Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

I have attached the Robinshaw & Ross Plus Production Milestones in two files. The file size was too large for a single PDF.

Stu

Stu, in the table it very much demonstrates the problem of unit Nos and dates.

R&R say 1554 was the intro date of the +2S; Bolster says it was 1593, 39 cars later. But, 1593 was invoiced in early October 1969, whereas the 'earlier' numbered car was invoiced almost one month later in mid November 1969.

[quote="phunter121"]Thanks Tim, So would it be fair to say that any +2 on the old numbering scheme could have a Unit No. from 0001 to 2556 regardless of where it was destined for (UK, Fed etc)?[/quote]

Quite so, Peter. It got easier with the introduction of the new system on 1 January 1970, of course, with L = Domestic, M = RoW and N = Federal

[quote="davidj"] Many of these changes make the car a different category, hence series 1.5. There was evidence the car had badges on the rear wing, although I have no idea what they were.

I believe these cars were sold as kits and would be interested if anyone has any documentation from Lotus about them.[/quote]

David, I fear it would be too confusing to start terming these cars as +2 1.5s! This is an extract from an article I wrote a couple of years ago: We know Lotus had done something similar before, as Richard Parramint has written "I remember the winter of either 69 or 70 we were asked to work in the hanger to the left of the factory. Our job was to bring in +2 Federal cars that had stood on the test track unsold and convert them from left-hand to right-hand drive kit cars. Some of the cars had sat out there for six months, so you can imagine the state some of them were in."

Tim

><<<There was a chart, that I cannot locate that had a pretty detailed timeline of +2 chassis numbers

wide, yellow boxes......

on the web somewhere<<<

phunter121 wrote:Thanks Tim, I've corrected the numbering.

May I check one thing with regards the last number on the old numbering scheme....

I got the numbers from this web page:
http://lotuselan-plus2.be/trevorsparrow/elanplus2/productiontimeline.htm

Its states the last number was 2536, but you say 2556?

thats the one....

Just read the comment in the Production Numbers box (black triangle) that says Plus 2 was only available in kit form before the Plus 2S - thats not true. The Plus 2 was available in kit form at ?1672 and fully built at ?1923 on introduction, and remained available in either form up to the introduction of the Plus 2S which was only available in built form.
HTHs
Matt

thanks MAtt, I've changed the table....I wonder if there are any numbers on what proportion were kits.

My early +2 was a kit. My certificate from Lotus noted some numbers of kits were built for '67 or similar. I'd imagine that the Lotus man (Andy?) would have those details.

Another question in my mind about the kit cars....I saw somewhere they were available with just primer?

Peter, although Lotus had a colour palate throughout Elan production, a prospective owner could order any colour they chose and the factory would oblige.

The vast majority of Elans that left the works in primer were destined for the Federal market, where the importer or dealer would arrange for them to painted. My sense is that these cars were not great in number. Remember also that in the 60s and 70s car paint was not great and cars would often have to have a blow over before going up for sale on a dealers turntable, or need a re-spray after only a few short years.

Tim

"Peter Hunter
Are you saying all UK cars were fitted with bonnet bulge until 50/1179."

Hi Peter,

Not really, more that the bonnet bulge was fitted to non-fed cars prior to 50/1279 and the introduction of Stromberg Carbs. I've really only got my car (50/1179 - late kit built +2 with straight exhaust, flush internal door handles and H engine) as evidence, but Miles Wilkins did tell me years ago that he'd seen other cars built at a similar time as mine with bulges and Webers.

Just trying to add a little more detail to your Masterwork!

Richard

Hi Peter. Great job.

As mentioned by a couple of others, alloy wheels were still an option and not standard on all 130/4 and early 130/5, costing ?67.67 inc vat. My October built 130/5, chassis 72100939L left the factory on black and chrome steels, since swapped to alloys.

Mark.

Thanks Mark, I've updated the table accordingly.

Your price list raises a wider question.... what optional extras were available during the production of +2's.

I've added the options in your 1972 price list, but if anyone has any details on earlier models, I'll happily add.

What are the 'correct' mirrors for an early Plus 2. Mine is 50/0887. It had Talbot mirrors on the front fenders when I bought it in 1984. These were lost to parking lot vandalism in 1986.

Re mirrors - I suspect that door or wing mirrors were an extra and quite probably a dealer fit. The two cars on the front of the Sept 67 issue of car above don't have exterior mirrors, The red car is LPW 120E which featured in a number of road tests and model introductions, and there don't seem to be any in my parts list.
NAH 120H, the brochure car for the Plus 2 'S' also has no exterior mirrors.
One of the cars in the various Plus 2S 130 brochures have mirrors - specifically the yellow GPJ 40K has a Sebring style RHS door mirror as usually seen on Europas....

There were no factory fitted wing mirrors. In fact, back then hardly any car manufacturer fitted 'standard' wing mirrors. It was up to the new owner to specify where - wing or door - and what type of mirror to fix. Thus the vast majority of wing mirrors were a dealer fitment.

There was the possibility to ask Lotus to fit your chosen mirror/s to your new car. If you had made such an order, it would have been carried out by the factory Service Garage, after the car had left the production line and been signed off.

Tim

Really useful resource!
One small point on the +2S domestic. On mine (1969) the dashboard has (yet another) ashtray instead of the central fuse box. You've got a photo of one variety, and a diagram of another.
I shall return to this spreadsheet...