Lotus Elan +2S 130 Review - A Legendary British Sports Coupe
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- Опубликовано: 7 окт 2024
- Today I'm driving Callum from CR Classics' Lotus Elan +2 130S - a car with a long name, but a small body and a fizzing 1.6L big valve twin cam engine.
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When I was 14 I worked a summer at a local garage, and I got to work on one of these! I remember it had copper brake lines, one of which had rubbed through from touching the rim of the wheel, and was leaking brake fluid. No one else had seen it. I was given a pat on the back for saving the mechanic's and owners lives...
And maybe others' as well.
I've had a couple Plus 2s. My favorite. 4 adults in a pinch or going to lunch from work. At all times it is ready for road trips. In an Esprit you can't bring a hat or jacket Plus 2 is still quick and agile. The most refined 2000lb car I've driven. Way better steering ride and handling than a BMW 2002. I would sometimes remove the floor from the trunk and then place 4 autocross tires inside and drive to the competition. What other car has space for 4 tires? Both of mine had smaller MOMO steering wheels.
Fabulous little cars. Lotus defines the term sports car, as far as I'm concerned.
Lotus = Lots Of Trouble Usually Ser...Ahh, screw it. I agree with you.
During the 1960's I grew up in the shadow of a U.S. military base and oh how the officer corps loved their European imports. Sunbeam, Lotus, MG's, Alvis, Jensen, Jaguar and even a Facel Vega on occasion! One day I saw a Karmann-Ghia Type 34 and when I tried to explain the car to my friends, they said I was bonkers!
I see Jay. I see Lotus. Thumbs up. Now to watch it.
I knew someone who crashed an elan plus2 into an old country petrol pump ( in Cornwall), there was a fire which he survived (no belts of course), the wreck showed the buckled double 'Y' sheet steel chassis, the steel lower block in a puddle of alloy,some melted glass and disks but of the magnesium aluminium wheels and tyre there was nothing! I conclude that those who raced Lotus cars were very brave .
I saw one of these in the mid-80s, here in America. I knew it was a Lotus, but nothing more. I fell in love with its look, though. If I were to seek a Lotus, this would be the one.
Maybe mine you spotted there. It is a Elan +2s130 U.S spec. Red of coulor. I have had it for years but it is not on the road it is under restoration.
@@torenyrud7567
I saw it a couple of times in the Atlanta, Georgia area. It was dark red, like this one.
I saw one of these today and had to stop and look and take a few pictures
Until i got instantly stunned when i saw this car in grey at a car show four years ago, i'd never heard of this type of Lotus. It is a breathtaking car provided that it is in very good condition. Two things in this video are true: It has practically no intrest on the web, apart from some shoddy video's of clubdays and secondly, the price mentioned is spot on. The one at the carshow was in very good condition and priced at 22.500 euro and i almost went for it. Kudo's for posting this video!
I remember, a great many moons ago, one of our science teachers had a bright red Lotus Elan. During break times, half the school was gathered around it like bees round a honey pot.
It is difficult to express just how radically different the styling of these cars was, compared with everything else on the road, when they first appeared. They looked like something from fifty years in the future to me as a young boy, still in shorts.
I love the “from hood” shot. Also that engine just sounds amazing. It’s not 500 horsepower, but sometimes you just don’t want that.
A friend of mine back in the UK had one of these - they're amazing little cars! Yes, they're tiny - and really quick down a narrow country road! I remember the wheels were attached by lovely looking central wing-nut type things - unfortunately the thread was in the same direction as travel so they would unscrew themselves as you drove down the road. My mate carried a wooden mallet in the boot so he could tighten the wheel nuts every 20 miles or so! When I had a go in it, I found it so confidence inspiring to drive that I was basically happy to start kicking it sideways everywhere almost immediately - great gearbox and lovely steering feel too. Classic British sports car, great review.
Thanks again James for a great day of filming and a top notch review. The Esprit is now home and ready for another day of filming and a bite of lunch.
Looking forward to seeing the replacement Lotus!
@@henryhol8538 ruclips.net/video/LeKyS6AhRu4/видео.html
And there it is haha! Enjoy.
Great to see you review this car and to see the lovely Herefordshire roads!!!
