Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

JonB wrote:I would have thought a Mk 1 Escort was more sought after because more people actually owned them when they were current - this sentiment being driven by nostalgia.

Ahhem!! Not just nostalgia:

1. Competition history
2. Kent series engine. Probably one of the best, most significant engines of all time. The building block of so many groundbreaking Cosworth designs. Just a pity it has a "Ford" label stamped on it.
3. Despite the humble specification with cart springs at the back they actually handle fantastically and are great fun to drive (even the base models). You don't need to drive at silly speeds to get your rocks off.
4. Rare - especially the sporting models. I hasten to add many RS and LTC models in their early days were scrapped to provide spares (especially engines) for dare I say it - Lotus Elans!!!
5. The ultimate Meccano set. Parts interchangeability is unbelievable so build what you want how you want.

…..but then again, maybe I'm biased.

There has been a simple tool available for some time to value your +2.

Calculate total expenditure on the car, halve it, value sorted.

2cams70 wrote:

JonB wrote:I would have thought a Mk 1 Escort was more sought after because more people actually owned them when they were current - this sentiment being driven by nostalgia.

Ahhem!! Not just nostalgia:

1. Competition history
2. Kent series engine. Probably one of the best, most significant engines of all time. The building block of so many groundbreaking Cosworth designs. Just a pity it has a "Ford" label stamped on it.
3. Despite the humble specification with cart springs at the back they actually handle fantastically and are great fun to drive (even the base models). You don't need to drive at silly speeds to get your rocks off.
4. Rare - especially the sporting models. I hasten to add many RS and LTC models in their early days were scrapped to provide spares (especially engines) for dare I say it - Lotus Elans!!!
5. The ultimate Meccano set. Parts interchangeability is unbelievable so build what you want how you want.

…..but then again, maybe I'm biased.

Yes, you are biased - and why not? We all are biased and for me that is a good thing

The Escort in base form was an appliance, much like the Cortina before it and much like the Cortina it transported the masses during the week before morphing into a competition machine at the weekends.

I have owned a litter of Lotus, including a pair of Mk1 (Lotus) Cortinas and the only "Lotus" I have not owned - that I would want to own is the Escort Twin Cam for all the reasons you have outlined above. (not a true Lotus y'say? Lotus enough for me!).

As for "setting" prices - I say pish tosh to such nonsense - my wallet sets MY prices, regardless of what anyone else believes a car is worth. Must go, nostalgia makes me hungry!

Well, someone is listening to the OP's sentiments - ad on Car and Classic this morning, poa but we are reminded that s/he has a £32k price tag in mind...

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C12 ... dium=email

Text from the ad reads:

'1972 Lotus Elan S130, 4 speed, big valve.
Fully restored a few years ago, beautiful condition, everything was replaced and refurbished with original Lotus parts. Owned by ourselves [ what does that mean] since 1983. Still on original chassis [hmm, and all that dry climate you have over there] with original reg, original metal flake roof and interior.

Reluctant sale, [don't worry, I think you will be able to admire it for some time to come] car is currently valued at £32000 for insurance purposes, so bear this in mind when placing any offers [anyone?]

Viewing recommended, absolutely no time wasters please' [What exactly is a timewaster, answers on a postcard]

POA = No sale

If my memory serves, the seller posted a few times on here. Personally, I do not put much store in valuations, club or otherwise. The last +2 I bought was valued at £13k. Offered £6k, because that was what it was worth, which was accepted, and trailered it away.

Leslie

Hi Leslie,
+1 it's the market that decides the price. Some owners buy for a low price because if it was higher they couldn't afford one.
After a few hours of tinkering think it's worth a fortune like an E Type carrot
Alan

As the majority of people rightly say, you can't set the price, the market does and they are worth what someone will pay, regardless of what you think its worth.

I've just bought a Plus 2, my first Lotus, after selling my '72 Jensen-Healey. Another car that everybody has been saying for years is undervalued and prices must rise someday, blah blah. Well they didn't and they probably won't.

No complaints - I bought it and sold it reasonably well, but probably spent too much on it in the meantime! Well, you do, don't you? At the time you think "I'm never going to sell this, so why not make it nice?"

Paul Matty has been trying to shift a Sprint for the past couple of years valued at £55k! Nice +2s are being advertised at roughly half that price and they don't seem to be selling either. I conclude from that prices are over inflated and a buyer's market if sellers are realistic and want a sale. Jim

Over the years i have had 3 different +2s and i would not pay more than £20,000 for one.
Alan

Mine's up for £16,995. Just dropped it!

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1206211

Hi Jon,
When you have sold it try a TVR 3000M and put a big smile on your face
Alan

JonB wrote:Mine's up for £16,995. Just dropped it!

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1206211

I bet the mild steel silencer sounds nice. Mine had a stainless (which I didn't like the sound of) until I fitted a NOS Peco one. Jim

It’s quieter, that’s for sure. I still have the SS one, will flog it off when the car has sold (sorry, “if”)

Hello All, I am new to Elan +2 ownership and bought my 1973 (almost '74 as it was registered on 31st December 73!) +2 5 speed in mid February this year. I have been looking for nearly 12 months and settled on a Tawny Brown S130/5 with 3 previous owners (2nd owner had it 42 years!!) and a 3" thick history file. the car is really lovely in terms of its patina and originality. Yes, it has issues, sill members have crumbled to nothing and the paintwork is a long way from perfect, but, the history is amazing, the interior is superb and the feel of the car to me is wonderful. It has 96k miles on the clock, is matching numbers, with a heritage certificate, has been re-sprayed twice and originally had a metal flake silver roof. I consider the price of £15k to be spot on for what I was looking for and am very happy with the purchase. Value is in the eye of the beholder and the market will decide on what value is to be set for a car, it cannot and should not be controlled, I think we would all prefer to exist in a free market - the ups and downs will be far better than monopoly or control. It could be argued that I bought at the wrong time considering the recent events with Corona virus and what will doubtless be a serious economic downturn, but I bought the car with a long term view and I am very happy with it. Immediate jobs are to replace the sill members, re-furbish the door hinges (doors have dropped) and set to on the roof to try and reclaim the original metal flake finish! I have chipped away at the edges with a knife and found that the original silver finish is there, so i will rub down the roof with diminishing grades of wet and dry and see where I get to!! Wish me luck!