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I bought this car earlier this year (2003) in February. I love classic cars and I'd always wanted a Lotus, so this was kind of a dream come true. I'm still in the honeymoon period (nothing's broken yet!) so I can't imagine EVER selling this car. Though I'll keep an eye out for the two-seater Elans, the +2 is a unique car in it's own right, with a distinctly different (and in my opinion, nicer) body shape.

"Meatier" than the standard fitting.

It used to be two-tone paintwork. I hate two-tone. It's now a nice dark metallic green all over. Much nicer.

Steel braided fuel lines. 60s and 70s Elans are renowned for bursting in to flames. This is because if the fuel lines (originally rubber) perish they squirt fuel straight on to the dizzy cap. Not good!

Central locking and alarm/immobiliser.

Nothing serious. Who needs a stereo? The engine sounds fantastic! Just a couple of speakers so you can actually HEAR the radio!

There's an accurate data sheet on these cars at
http://www.lotuselan.net/print/magazines/car_n_driver_72_6.htm
(see the bottom of the page).

It's an old car, so it's not lightening fast but it's great fun. The real trick with your classic Lotus is that it's very low, handles like an absolute dream and is light as a feather. It's 130BHP from a 1558cc block. Not bad going really considering there are no turbos or fuel injection systems or anything fancy like that. Just a naturally aspirated engine in factory trim. And (apparently) if you take the factory fitted rev limiter off they'll happily go much higher than the limited 6,500 rpm without engine damage. Though I'm not about to try as an engine rebuild would cost a fortune!

Nice Lotus Im a sucker for a Late 80s' - early 90's turbo Esprit meself The green suits the car too.

Thanks! My mate was looking at an Esprit too. He wanted an early 80s one though. Unfortunately the place we went to (Haven Cars) was like the place Lotus' go to die! It was genuinely upsetting!

He kept his cheque book firmly in his pocket...

oh well at least you have a place to source parts if nothing else

i must say something like an 80's lotus would be fantastic to drive, that light weight, high output revving engine and rwd drive would be heaps and heaps of fun. Had a look in the trading post to possibly start dreaming, unfortunately they are fetching minimum of 30k for early 70 late 60 models... might have to wait a while

I love it, their a great car- so tempramental, so British.

It's hard not to love the sound of those carby's either.

Yer. It's lovely. It sounds like you're in an old World War 2 fighter plane when you put your foot down! You're right though. They can be really temperamental.

I've added some more photos too.

The little car gave me a hell of a fright last weekend. Started pissing petrol everywhere. An engine fire waiting to happen!

Fortunately it didn't, and it turned out to be a sticking float in one of the carbs that freed itself. Thank God! I was reaching for my cheque book...

very lucky indeed!

Happy New Year everybody!

A bit of money spent on the old car over Xmas. It was becoming harder and harder to start, so I took it to a local mechanic and he dismantled the distributor. It was full of muck and water, so no surprise it wasn't starting!! Starts first time now though. When I got it back I took the battery to be tested. It was knackered so I got a new (heavy duty!) battery. I also wired out the battery isolator switch, which I suspected wasn't helping. It had really thin wires on it so it probably was struggling to push enough current to the starter motor. Starts on the key every morning now! Hurrah!

Oh, and I fitted a new headlamp. £10! Humph!

D'oh! The MOT (UK road safety check) cost me £240!!

Never mind. The only real problem was a new seat belt (the original 30 year old one was still fitted!) The rest of it was four new tyres, which I didn't have to do, but I figured do them all now and that's it for 5 years!

I think you need an upgrade to at least a bulet roadster

More expense. Oh well.

New brake master cylinder cap, new oil filter (that time of the year) and 11 new sill trim clips. The cover blew off in recent gales and took the sill trim with it scattering the little clips that hold it on in to the undergrowth. Arse!

Mostly I'm dreading the service though. I've got to do it, but it's going to cost me a bloody fortune.

'Money, Money, Money'... thats all cars are, the trick is to enjoy spending it!!! afterall you are investing it into something you love.... better that than bills and banks

Done the service! Nothing seriously wrong! Hurrah!!

However, got home, drove it all weekend and a bloody coolant hose burst. Fortunately not far from home, so it's not going to be expensive - didn't damage the engine or anything - just sprayed anti-freeze EVERYWHERE!