Awesome video! I did see a convertible of these in one of the London Motor Shows. Its very encouraging to see that our classics are in good hands with the next generation. As James mentioned viewers should pop over to CR classics to see the journey this car took to get to this condition.
fell in love with the dash on this car back in the seventies - think it even featured in a Rothmans ad with a uniformed airline captain at the wheel. found one and test drove it...on a back road i came to, what turned out to be a recently re-covered 90 deg corner woth that fine breadcrumb whit dressing which was popular at the time ......under normal braking...it went straight on, front locked - across wide grass verge, stopping over hanging a drainage ditch! - no damage done fortunately...when i parked it back in the showroom, I noticed the front plate had been torn off! - The Sprint was far more exciting and the Europa more quirky - ...the +2S felt large by comparison...but then again...we were 1/2 our present size back in our youth....
I participated twice in recent yrs with my Elan +2 130/5 at the Rallye "Coupe des Alpes" in France from Evian to Cannes, over 20 passes in the Alpes. Great car in winding mountain roads 'cause of his cornering capabilities. In tests of the time they measured 0,82g on the skid pad, which was better than a Porsche 911 or Alfa GTV! Body was shaped and optimized in wind-tunnel and has drag coefficient of Cw 0.30, which was in 1967 absolutely top. You feel it in fuel efficency (8 L on 100 km) and a true max speed of 200 km/h (125 mph).
Having owned many Lotus cars (currently a 380 Exige) this one other than an S1 Exige are the only ones I could see myself moving to. Such a pretty car....I might have to make him an offer
I am a small guy and find the Elan +2 a very nice fit. I have only driven the standard model, but it really is delightful to handle. The point you make about size is a good one. Today's cars are so wide, especially ugly vast SUVs like Range Rovers (not being controversial!). Where I live with lots of narrow roads a classic car makes a lot of sense.
Probably the most interesting UK classic for me!
brings back memories for me But am Not crying I drove one plus 2 it had Big stick on letters on the front BRM 130 just that one time it was in 67 am almost sure of the year, we had to deliver it to a guy near Brighton n we took a Daimler 2.5 V8 to get back with, Jimmy white the Mechanic from the garage an EX REME army Mechanic a Great bloke n a Great Mechanic young Tony Paine a Brilliant bloke from new cross n me, in fact we where going to the seaside with Tony one Sunday he was driving his dad's Zephyr or Zodiac near that time when we heard on the radio Jim Clark died in Germany, my greatest hero along with years later Senna, many thanks mate for your Brilliant video n am saying this B4 I seen the video cheers
I used to work on these (& all the Lotus models ) during my apprenticeship at Roger Clark cars in the 70s . The plus 2 was my favorite.
Puzzled Jay why you found it cramped, I was /am 6ft 3 & fitted easily . Perhaps we are of different leg / body ratios!
Magic video though . Well done .
Cheers from Simon in Western Australia
The seat is raised on blocks
Good report, I used to have the five speed version in the same colour with a silver metal flak roof. Lovely car, kept it for 11 years only sold it as I needed the money. I have a TVR Tuscan now which I have owed for 10 years, wouldn’t mind another plus two as well as the Tuscan.
Carb smell, lovely. Must admit, I love sneaking into the garage to smell the Mazda Eunos every now and again 😀
I get it i have 3 of them
Great car and to me still really good to look at. I had one in 1973 in JPS livery which was a 5 speed and was a delight to drive. Wish I still had it.
Absolutely love the lines of the +2.
My dad owned one of these and an elan sprint in the mid 70’s. He was quite tall but he said they where very comfortable to sit in, he also said they where terrible in the wet.
So..... you quote......
"Early 70's British; reasonably well put together; a multitude of gauges....... many not working.... and several ashtrays". Apologies if slightly misquoted lol.
That sounds very similar to mine but that is where the similarities end.
Would - assuming the wallet was fat enough - I own one? Unlikely.
Can I respect this car? Definitely.
Enjoyed the review. Thanks 😊👍
Great review. Do a Europa special next!
Wonderful car! My neighbour has the exact same car, but in light metallic blue with a gold flake roof. They are quite small, and he's 6'1", so he just about fits.
