1967 Lotus Elan +2

The Lotus Elan+2 was introduced in 1967 with a longer wheelbase and two more rear seats than the original Elan. It was advertised ... 'for the discerning motorist who requires the renowned Lotus road holding and performance coupled to an attractive two plus two body'.The Elan+2 embodied the Lotus spirit: it was a fast and agile sports coupé, with very elegant lines and combined the performance and reliability of the original Elan with genuine 2+2 passenger comfort.

This car is a road registered race car, having been with the current vendor since August 2011. 'GDS 635F' was first registered in November 1967 and was restored in 2004 as a show car with a new spyder chassis. Four years later it was decided this pretty little Elan should be converted to a racing car and has since raced between 2012-2015 in the Classic Sports Car Club "Swinging Sixties" series. In 2013/14, the car was also entered in the ever competitive Bentley Drivers Club handicap races at Silverstone and was a Class winner in the ACOC Sprint at Goodwood in 2012. The vendor of this pretty little car also took part in the 2012 Lotus Élan 50th Anniversary races at Brands Hatch and Donington Park, running reliably and quickly.

The vendor has supplied detailed information on the spec of the car and some highlights are presented below as follows. The bodyshell is finished in French blue with removable strips and roundels and the interior has been stripped out and with lightened boot, bonnet and doors the total weight is believed to be around 775kg.

A Tillett B6 F FIA seat and OMP FIA 6 point harness (all in date) and the full roll cage was done by Kelvedon Lotus/Kelsport in March 2012 including seat and seat belt anchorages. There is also a plumbed in fire extinguisher and FIA cut-out switch, with both inside and exterior pull handles.

The Spyder chassis has tubular negative camber wishbones and AVO Shock absorbers with spare AVO and Tony Thompson sets if preferred. The engine now produces 166 BHP on Mass Rolling Road and similar figures have also been produced on Pete Baldwin Rolling Road (206 engine bhp) with the Dyno and build sheets available. The engine was rebuilt in mid-2013 with a new American Ford Racing cast block decked and bored to suit the detailed build. All machining and head building was completed by Anglian Engines, put together by "J & A Kit and Classic Car' and completely re-fettled (rings, shells right through top and bottom, gaskets, seals, valves re-cut, head re-shimmed, new springs and buckets, new clutch plate) in the winter 2014/15 ready for the forthcoming season.

Some spares are also supplied with the car, including front pads, 4 wheels & tyres, caliper seals, water pump & belts etc.. This well prepared Elan offers amazing value for someone wishing a low-cost entry into motorsport with a marque that is historically synonymous with small, light, quick sports cars.