1972 LOTUS ELAN +2

No reserve THE family oriented Lotus Elan Sporty temperament Affordable price French registration title Sold without MOT Chassis n° 500014M Very appreciated by the brand’s fans, the Lotus Elan had its moment of glory through the cult British TV series The Avengers, in which the main actress Emma Peel, played by Diana Rigg, drives an S2 version, before switching to an S3. Presented at the London Motor Show in October 1962, the Lotus Elan inherited all the characteristics dear to the founder Colin Chapman. It is light, agile, sporty and has the typical charm of British roadsters and coupes. After the disappointment of the Elite Coupé, which sold only a thousand units, the Elan was to prove a commercial success for more than ten years thanks to its unbeatable performance/price ratio. Initially offered as a convertible, the model became available as a coupe three years later, in 1965. In 1967, the Coupé +2 appeared, offering two additional seats, intended to keep the owners of the two-seater version as fathers. But also to attract a wider clientele, sensitive to a more advanced finish and more comfort. Although its design and mechanics remain identical to those of the original Elan, the body of the Coupe +2 is 60 cm longer, 26 cm wider and 2 cm higher. Ron Hickman’s design emphasizes smoother and more aerodynamic curves and has a CX of only 0.30. The beam chassis technique with polyester shell of the basic version is retained. The four-disc brakes are reinforced with a Girling servo. The suspension triangles and the rims are wider. From September 1967 to the end of 1974, three versions were offered. The +2, powered by a 1,558 cc twin-cam in its most powerful version with 118 hp and a 4-speed gearbox derived from the Ford Corsair 2000 E. The +2 S version, from March 1969, with more furnished equipment: anti-fog, bunk seats, reversing lights, heated rear window. Then, in January 1971, came the +2S 130 powered by the Elan Sprint’s «Big valve» twin cam developing 126 hp. From October 1972, a 5-speed gearbox will be available as an option for the +2 S 130 / 5 model. Official figures from the Lotus factory show that 5168 examples of the +2 Coupé were produced from 1967 to 1974, of which 579 only in 1972, the year of production of the Elan +2S in the Anna Lisa collection. This car was registered for the first time on March 27, 1972. It will receive a new registration in Paris on December 9, 1983 before being sold at auction on December 8, 1989. The last invoice dates back to June 2020 and concerned an intervention on the 2 Weber carburetors and the replacement of the spark plug wire harness at a specialist in the Rhône department. Here is the opportunity to acquire an interesting Lotus, both sporty and family-friendly. It will need an easy restart from its future owner before he can enjoy it fully again.