What a lovely fun little car with a big personality. And bloody marvellous 4 cyl sound mmm carbs 😁
The +2 is underrated because the model is largely unknown. many of the cars are not serviced properly, are misunderstood and sadly in bad shape. Great car In the right hands & if maintained as it deserves!
Thoroughly enjoyed this video. Love this car.
The 2+2130s was my final Lotus car. It was a 'K' plate Green with a White metal flake roof. Once the rubber drive shaft donuts were replaced and the earthing issues sorted it was a nice car to drive. As a 24 yr old single man it was a cool car to own😉Back then, they didn't look small compared to other cars of the period. If you stick them up against a modern family car, say a current Mini they look tiny.
They sure are little cars and they feel small when driving but I think they really are the perfect size for that type of car. James was correct, they just change the way the road feels and looks when your buzzing along in a little +2 or Elan.
Most Elans had a 4-speed Ford close ratio box. The late +2s 130/5 got a 5 speed box, courtesy of an Austin Maxi gear cluster in a special Lotus casing.
Love the elan. Love Jays mini series… more please.
LOOKS STUNNING !!
I love tiny roadsters and classics but they are absolutely terrifying on American roads with our HUGE traffic.
That's what concerns me in Australia, obviously not to the same extent as the U.S. but we still have big trucks here and not many quaint little roads to use small slower cars on.
I've been waiting years for this! Hope I dont' regret buying an MGB...
Rust monsters coming...
I’ve had an MGB for 26 years... although it’s only worked for 4 of them. Bought it at 16 years old. In parents garage since university.
I have owned several MGB's, one from New. I have also owned a +2S 130/5, one of the last built, it wasn't new, but not far off. I'm really sorry, but you will be, there really is no comparison, though of course I recognise that this is subjective. Having owned both models, for me I'd never buy another MGB unless it was one of those that I'd previously owned, and then it would only be for sentimental reasons. I hope that when you swap up now, you're lucky to get a good +2S 130/5. They are out there.
Fantastic video, what a nice car, love Lotus. It made the Suzuki Ignis in front look like large SUV..
Spot on with the benefits of small narrow cars, my 60s Minis and TR6 are pretty perfect on the Dorset lanes where I live, I'm very aware of the width of my F355 though.
Really enjoyed this video of the Elan 2+2. Lovely car. Thank you for sharing. But would very much like to see you do a video of the Esprit S1. Its the Lotus i lust after.
The Lotus Elan was perfectly proportioned to go with Emma Peel in 1967.
Haha spot on!!
Not the model in this video, though.
As we in the local lotus club used to say it's got a big value engine. Rog.
Hey Jay, nice vid. Would like to see you review the fwd 90's Lotus Elan. Not much content out about them, with the way they are overshadowed by the Elise.
James, I hope you can get around to reviewing a Fiat X1/9, they really fun little cars to drive:)
I nearly bought an elan when i was 18 , it was rough, but modded and very very quick
Them sunroofs were all the rage in the 80's as you sayJay.
£60 fitted or for an extra £10 ,you could upgrade to one with a eagle,Firebird etc printed on the glass 😀
I'd love an Elan.
My grandad nearly swapped his Sprite for one back in the day. You'd get a Lotus mechanic come and stay the weekend to build it on the side.
Unfortunately he got an inconvenient tax bill which kiboshed that plan.
PS Jay you must buy this ! All you have to do is fit a smaller deeper dish steering wheel on it !
Last of this model line was the Lotus +2S 130/5. It had the 5 speed gearbox made from Austin Maxi internals and Dellortos not Webers. The metal flake roof was only available on the 5 speeder. I had one and loved it. Trouble is the awkward styling meant the baby Elan became the collector's item. This has been butchered with that sun roof.
I wasn't aware of any '72 models on a earlier 'J' plate. Also, Spyder have never galvanised their chassis. Replacement Lotus chassis are.
Good luck fitting in a Europa! I'm waiting for a n/a Giugiaro Esprit review...
Hopefully you won’t be waiting long as I have one ready and waiting for James and his cameras.
What worries me is the low slope of the bonnet is just perfect for going under a big MPV.
Another car from my dream garage! (That I’d leave standard for as long as it takes to get to spyder engineering in Peterborough (if they have survived Covid lockdown))
Haha thanks!
