Description
It has been said of Colin Chapman that he designed cars that he wanted to drive as he got older. His designs kept the same trend! The Lotus Elan +2 offers Lotus ride and performance combined with accommodation for two adults plus two small children, or a third adult in the rear. When first introduced in 2, the Lotus Elan +1967 cost £2 in component form (still offered at the time) or £1.672 fully built, including UK purchase tax. The Lotus +1.923 remained in production until December 2, while from October a new +1969S was marketed as a more luxurious variant with improved interior trim, fog lights and a dynamo. For the first time, here was a Lotus that was only offered in a fully built form, and not as a kit.
The end result was a two-plus-two with considerable charm and style that was capable of truly cruising at 120mph, and blessed with a 0-60mph acceleration time of around 8 seconds. The first +2S 130 subsequently replaced the +2S in February 1971. This improved model offered the much sought after extra horsepower in the 126hp Big Valve Twin Cam engine, and from the outside the model was immediately recognizable thanks to its contrasting metallic silver roof .
The Big Valve engine increased performance to 125 km/h, accompanied by a 0,60 km/h time of approximately 7,5 seconds. The optional extra of a five-speed gearbox was added in October 1972, activating the changed model title of +2S 130/5.
This unrestored Lotus Elan +2 S130 is the last of its kind equipped with the five-speed gearbox option, coupled with the beautiful twin camshaft engine. It was first registered on August 28, 1973 in the Netherlands and was owned for many years by Mr Molenaar, who was a member of the Dutch Lotus Club and lived in Zaandam. He owned the car for about 26 years when it was bought from him by Olav Glasius on March 1, 1999.
It is one of the rare Lotus Elan + 2S cars finished in the original factory option scheme of blue with metallic silver roof. Among the various options embodied in this most handsome but unusual production, the Lotus is an outdoor air temperature gauge which was quite a surprising feature during this period. Production of the +2 family totaled approximately 5.168 units. During its long-term storage within the Glasius Collection, the car has remained unused, unrestored and highly original.
