The Elan Plus 2 Escort Twincam

[Elanintheforest]

I've put this in the Lotus Discussion area because this is, arguably, a Lotus!

This car was built very recently using an Elan Plus 2 chassis and all mechanical parts. The lower section of the Elan shell was used to mate with the chassis, but incredibly, the the rest of the shell was built from scratch in fibreglass as a faithful replica of an Escort Twincam body.

The amount of work to do this is just incredible, and the skills required to scratch-built the Escort shell from fibreglass are just staggering to me.

The underbonnet area will look familiar to Plus 2 owners, as do the knock-on wheels.

It's the opposite of a Spyder Plus 2 really. This keeps the chassis and all the running gear whilst the Spyder keeps the bodyshell and interior . Fascinating stuff.

Mark

[Pastapesto]

Hi Mark


I want one!!!!!

Any idea of the cost?......it's really really nice....

I love the "Hart" cam cover too!

All the best mate

Adam

[shaun]

Stunning bit of workmanship

[Elanintheforest]

I would think that if the hours were costed up Adam it would run into 100s of thousands to replicate! Mind you. if he kept the moulds....

I'll be having a good look at the car in a few weeks, and take a lot more photos...and ask the questions!

The engine position surprises me, and I'm looking forward to seeing the car inside. The engine starts behind the front wheels. whereas my original on is bang over the top of them.

[vincereynard]

Astonishing! So the track and wheelbase must also have been radically changed.

Humbling skills. The subtle L O T U S on the boot lid. 6 small dial dashboard.

I assume the doors are original steel? I'm no fan of Escorts but that ???

[Rich135]

That is stunning, I love it! I also find the placement of the engine in the bay a little odd, seems way too far back?

[2cams70]

I really do appreciate the craftsmanship and effort that's gone into this but is it a Lotus Elan paying homage to a Ford Escort or a Ford Escort paying homage to a Lotus Elan?? Fortus maybe?? A great conversation piece that manages to offend most people on both sides of the fence. Many Escort body panels have been remanufactured these days so the fiberglass molds were probably made from these. It may be surprising to Lotus people but the Ford Escort Twin Cam and the +2 are practically the same weight despite the Lotus having a fiberglass shell so you wouldn't be doing it to save weight that's for sure!

[vincereynard]

It may be surprising to Lotus people but the Ford Escort Twin Cam and the +2 are practically the same weight despite the Lotus having a fiberglass shell so you wouldn't be doing it to save weight that's for sure!

Mk 1 Lotus Cortina was very similar weight I seem to recall.

[Spyder fan]

The engine in an Elan or +2 chassis is mounted nearer towards the firewall/passenger compartment than in an Escort. Hence the gear lever position on the gearbox being much further forward on an Elan box versus an escort box. ( that?s my theory on the engine position)

I do like this car, are you thinking of buying it Mark, or is it the work of one of your many contacts in the Classic Lotus Ford World?

[Elanintheforest]

No, not buying it Alan, just fascinated by the amount of work and the skills required to do it. It would have been a lot easier to pick up a 2 door 1100 L and pop a Twincam in, but that's not what this is about I suspect.

I was sent the photos last week asking if I thought it would be OK to bring it down to the AVO National day in June for people to have a look at, alongside the many perfect and original Escort Mexicos, RS1600s, Twincams and RS2000s.. As mentioned above, some folks are a bit tribal about cars, but those I've talked to so far about the car are really excited about seeing it!

I mentioned Castle Combe, but I think it's too soon as the car isn't shaken down yet.

I'm looking forward to seeing it, and even with some negative attention (some folks are just built that way!) I'm sure it will be one of the stars of the show.

[Slowtus]

A great conversation piece that manages to offend most people on both sides of the fence.

How could anyone be offended by this?

Cars are not icons, they are a means to get from A to B and some do it in better fashion than others but any time anyone wants to do this kind of thing - done as well as it has been here - I applaud it.

My ideal for my Cortina would have been the SHO engine...

...but I had to settle for the S2000 as it was easier to find

[2cams70]

.but I had to settle for the S2000 as it was easier to find

Glad you settled on the S2000. A brain rather than brawn engine. Excellent Honda mating gearbox too.

[Bud English]

I appreciate the doing it just for doing it. The owner needs answer to no one! That could only piss off a small few small minds.

Amazing skills. Fit and finish look superb. I can only imagine the number of loving hours spent. Nicely done.

[denicholls2]

I suspect with the radiator sitting in the middle of the engine bay it relies heavily on the fan.

[Bob Smith]

Hi to all, took my Plus2 Escort to Castle today with a certain ammount of apprehension! But very pleased nobody tried to Lintch me!!!!
I was humbled to find virtualy everybody i spoke to had only positive things to say so thankyou for that.
I totally understand that its not everybodys bag, but i didnt build it to piss people off, just to show what can be done if you are converse with Fibreglass and its possibilitys. Many thanks for all your kind comments. Best regards Bob Smith. GRP2000. If anybody is interested in anymore information about the project you can contact me on my E Mail; [email protected]" target="_blank