Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Hi All
I am new to the forum and to running a Lotus.
I have just purchased a plus two and am interested in finding out a bit more about its history. It’s a 1971, 130s - RND840J.
Any suggestions on tracking its history would be appreciated. Should first steps be DVLA, contacting Lotus etc
Many Thanks
Erik

Welcome Erik!

Good morning Erik and welcome to this forum.
You will get some information here and help with snags.
Unfortunately, DVLA no longer release any information about history or previous owners.
They used to send everything they had, but sadly, no more.
Cheers,
Eric in Burnley
1967 S3SE DHC

If you can post up your chassis number hopefully Tim will come along to give you what he knows. Even a certificate of provenance doesn’t tell you a great deal and is now very expensive for what it is.

Thanks All
Chassis number I have is 7100000567L and engine number P24261
Any info much appreciated
Erik

Welcome Erik

Have to agree with what Eric in Burnley said re DVLA probably very little chance of getting much from them these days.
Change in legislation relating to protecting information etc means they no longer send out info relating to previous keepers. If you are really lucky someone will know the car or if you have any documents with the car sometimes you get lucky and get copies of old V5's etc that you can trace ownership.
I have managed to find quite a bit out about mine via past bills and MOT history etc but have not contacted anyone in the past history directly but it is a diversion playing detective on a damp winters evening..

Welcome Erik,

Your car is a Retrofred Plus 2. I wrote an article for Club Lotus News on these cars a while ago and have attached a copy for you, so that you can have some understanding of the origins of your car. We believe your car to be the final Unit No of the Plus 2 Retrofred cars.

I have no record of the car from other sources. It was first registered on 12 March 1971 in Manchester. The recent MoT history, including reasons for Fails, can be found here: https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/

Another source you should try is Club Lotus. They may have the car associated with a previous member.

Hope that helps get you started. Good luck.

Tim

Thanks Tim - Some interesting and alerting facts, especially about structural integrity of the shell from MOT history. Will need to check that one out

Is it wrong to read the past stories of Loyus cars and Lotus folk with a big smile on my face?

Did everything have a professional air of 'last of the summer wine'? Was everyone having the fun that it sounds?

Thanks Tim. That was a good read. My ‘70 Europa is a reworked car. Starting off as a Federal LHD then changing to a domestic RHD. Subsequently it has a PR suffix.