Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Hi folks, for my own benefit and car search, I have pulled together what I can best describe as an Plus2 Originality Chart......it is at the link below:

'+2 Originality Chart'.

Its a first draft, so I am seeking help to get it as accurate as possible.

I am aware from this forum that there are all sorts of exceptions (and 'exceptions to exceptions'), so this is just a guide, rather than covering all bases. Let me know what you think.

Missing Black from available colours ?
JPS cars were only listed as black in the Lotus sales archive (or most were, if I am correct)

Innes

I've now added 'black'

Sorry another one, although I am not 100% on this,
I don't know if it applied to only JPS cars or all 130/5 but I think they came fitted with the "federal" octagonal nuts.

Mark, "elan in the forest" might be able to shed light on this.
Had a look in my Robinshaw & Ross book and all the pictures of JPS's have the octa-nuts but that is not overly conclusive...

Innes

My +2S 130/4 Sept '71 has original fitment Steel wheels with Chrome rims.

Not to be pedantic but no R in L10 Bahama Yellow...


I think there was a retro fit +2s into +2s130 (early 1971 like mine 7101020358L had three fuse box loom from the +2s) and according to my vin plate it was original L10 Bahama. But might just confuse things.



Have you run it past Andy Graham? he might be able to help.

Good idea ! A few thoughts.. which I hope are helpful

For an early +2
Heated rear window (vertical) - an option (rather than standard fit).. not sure if you intend to cater for options

Cam cover (polished alloy, single 'Lotus' word) - this was painted in crackle finish (red for "H" designated engine/head Super SE)

The exterior Door handles had integral lock for early cars & the interior release was a chrome lever rather than the recessed type of later cars.. . Edit I see you have this covered

early car headlining had 4 support rods (5 later) and was "loadstar" pattern

Front screen & it's trim varied during production.. early cars being the Ford Classic Capri style

By the way, please feel feel to add comments directly to the chart....just right-click, then select 'Insert Comment'

I think my 130/5 may have been the first sold, it's chassis no 72090923L and was registered on 14/11/72.

Are you sure about the engine number suffix, mine has a chassis suffix of L but no engine suffix, only a prefix of P.

It also had steel/chrome wheels, not alloys, although it has alloys now.

Mike

Sorry Mike, Chapman beat you to it.

His car was the first 130/5 I am aware of, 72090866L, which was dispatched on 23 Oct 72. There will have been a couple of development cars as well as one or two at the Earls Court Motor Show. I also believe that to be the time the warning lights moved to where the fuse box had previously been.

Tim

a few things you might like to research in if you're feeling really nerdy
...
+ve earth . not sure when the switch was made to -ve earth , certainly after mine!
likewise dynamo switch to alternator
interior seats & central console switch
very earliest +2 had different rear lights.
steering column switch from cortina to collapsible one
switch from right parking wipers to left parking wipers...

sorry, left to right parking wipers was the sequence change

Alloy wheels came with hexagonal nuts in the UK, I believe the taper is slightly different to the knock ons so ideally alloys should have hexagonal nuts, although I've seen plenty with knock ons fitted.
I saw one of the last +2s to come from Lotus, it was white, chrome rim steel wheels, black interior and I think a four speed box. It had been used by Lotus for a few months, so may have been finished from bits they had in stock.

The very last Domestic Plus 2S 130 was indeed white, 7312 2013L registered in Norwich in Jan 75, a year after it rolled off the production line.

A large number of final Plus 2S 130s have a 7312####L VIN, although we know a lot of them came off the line in Jan and Feb 74. It was a way around the new EC rules that were applied from 1 Jan 74.

Tim

Peter - that is a great source of data and well done. Be ready for the slightly random Lotus build methods to kick in to introduce large dollops of fear, uncertainty and doubt! Don't be discouraged though
Matt