Introduction
Colin Bashford
The Elan followed Colin Chapman's mantra: "Simplify, then add lightness."
Lotus introduced the world to the Elan in 1962. With a steel chassis and fibreglass body, it was lightweight, tipping the scales at approximately 680kg. It was also ahead of its time, featuring a DOHC 1.6L engine, disc brakes all round, independent suspension, and rack and pinion steering.
Production ran for approximately 11 years, during which the model went through various iterations. This particular car is an Elan +2S 130/5, a fixed-head coupé with rear seats. It comes to market after around two years with our vendor. In 2023, the engine was rebuilt, and a respray was carried out.
The car comes with a comprehensive history file, including many MOT certificates, and has a current MOT valid until 16/09/2025.
This listing was written from information supplied by Colin after meeting Doug the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.
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I WANT ONEAsk Questions
Thanks Doug, I’m just outside the M25 charging zone and it’s clear that ‘Historic’ tax class vehicles are ULEZ exempt. However the official GLA website suggests otherwise, so I guess some paperwork will be needed to keep the lovely mayor Khan of London happy.
If found this out Doug- so my question is has your car been registered with the DVLA as a ‘historical vehicle’?
Classic cars exempt from ULEZ
Some classic cars are exempt from paying the ULEZ charge depending on the vehicle’s age. These fall into one of two categories:
Cars built before 1 January 1973
Cars over 40 years old that are registered with the DVLA in the ‘historic vehicle’ tax class
Hi yes I think I have answered your query the car is registered as a Historic Vehicle on the V5C
Regards
Hi Doug
I am presuming that your car is historical road tax exempt (free) and as such ULEZ exempt with it being more than 40 years old. However the official government website says it is not ULEZ compliant?
It’s a little confusing, but perhaps it has to be registered prior to Jan 1973 for historical status, so another year or so to wait?
May I presume that the tax now valid until 1st Nov 2025 was just a formality free of charge just like an old MGB roadster that I once owned?
Regards
Hi. You are correct the car is free of road tax as to the ULEZ I do not know. I assumed as the car is 50 years old back in March this year it would be. But as I do not drive in any of these zones I have never encountered a problem. It is however classed as a historic vehicle on the V5C
Hope this helps
Regards
Hi Doug, thank you for your prompt reply, I am getting my information from Your given Service History on Your advert, it states on M.O.T……98,607 on 19/3/1982, then on the 23/4/1983 it states only 432 miles, does this not suggest clock restarting at zero after reaching 100,000 miles. regards. TK.
Hi Terry. You mane correct but as the blurb says “indicated mileage “ is 28569. The important thing is the known mileage and history since 1982 and more importantly the maintenance/ repairs/replacements since then and the current condition. There is very little on the car now that came out of the factory.
Hope this helps.
Regards Doug
Hi Doug, I did Question the stated mileage! earlier, now I am aware that this car had done 98,607 miles 0n the 19th of March 1982, so shouldn’t the mileage read in excess of 128,000 miles? is this correct please, as I am the high bidder at the moment. are you *** etc. thanks Terry.
Hi Terry. Not sure where you are getting your info from but as I said the mileage is what is on the Speedo. And the confirmed mileage from 1980 is 28000 minus 9000. Prior to that I do not know the mileage but I would doubt it has been round the clock. In any event the car has been totally rebuilt between 2000 and today by the previous owner and my self.
Hope this helps. All communication is via trade classics.thanks.
Doug
Hi Doug, Do you have the front screen S/Steel trim that is missing? where is the oil leak as mentioned in MOT at 28569 miles,? is that milage genuine,? I see the rubbers on quarterlight have been covered in black sealant, have they been and are they still leaking and is there any water ingress inside the car? what are the “defects” in the paint or is it just the lacquer, also there seems to be a inherent problem with the handbrake, and the rear discs seem to be inoperative and the discs faces covered in rust etc. where the main pads normally make contact. regards, Terry.
Hi Terry. Thanks for your interest. No I don’t have the chrome strip. The new screen was fitted by the previous owner and is glued in rather than locked in with a strip. The oil leak was noted as minor by the mot station not sure where from.
The car has no leaks any where that I am aware of. The mileage is genuine as far back as 1980 when mot records began. It had done 9000 approx at that point. The paint defects are difficult to see more easily found on close inspection they can be detected by feel more easily. Not a concourse paint job. See price. There is no issue with any of the brakes as they were completely overhauled at classic restorations earlier this year. They appear a bit rusty as the car has been sitting for some weeks prior the photo shoot.
Hope this helps.
Regards
Hi to both of you. The car has a new timing chain at rebuild along with electronic ignition, electric fuel pump new alternator and hi- torque starter stainless steel manifold and exhaust it sits on a recent galvanised lotus chassis. I purchased it in Cornwall and drove it up here with no issues. The car is even more reliable now than it was then.
Regards. Doug by
Is this now running an electric ignition? Were any other engine upgrades undertaken with the rebuild? Thanks
A little research confirms it’s a timing chain – even better.
Hi Doug,
I’ve owned a couple of 80’s Lotus and changing the timing belt on my Lotus Excel high compression engine was pretty easy.
Excuse my ignorance with your Elan engine, but it looks the same twin cam format and presumably the belts were all done when the engine was out for a rebuild and good for a few years yet?
I bought my 84 Excel from Stranraer and drove it 425 miles back to Essex with just one short stop. The seller said it would be a breeze, and it was. Would you share the same confidence for a journey back to the South East?
Any overheating in traffic jams, very common in Essex?
Hi Doug
looks a nice Elan you have there, a couple of questions:
Is the chassis original? – if not, is it a Lotus or Spyder replacement chassis?
Are the driveshafts original rubber or aftermarket splined solid?
Thanks
Hi yes new Lotus galvanised chassis and the drive shafts have been replaced by CV joint units.
Regards
Vehicle Location
Scottish Borders
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