CR classics she’s a beautiful car, did James mention it’s for sale?
@@johnreed3576 Yes I sold it a fair few weeks ago now unfortunately and it’s been replaced with my dream Lotus, an S2 Esprit 😁. Have a look at the journey this car has been through though on my channel, it is crazy and may be of interest to you?
CR classics one step ahead of you! It’s very good stuff by the way, subscribed, S2 esprit or elan plus 2? Think you’ve made the right choice, I’d have done the same
@@calazam118 If right offer i have one for sale in Norway. 1971 plus2 S130 U.S. specification (Left side steeringwheel)
I see Lotus and I “Like” ☺️
Lovely stretch of road I’m sure I recognise it 😂😂
Always loved the S2 Elan
She’s a beauty ❤️
Thank you!
This one isn't an S2 Elan, it's an Elan +2S, completely different car.
@@nickturner2813 Oh okay thought you were saying you always loved the S2 but this +2 is a beauty.
More Lotus road tests please
Such a beautiful car. 130bhp in a light weight car, must be quite quick.
Simplify and add lightness! Also, Lots of Trouble, usually Serious!
So original (for the last 50-odd years), did you think of that all by yourself?
@@nickturner2813 Awww, diddums... did I beat you to it? Or do you just attack anyone who quotes someone else?
I miss my '72 Europa.
Sorry James.....but it might be called a plus 2 130 but thats not 130 bhp, its actually 126 bhp as standard!
Nice.
Brought back memories of cutting a hole in my friends car roof to install a moonroof. Lol.
Holme lacy road again 👌👍 😎 looking forward to the rest of the lotus car reviews
The fuel smell is because of the tank breather pipe up behind the door.
130hp in a car that size is significant! I bet it weighs less than 2,000lb!
Please get that headlining sorted.
Isn't the bonnet from a USA Stromberg carb. car that needed that bulge, Webers don't need it.
My one had Webber’s and the bulge. 1970 model I am sure they all had the bulge
@@russcooke5671 lotus (Chapman) being miserly making only American spec bonnets.
never knew there existed a 2+2 version of this. It's not pretty but it must be rare...
Nah - they made plenty of them - I think production ran for 8 years
One bloke took advantage of the composite body and made a wagony sort of one. Very cool
@@karlx19 1200??
Splendid content as usual. There’s a thumbs down: someone must have fat sausage fingers 🤔🙄🤷♂️
"Simplify and add lightness."
Not a nice looking car! but the Colin Chapman steering wheel is a very rare piece especially with the horn, you can buy a twincam off the shelf pretty much! but those stering wheels are like rocking horse shit!
Tell me about it! Haha I paid a lot of money for that thing.
Had one of these in the 70’s. Great when it was actually moving but the most unreliable car I’ve ever owned. I swapped it for a Volvo P1800e which was so much better to drive.
wrrumm! :)
Were Brits smaller people back in the day?
Slightly confused about your comments regarding the seating position. I'm VERY fussing about the driving position and one of my pet hates is having my knees or thighs too close to the wheel. The +2 (with standard wheel) is one car I've NEVER had an issue with. (For the record, I'm shaped a bit like a tall, portly gibbon!) The way the wheel is mounted to the dash is 'open to interpretation' so someone may have set it to be much lower than standard ... AND (from your other comments) closer to the dash.
Interesting that the car you drove has a bonnet bulge. That was to clear the Strombergs in the earlier small-valve examples so the big-valve +2S 130s on Webers did away with the bulge. Then again, I've seen lots of old Lotuses rebuilt with bits from other models!
I also see that the car you drove has the 'knock-on' single wheel-nuts with the 'ears'. I'm not 100% sure but I thought they were only used on the steel-wheeled models and those with alloys used an single octagonal nut.
The 4-speed Ford '2000E' gearbox in the Elan and +2 was an absolute gem but I personally hated the 5-speed. The gearing just felt wrong.
Strictly speaking, the +2 range was never officially called 'Elan'. It was just the Lotus +2. However, that's not a criticism as I usually refer to it as the Elan +2 as well!
Anyway ... interesting review and much appreciated!
