Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

i found this elan on collecting cars, knowing them as i do, the "sold" price doesn't mean it sold for that at all, I wouldn't let it go for that even though it is a spyder !

https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/196 ... yder-zetec

does this reflect a low appetite for modified cars or is the plus 2 still a bargain ?

No specific knowledge, particularly of the UK market, but that does appear to be one heck of a good deal. Interesting build, as it looks like it has retained more stock features than most of the Zetecs (13” wheels, four speed, etc.). The car certainly has some needs, but gosh what a great starting point for a rolling project.

In this recent thread Alan suggested Zetec prices are generally consistent with stock Plus 2’s, price being influenced by condition and quality of the build. He suggested a range of 25K to 35K GBP.

viewtopic.php?f=34&t=48320&start=30

The linked thread was of course about a NA car. I noted Ross and others based in the US said one can’t import and register a built up Zetec. Not sure if it is the same for Canada, Australia, etc. But I gotta think the car you highlighted would sell for $19K US if we could get it in the road. Maybe the body condition is worse than it appears in the photos, or it was someone’s lucky day! . Well bought.

Just random thoughts on a very cold day. Thanks for posting.

Seems to have been assembled from bits. Number 50/1256, registered on 03/01/1969 so should be a +2 but has later oatmeal interior with cloth inserts, a 130S dash with fuses in the middle, steering lock and fog lights.

draenog wrote:Seems to have been assembled from bits. Number 50/1256, registered on 03/01/1969 so should be a +2 but has later oatmeal interior with cloth inserts, a 130S dash with fuses in the middle, steering lock and fog lights.

Well, maybe originality counts after all!

draenog wrote:Seems to have been assembled from bits. Number 50/1256, registered on 03/01/1969 so should be a +2 but has later oatmeal interior with cloth inserts, a 130S dash with fuses in the middle, steering lock and fog lights.

I was thinking the same.

Similar car just sold on BAT for 40k

gus wrote:Similar car just sold on BAT for 40k

Depends on how you define "similar".

Same mother perhaps but two very different fathers.

Seems to have been assembled from bits. Number 50/1256, registered on 03/01/1969 so should be a +2 but has later oatmeal interior with cloth inserts, a 130S dash with fuses in the middle, steering lock and fog lights.

I’m not sure what the fuss is? I don’t think that’s an unreasonable price for a kit car.

There’s nothing significant to justify calling it a 1969 car?

Looks like someone just bought a V5 (logbook) then cobbled together some largely unoriginal bits to build a 2016 car?

'Keep the car original' is a motto that always counts if you want to retain value. It has always been the same whatever the make of car.
Once you start straying from originality the value of the car will invariably drop!

Alan.

A point to note here is that the price is at a run of the mill auction - places where you take a car that you must get rid of. There are plenty of +2s for sale, same condition for more money. But will they ever sell?

The other point - often made - is the question of price disparity between the smaller and +2 Elans. I think it is a fact of life that +2s are cheaper. (see car and classic today: two new additions at 47k and 66k...)

For me, I went for a +2 simply because it was cheaper. I wanted anything with a twincam. I wanted a kit car that I could just modify and play with as I wished. I do not care about residual value. Yes, a 26R, Escort or Cortina would be nice, but at their prices I would feel guilty changing anything too far from standard Losing just 16k in comparison to have some fun, is a cheap price to pay!

EPC 394J wrote:

Seems to have been assembled from bits. Number 50/1256, registered on 03/01/1969 so should be a +2 but has later oatmeal interior with cloth inserts, a 130S dash with fuses in the middle, steering lock and fog lights.

I’m not sure what the fuss is? I don’t think that’s an unreasonable price for a kit car.

There’s nothing significant to justify calling it a 1969 car?

Looks like someone just bought a V5 (logbook) then cobbled together some largely unoriginal bits to build a 2016 car?

Plus 1 for that (or even Plus2 ?)

"it is generally a smart 50-year-old classic." Well, actually, it is neither 50years old nor a classic!

Although, ironically, probably mechanically more original that the $40K car!

It's not a "Spyder" Zetec, just a +2 that has a 2:0 Zetec engine fitted into a Spyder replacement chassis.

Lots of nice parts fitted, but none of the Spyder conversion trademarks such as the tunnel mounted handbrake, fuel injection and no doubt lots of other desirable bits missing such as the limited slip Scorpio diff, 5 speed MT75 box. You certainly can't get the Sierra ventilated discs and calipers inside a 13 inch rim.

A nice car for somebody.
The price indicated is pretty much what I would expect for such a car that is neither beast nor fowl.

alanr wrote:'Keep the car original' is a motto that always counts if you want to retain value. It has always been the same whatever the make of car.
Once you start straying from originality the value of the car will invariably drop!

Alan.

I paid $14K for a 1966 Mk1 Cortina GT, replaced the drivetrain with something more modern while retaining the outward appearance and sold the car for $31K some 5 years later.

As for "updating" the drivetrain in a Lotus while retaining the overall appearance etc...I would do the same in a heartbeat.

I am not a purist.

Lotus elan is getting more and more rare. While there are plenty of reproduction twin cam engines, carbs, radiators, transmissions etc
The Cortina example many not be great on apples to apples. If the figure is correct Total MkI production 1,010,000 (of course this is not GT#'s). Vs Elan at "8,676-9,153" or maybe 12,000 "Lotus Elan registry lists approximately 1,100 known remaining vehicles, including approximately 330 +2" and +2 "estimated total is approximately 5,200", "Fewer than 1,200 of these cars remain on the roads today". Or including approximately 330 +2 depending on how one deciphers wiki etc.
There have been some comparisons of Datsun 240 again with high production numbers, just because there are more people willing to pay more. Or Triumph Spitfires etc...

Probably the only real money is what one is willing to pay, or an original owner, garage kept queen. Everything else is basically a kit car, though of course there is the claim that the +2 was Lotus 1st production car.

Is EFi more reliable, is a Zetec more reliable, OBD more desirable? Electric elan, Jay Leno's sequential boxed elan...

Also consider, you can buy an Elan body, chassis etc. No one is reproducing the +2 bodies yet

h20hamelan wrote:Lotus elan is getting more and more rare. While there are plenty of reproduction twin cam engines, carbs, radiators, transmissions etc
The Cortina example many not be great on apples to apples. If the figure is correct Total MkI production 1,010,000 (of course this is not GT#'s). Vs Elan at "8,676-9,153" or maybe 12,000 "Lotus Elan registry lists approximately 1,100 known remaining vehicles, including approximately 330 +2" and +2 "estimated total is approximately 5,200", "Fewer than 1,200 of these cars remain on the roads today". Or including approximately 330 +2 depending on how one deciphers wiki etc.
There have been some comparisons of Datsun 240 again with high production numbers, just because there are more people willing to pay more. Or Triumph Spitfires etc...

Probably the only real money is what one is willing to pay, or an original owner, garage kept queen. Everything else is basically a kit car, though of course there is the claim that the +2 was Lotus 1st production car.

Is EFi more reliable, is a Zetec more reliable, OBD more desirable? Electric elan, Jay Leno's sequential boxed elan...

Also consider, you can buy an Elan body, chassis etc. No one is reproducing the +2 bodies yet

Fine let's narrow the field to Mk1 Lotus Cortinas...I would still be happy to update the drivetrain any time.

Yes EFI is more reliable, ditto Zetec (Honda, Toyota etc even more so) OBD, I suppose so.

Go electric? certainly, if it makes sense re weight versus performance and range.

I