My +2 is painted in Royal Blue, it's a period Lotus colour but not sure if its original for the +2 as I have never seen another... anyone know?

My original colour was French Blue and that's what I am tempted to paint it again when I get enough stone chips and car parking marks.... Is it just me or do people have much less respect for other peoples property these days? or am I just getting old and grumpy

Blue's of all shades look good on a +2, not sure if I like the 70's metalflake silver over blue, but two tone cars can look stunning

Good luck with your choice..... remember it is your choice after all

[quote="Spyder fan"]My +2 is painted in Royal Blue, it's a period Lotus colour but not sure if its original for the +2 as I have never seen another... anyone know?



If going the route of a non genuine blue, a current Nissan shade, INTENSE BLUE, is fabulous and would look superb on a +2, if you can live with telling people your Lotus is painted in a Nissan colour.

Mark S.

1972 that will be a Datsun blue !

If and when I get around to building a new Zetec or BDA +2 to replace my current 130/5, I am taken by the Laurel Green, and envisage it without a silver roof, but over a Metallic White waist with gold coachlines, aka Elan Sprint, retaing all the chrome with polished rim/black minilites and black leather trim over green wilton interior, XJS seats and a webasto of course. Better still with chrome 72 spoke wires if someone can come up with suitable hub kits.

Ah, I see it now. Only have to convince the good lady selling the children and family silver for the required funds is a charitable act to help the ailing car industry.

Mark S.

Mark,

I am with you on most of those on your wish list. My Zetec is being refurbed with XJS seats, I am waiting for pictures of Spyder's anthracite minilites with polished rims and I spoke to that guy in Dover about the Webasto last month....£1200. Oh, but it has to be in mohair, so that'll be another 90 quid please. So that one will have to wait.

I don't reckon the +2 will look right with a waistband and two-colour scheme, though. Don't think the nose finishes high enough to the tail. Has anyone ever seen one?

next suggestion:

Gordon

Something like these?



Niall

Carnival Red for me, we have a saying in Australia "red ones always go faster"

Regards Darren

Yes, exactly like those....I'll also be asking Andy why your car is so low for a Zetec when I speak to him. Or did you build it yourself?

Rich

I did build it myself, and in fact I've just raised it about 1/2-3/4" as it was too low, kept scraping the exhaust. It's much better now and still looks 'normal' for a plus 2.

The Springs and Dampers were supplied by Andy, so I don't think they're anything special, at the moment they're about 3/4" off the bottom of the adjustable spring platforms on the dampers.

Niall

I was interested to see that there are still some Burnt Sand +2's over there and surprised that someone actually likes the colour. I believe my 1968 model, chassis 50/1072, is the only Burnt Sand example of about forty in Australia. The understated look appeals to me and even after 37 years' ownership I've never felt the need to change colour.
Norm

My car is currently soda-blasted here in Germany. I allready got back the lamp pods and doors and it really works well, the gel coat is only slightly rough after the blasting and the part looks really good and ready for doing a proper paint job with just a little bit of filler needed. IMHO the best way to take it back to the gel coat. I don't have the final price yet but it will be in the region of EUR 1500 for the whole car (including the interior and the engine compartment). If I use this as a basis for calculating an hourly rate for sanding it down....

However there's one very big hint which the guy who's doing it has been very keen on pointing out: The soda leaves a very nasty residue - and I don't mean the easily visible white soda powder which will stick to the parts - on every substrate which has to be washed off thoroughly before any further layer is applied. If that is forgotten no filler or whatsoever will stick and the paint job can be peeled of easily. In order to wash it away appearently the best thing is lots of hot water at relatively low pressure - preferably on a hot summer day. The water needs to have a sutible solvent for an alkali in there, e.g. some kind of vinegar or the like. There's some dedicated products, e.g. something called "hold tight 102" etc.

HTH


Tim

Hi



Really, I am surprised by that. If you buy a new sports car that is not red or yellow most 'normal' people would consider you weird. I bought a 1968 Lotus +2 because I always wanted one even though most of my friends were buying sport BMW's and Audi TT's. If you buy a 30+ year old lotus you are not normal and who wants to be 'normal'.

I would love to see some pics of your Burnt Sand +2.

Jason

Hi,
I've just joined Lotus Elan.Net and am in a long (ten years and counting) restoration of a 1968 +2. I scraped four colours off the car and decided to go bright. It has changed from original Lagoon blue to Lotus Yellow.
Cheers
DaveG

I've just taken 4 coats off mine too....red, green, red, then claret. 130 hours lost and hopefully about 5kg in paint!