It should be mentioned in the video that a previous owner chose to fit riser blocks to the seat for some reason- hence part of my issue
@@JayEmmOnCars Blimey! I'm getting senile! I missed that in the video! I shall send myself to the 'naughty step'! Thanks. It explains everything!
126 bhp and 5 speed box!!! Rog.
To me a Lotus is an Esprit.. Thanks to James Bond.
Oh ye, forget, pre Microsoft, Lotus Excel.
If your into your Esprits then please do give my channel a watch as I’ve just got one to replace the car in this video. Hopefully James will be reviewing it sometime soon 😁
Lovely car. Not sure about the colour, it looks like a slice of liver.
@@jerrytugable That's original Lotus Regency Red(similar to jag red) Beautiful colour in my opinion
It's not very tiny and you are a bit of a chubber. Seats were vinyl, not leather. I've got one somewhere, and it was ace. But best left, possibly, to those as nimble as the chassis? For me, it was the best thing I'd ever driven in 1995 - even after a 1.6 205 Gti. I'll look for the keys... ❤
Simple; old lotus - Hit like
An electric motor in this Lotus would be very impressive.
It's got one, for starting the engine.
The exhaust sounds like a poorly feeling-mouse fart !
Isn't the Esprit way better looking?
Very different cars but yes I would say the Esprit is now I’ve finally got it on the drive. It’s just such an iconic shape and as it’s Guigario designed you can’t really go wrong.
Yes I has one, big mistake I mate I let the then wife drive it, yes she wrote it off, "no words
yummy.
Nothing like 1000 Elan +2s left 'on the road', according to this: www.howmanyleft.co.uk/?utf8=✓&q=Lotus+Elan+%2B2+
A notoriously inaccurate site
@@JayEmmOnCars Good to know - I wasn't aware.
I think you weigh more than that car
It's close
Too much talk, not enough lotus...
But the Legend has long passed James...I am adamant now in 2020, that any car without dual airbags for the front seat occupants, should no longer be able to use public roads and motorways. Vintage and classic cars only to be used on private land and private estate roads. Why. These old cars have the secondary safety features of an ant, i.e NONE!!!!
Edit: I am not suggesting Vintage classic cars should be banned from racing on private race tracks. That's a completely different jurisdiction and safety requirements, one way traffic, solo driver occupant in the car, with a helmet on and safety gear, most private race tracks stipulating a roll cage as well.
But your logic is somewhat flawed. Should an accident occur on a private road leading to the injury of the front seat occupants due to the lack of airbags, then the results are no different because of the road itself being designated as “private”. By extension the costs to the NHS and the Public Exchequer are no different either.
Therefore, I could see your point if you removed the exemption of “private” roads and simply said that you think: “...all vintage and classic cars without airbags should no longer be used - period!”
@@derin111 ...i'm not aware of any motorway rated speed limits on any private gravel estate roads? Or oncoming traffic for that matter..and most are one way traffic, no oncoming traffic.
@@Mexxx65 Yes...but are you aware that any injury incurred has the same effect on the injured person/s irrespective of whether it occurred on a public or a private road? The cost (in all senses of the word!) are also the same. This is unless you are suggesting tha, for example, the health care costs of treating and caring for those injured parties is also solely shouldered by private funds? As I sure you are well aware this is a highly unlikely scenario to occur here in the UK.
No, your stance and ban on driving vintage and classic cars in 2020, on safety grounds, only holds water if it is complete and irrespective of the designation of to whom the road belongs.
Please think it through.
Perhaps we should ban motorbikes, horse riding, cyclists & pedestrians on roads to then? - no safety equipment there really. Where does it stop?, is dual airbags enough? How many people die from brake dust ,tyre particle respiratory diseases, environmental conditions caused by the car industries here & abroad etc?
People can chose the level of danger they accept on UK roads.
Do you work for a car manufacturer?.............😂
@@eze8970 Exactly! There is no end to it!
But what was said about "public" and "private" roads makes absolutely no logical sense.
That is one ugly as F car !
Love lotus 😜👌😜
Only one for sale here in Au. Asking £38,000 (it's a nice one tho)
Why do UK cars have white front plates?
Awesome 😍💋 💝💖♥️❤️