Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

I have a 1970 Federal Elan Plus 2 serial #7002040023N, built February 1970, model Elan Plus 2 variant "S". I've been told that the car is an Elan Plus 2 S 130 but I can find nothing in the record indicating the 130. What does the 130 mean? Should I not find that designation in the build record?
Can someone enlighten me?
Cheers,
Tom

Don’t think the plus 2 was a 130 until sometime in 1971. Mine is early 71 and it is down as a 130 but I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s one of the converted S models I read about somewhere.

Thanks SimonH. So mine being an early 1970 S might not be a 130. Would 130 be on the build record if it was? Can you site any identifiable features that differed from the early cars?

Tom

TomMull wrote:Thanks SimonH. So mine being an early 1970 S might not be a 130. Would 130 be on the build record if it was? Can you site any identifiable features that differed from the early cars?

Tom

The words 'Big Valve' on the cam cover of the S130 although obviously not definitive would be an obvious starting point.

Alan

Thanks very much Alan but unfortunately my car has a non original engine. It seems to me that if I can find no "130" on the build record nor anywhere on the car I could safely assume that it is not a 130. But it would be really nice if someone could come up with a bit of support.
Tom

My Plus 2S is not a 130.

The Chassis No. 7005 100255L (7005= May 1970, L =+2S GB & NI)

Maybe that might place it a bit.

I believe the s130 would have a s130 or s130/5 badge on the rear quarter.

Non federal cars would have the luxury type interior/seats.

My car has an "S" badge on the starboard front quarter, an "Elan Plus 2" in about the same place on the port side and a "builder of champion cars" badge under it.
I was told by a very reputable source that my car was a "130" but I suppose even the experts can make an error.
I'd still appreciate something definitive if possible.
Tom

Tom,

According to the records I maintain, Unit 7002040023N was a Elan +2S, with engine I22063 (prefix capital i) which was SE twin cam. +2S/130s were made with Big Valve engines having prefix of "U" and didn't start with Federal units until mid-1971.

Identifying a +2S/130 is difficult, in that there only 3 distinct features, two which can be easily changed: the cam cover and the rear quarter panel badges.

The 3d and the one that can't be faked is that the +2S/130s tops were all constructed with silver metal flakes imbedded in the glass fibre. The intent was to have a very distinctive appearing car. When there was a problem with the finish, the top was painted the same as the body.

This is what happened with my +2S/130 and I stripped the top and discovered that the metal flakes to be a light gold color.

SGO 2F wrote:
The 3d and the one that can't be faked is that the +2S/130s tops were all constructed with silver metal flakes imbedded in the glass fibre. The intent was to have a very distinctive appearing car. When there was a problem with the finish, the top was painted the same as the body.

Expect when they don’t as mine doesn’t. It’s a 130, confirmed by the factory. It’s probably a converted S but done at manufacture. Doesn’t matter to me as it’s still in bits and probably will never get rebuilt at the rate I’m going and getting laid off due to the virus I again can’t spend on it.

So as Simon H refers to “confirmed by the factory“ may be the archivist will confirm in the provenance letter they can provide as to whether yours is a 130 or not as I can only think that’s what Simon H is referring to when he says “confirmed by the factory“. Gordon Sauer

The provenance thing is probably the best way except it’s now around £180 to buy and only from dealers. A bit pricey these days.
Ok, my confirmed by the factory was actually when I used to work there from a chap who had all the build info he wrote down as personal notes when he was building them back in the day.

SimonH wrote:The provenance thing is probably the best way except it’s now around £180 to buy and only from dealers. A bit pricey these days.
.

I do have the "Provenance" which I received from Andy Graham a couple of years ago and I stated the details of same in my initial post which I referred to as the "build records". Perhaps if I'd used the correct term I could have avoided some confusion.

While not knowing what I was looking for I was aware that there was no mention of "130" on that document but there was nothing that said it was not. So you and others have cleared that up and I am very grateful for all the replies.

I'm trying to get a main harness from Matty and the Plus 2 S and the Plus 2 S 130 are apparently different.

Again, thanks to all,
Tom

The +2S had 3 fuse boxes in the engine bay. Later +2S 130 had a single fuse box in the middle of the dash behind a door (where the +2S had an ash tray). I expect this is the reason for the different looms. But I believe there was a cross over period where the +2S 130 had the earlier 3 fuse boxes (early brochures show an ash tray in the dash). As usual, nothing is simple when it comes to a Lotus!

A few differences between my 1970 +2S and 1972 130S:

+2S has flush underbonnet lights set in the side of the engine bay, 130 has light mounted in the bonnet top rail
130 has a different bootlid and release mechanism from the earlier cars
+2S fog lamps are set in cutouts in the body with plastic liners, 130 has moulded recesses.
+2S screen is standard rubber, 130 is bonded
Some +2S have folding rear seat – dropped later as too expensive!
+2S has chromed brass roof strips, not monkey metal
130 has one central screenwash jet, earlier cars have 2.
130 has failsafe headlights.
and on the dash:
130 dash has:
Fuses rather than ashtray
Electric headlight switch not vacuum
Voltmeter not Ammeter
Mechanical oil pressure gauge to 100psi rather than electric gauge to 60psi
Bonnet pull in place of ignition switch (on column on 130S)

However, as we know, Lotus didn't have clean model brakes and often built 'bitsa' cars using what was available at the time!