Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Well,just back from Stoneleigh and no too impressed,plenty of nice people there,but the parts were scarce,cr*p and overpriced as someone has posted elsewhere (stainless ex.manifold etc.).Maybe Donnington will be a little better..............
But as for car of the show,I don't think you could get better than the silver plus2,I'd gladly swap my Granny for that (maybe even the wife as well).........

Discuss....

John

Yep, totally agree about the +2 & the wife.
There were 2 or 3 +2's in silver but I think I know the one you are talking about.

Ebay has made everything more expensive & people seem to think that any old crap is worth a whole lot more just because it comes off of a Lotus.
I have found to my cost that you have to be very carefull not to pay more on ebay than if you were to buy from one of the specialists. I am often surprised to discover that so called rare & unobtainable items are still available if you just have the time to phone around and ask the right people.

I too think it was a rather poor show but I had not been for 2 or 3 years
and after today, I probably won't go again. I think I will stick with Donnington in the future

all the best

Adam

Hi John, Do you mean the silver +2 that looked as though it had been dragged from the bottom of a swamp?! Excellent car, full of the stuff of everyday driver, biscuit wrappers, seat covers, big stickyouty 80's stereo, covered in crud, paint peeling and blistering. Made me laugh - only one of those there!.... is that the one you'd swap for the wife? better not let her know that.

I reckon that you guys spent too long eating the bacon butties, or I went to a different event?a parts fair not a show.

Yes there was some overpriced rubbish?there always is at any autojumble, But I bought some great bits that I needed. A set of window runners, door lock plates, glovebox hinges, round oil cap and pear shaped gear knob for a S2, all very difficult bits to find and the last two very expensive when on eBay, bid up by the Lotus Cortina boys.

Also found a set of Carello rear lights and some dash bits for an early Plus 2, and some standard bits like master cylinders, indicator lights, sidelights all mint /new old stock and less than half the price of that charged by the ?specialists?. Found some rubber bump stops for the lights / boot lid for a Plus 2, in original pattern, and talked with 3 blokes who had loads of other rare bits tucked away for the S2 and Plus 2 that they may part with?great contacts.

Also saw some wheels, seats, pedal assembly, heater assembly, hood frame, door frames and loads of other stuff for an S3 / S4, There were a few full engines, short engines and heads for sale as well as brakes, suspension and steering components. Matty, Miller, QED, Classicar Automotive, Southwest Lotus and Spyder had stands so you could get or order anything that?s currently available for Elans.

The days of engines for ?200 and signed or woodrim steering wheels for ?30 have long gone, and the small supply that becomes available, via eBay or at parts fairs, are now bloomin expensive. But they are the exceptions?.just wait ?til the supply of Plus 2s for breaking starts to dry up and watch the prices go up a lot further.

My bargains of the day have to be a steering rack for a Plus 2 for ?11, and a pair of rebuild front suspension assemblies, including wishbones and hubs, for ?45. Cheaper that a set of bushes for my old wishbones!!

A great fair, and lots of Elans in the car park too?.I?ll certainly be going back next year.
Mark

Actually Mark I think you're right, I just loved that well used +2, found myself a speedo angle drive, reversing switch, long washers and a coupla other bits and met some old pals. Nice day out.

What are bacon butties?

Bob
1969 +2
USA

Bacon Butties = Bacon Sandwiches

mmmmm....bacon

Thanks!
Bob

As I've not been to a Lotus fair for many a year, it would be wrong for me to comment on the quality, quantity and prices of the trade stands.

I went for three main reasons, to update myself, to collect a box of pre ordered engine parts and to look at all the Lotus cars there.
I was not disappointed.


Now looking forward to an engine rebuild following the chassis, suspension, diff. and gearbox strip and rebuild.

One of the my main highlights was to see all the Lotus cars and in particular the +2's, how inspired I was to see what can be achieved.

My favorite, was a red one shown below, or am I biased because mines also red?
Wow how I hope my paint job ends up as good when its the bodies turn on the rebuild project.
Then there was a silver, yellow, blue, white, grey and swampy

I love the swamp car.

I caught a quick look at an early silver car leaving, that looked nice but could not get a good look at it. Was it a Zetec?

Trevor,
I agree. I also enjoyed meeting many other owners in the garage and chatting about all manner of things.

Sharing of experiences was particularly useful for people who, like me, are building Zetec cars.

Did the Elannet meeting point sign appear on a table by Club Lotus, I couldn't find it?

Mike

Mike,

I see that you not only read whats said, but also whats NOT said in the message.

Quickly thought about meeting up with Lotus groupies, but then thought of the cost of a round of bacon butties and how many parts that would buy.

But you are correct, sharing of experiences is priceless, at Lotus Fairs, and on this or other forums.

As to the Elannet meeting point sign, I went by 3 times, saw tables with guys talking but did not see the sign.

But as I was drawn to swampy, perhaps my eyesight is an issue.

A couple of pics from the parts fair

I had a great time, the best turnout for years, virtual friends became real and I found a few parts I needed.
The silver +2S had excellent ripple free bodywork and looked new but the colour was too cold - seductive curves like the +2's need a warm and sensual rich colour (yellow's good). Most cars on the road today are silver and my retinas have been numbed by over exposure. That's just my opinion. More pictures herewith.

Si