1973 Lotus Elan

There are countless ex-RAF airfields all across East Anglia, but one particular site, RAF Hethel, is famous for more than just its wartime efforts. In post-war Britain, it became home to Lotus, the British answer to the question of handling. Amongst the numerous and iconic models that have rolled off the Hethel production line is the Elan.

The original Elan, launched in 1962, as a two-seat sports car. But by 1967, a growing desire for a more practical Elan amounted to the launch of the +2. Make no mistake, despite being wider, longer and heavier than the original, the +2 was no Sumo wrestler. Retaining the use of fibreglass, and Lotus founder Colin Chapman’s core principle of lightness, the +2 remained well under 900 kilograms.

By the early 1970s, Lotus would release the +2S 130, now with a big valve engine and 5-speed manual gearbox. This combination resulted in more comfort, more luxury, and a much more usable car. This example is one of those. Rolling off the Hethel production line on May 1, 1973, this car was originally specified in Lagoon Blue Metallic, with a contrasting silver roof.

This specification, and its fascinating early life spent on the Lotus Cars fleet as a ‘service representative’ car, is verified by Lotus’ own archive department.

Today, the car is finished in white. It was restored in the early 1980s, but the paintwork today needs renovation. Whilst the car remains in a completely usable condition, there are many defects and the only method to rectify them is a full-respray.

Despite the slightly patinated exterior, the car does present well and does afford a level of relaxation perhaps not applicable to owners of concours finished cars. The white exterior is accented by a gold pinstripe, and black and silver wheels wrapped in Falken rubber. All the brightwork is there, present and correct, though it shows similar signs of wear.

The interior, however, has fared much better. The seats, door cards and dash are trimmed in black vinyl and the carpets are in great shape too. The dash is adorned with no less than 8 gauges, which are all in working order. There is a thick-rimmed flat-spoke Moto-Lita steering wheel and a wooden gear knob to complete the look. At some point, the car was fitted with an aftermarket audio system, with speakers mounted in the rear parcel shelf.

Under the bonnet is the most powerful variant of the ionic Lotus Twin-Cam. It’s a 1.6-litre, big-valve engine that produces around 126bhp. This particular engine was subjected to a full rebuild back in 2005 at around 96,000 miles. It runs well, and thanks to the 5-speed gearbox is far more usable day-to-day than earlier variants.

This Elan represents a great opportunity, to either enjoy in a completely uncompromised fashion. With no risk or concern, you can use it all year round, or if you prefer, it's the perfect opportunity to return a structurally sound car back to its original specification. Whichever you choose, it will bring a smile to your face every time you drive it.

As with all our vehicles, a full digital folder is available on request containing more images, walk-around videos, and scans of the service history. The car can also be viewed by appointment at our West London showroom.