and convert to LHD. I love my Plus 2S. Although I admit to living in a much more temperate climate than you. Perhaps you won't find a closed/coupe car with no A/C to be easy to live with in Italy . . .

You will know as the time comes. Or can you drive it some now, before the work begins? That would give you an idea of what a Plus 2 is like . . .

[gino1]

Hi Randy.....I think I will change the drive over in the end.
Never driven a plus 2 before but I have 3 other baby elans so i know what its like to drive one without a/c . ..bleeding difficult!
This will probably be ready for the road next year.
Keeping he same colour of Yellow and everything else basically.

Gino
Milano
Italy

[Sea Ranch]

Well, good luck with it all. I wish mine would be ready next year! I am just at the 12 month mark of a 3 to 4 year project, I figure.

But loving how well it's going so far.

Enjoy. Keep us posted.

Randy

ps. My sister was just in Italy; wish I was going over for a visit

[denicholls2]

Hi Randy....i'm a little torn on whether selling or not after i've sorted the car out..It will not be a total rebuild but will obviously need a complete respray.

A car like this raises a question. Likely the paint looks as it does because it is original. As Elans (even Plus sizes ) gain in value, is not an original finish with its star patina part of the high-value originality picture? Does anyone know of a truly original Elan without them? A respray, though it might make the car look better, is arguably damaging its value.

[gino1]

This weekend started taking the car apart ..unfortunately the sills have gone. ..so i've been struggling to change them....
The paintwork Is original but it doesn't have the star crazjng problem as first thought..it Is the paint that has actually withdrawn and has created huge gaps...don't know if anyone has come across this?
Gino

[gino1]

Photographs. .

[gino1]

Photographs

[TeeJay]

Hi Gino.
My +2 is also 1968 and yes mine had similar paint defects as yours.

I scrapped the paint off; for a respray; to reveal most of the defects were just paint related and no damage to the fibreglass. Areas of the body did need some matt and tissue repair to star crazing, i.e. boot hinge area and rear wing and strengthening to the front light pod mounting brackets.

I note that your door striker plate is different to mine, also my door handle has a look built in. Does yours have a separate lock?

Also yours has a very different body shape around the door striker plate, it?s interesting as yours is also a 1968.

The photos illustrate the paint defects and door striker area.

Bonnet Paint Cracks

[Sea Ranch]

Whoa, Trevor . . . I've never seen a Plus 2 door jam like yours. Mine (Feb 1970) is like Gino's

I thought they all were!!??

Randy

[gino1]

Hi Teejay. ..I think that possibly a PO may have fitted S3 door stricker plates and door handles to yours.
Mine has a seperate lock as in the series 4.

Gino

[KevJ+2]

Remote door locks and boot (trunk) locks were changed from chassis no. 50/0929

[TeeJay]

Hi All.

Some interesting comments above, so hopefully this should clarify some details.

My car is mostly very original and I am trying to keep it that way.
I have owned the car for 40 yrs and know most of the details of previous owners and on purchase of the car was given a comprehensive history of work carried out on the car.
It was first registered on 01/01/1968, chassis no. 50/0173. So a very early 1968 +2.

I started a complete restoration some years ago, but hopefully should have it complete next year.

Everything has been stripped, cleaned, examined and any parts replaced as required.

The door striker and combined door lock handle are original as is the boot lock and the Carello rear lights (no reversing lights).
Photos show some of the original fixings.

Apologies to Gino, I don?t want to hijack your thread.