Bonhams 1793 : 45,000 miles from new,1975 Lotus Elan +2S 130/5 Coupé Chassis no. 1910L Engine no. P31726

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2 Mar 2013 14:00 GMT Oxford
Collector's Motor Cars
Back to auction 20925

45,000 miles from new
1975 Lotus Elan +2S 130/5 Coupé
Registration no. LPB 444P
Chassis no. 1910L
Engine no. P31726

Sold for £10,350 inc. premium

Footnotes

Launched in 1966 and based on the highly successful Elan sports car, the '+2' version retained the former's independently-suspended backbone chassis but came with a wheelbase lengthened by 12 inches to make room for two occasional rear seats. Aimed at the sports car enthusiast with a young family, the Elan +2 represented a move up market by Lotus and featured an improved interior with a walnut veneer dashboard, electric windows, radio and alarm as standard equipment. The 1,558cc twin-cam engine was that of the Elan SE, and with 118bhp on tap the aerodynamically efficient '+2' was good for nearly 120mph. Build quality was further improved upon by the '+2S' of 1968 - the first Lotus not available in kit form - and then in 1971 came the '+2S 130', with 126bhp 'big valve' engine and increased performance. What would be the final '+2' variant - the '130/5' - arrived in October 1972 boasting, as its name suggests, a five-speed gearbox. Top speed remained around 120mph, the extra gear being in effect an 'overdrive' that lowered cruising-speed revs for improved economy.

A rare example of the '+2S' in its ultimate, '130/5' specification, 'LPB 444P' has had only four owners and covered a mere 43,000 miles from new. The original owner is not known but in May 1976 the Lotus was purchased by one Geoffrey Howell, who kept it until August 1985 when it passed to a David Betterton. There are numerous maintenance bills on file, many of which were issued by Roger Heavens Racing during the 1980s. The current owner purchased the Elan in December 1996, since when it has covered only some 1,000 miles while benefiting from regular servicing, an engine top-end overhaul (by F J Payne of Eynsham) and a re-spray in British Racing Green. Described as in generally good condition, with very good chassis and engine, this is a tidy car that with only minor improvements would be excellent. Off the road for the last few years, 'LPB 444P' has recently been re-commissioned and is offered with the aforementioned bills, Swansea V5 document and MoT to February 2013.