1972 Lotus Elan +2S 130

We are delighted to be able to offer you something of a ‘unicorn’ car: an original, untouched Lotus Elan +2S 130 from 1972 and finished in Regency Red with the rare silver ‘metal flake’ roof still intact.

With just 35,600 genuine miles on the clock, it has had just the three owners from new. The first was Dr. Lewis, a local doctor in the Welsh town of Mold who cherished it for 34 years. He then sold it to a friend of his, a Mr. John Eagles who was a Lotus enthusiast who lived in the same village.

Mr. Eagles recommissioned it as it had been in storage for a few years and he wanted to get an MOT on it before using it. He also took the opportunity to fit a few choice upgrades to make it more usable, but was sensitive enough to only do that which was necessary, leaving the spirit of the Elan untouched.

However, he was in his seventies by this point and so felt it would be prudent to enlist the help of the car’s soon-to-be-third owner, a Mr. David Collings. Mr. Collings ended up taking over the project entirely and then used it regularly for the next few years. Incidentally, Mr. Collings also lived in Mold, which means the Elan has spent its whole life in the same village.

The Elan comes with letters and documents that prove its mileage. It is thought to still sport its original bodywork and paint (bar the sills, which were professionally replaced by a Lotus specialist), and it even still has its original purchase invoice for £1,815 from Mangoletsi of Knutsford, Cheshire.

This invoice reveals that it was fitted with a heated and tinted rear window, tinted side windows, and a push-button radio cassette player at the Lotus factory. The only other factory option that was available were centre-lock alloy wheels; wisely, in our opinion, the owner stuck with the standard steel wheels.

It has clearly led something of a charmed life having been cherished over the years, leaving it in genuine time-warp condition. As such it would suit the discerning collector or would be ideal for display in a museum.

The Regency Red paintwork is in fine fettle, being glossy and even. The colour is an unusual one, and we think it suits the Elan +2’s more mature demeanour. The panel fit ‘n’ finish is superb, and puts paid to the accusation that Lotus’ fibreglass cars were somewhat shoddy, even when new; this is almost certainly due to poor home assembly, a fate that this factory-built car escaped.

This subdued look is reinforced by discreet black steel wheels, albeit offering a hint of razzmatazz thanks to a band of silver on the rims. The tyres are matching, and all have good tread.

The rest of the chromework is similarly understated and what little there is is in good order, being free of pitting and undamaged. The delicate wiper arms, usually more ornamental than useful, clear the screen more effectively than any we’ve ever know on an Elan.

Another touch of flamboyance is offered by that beautiful silver ‘metal flake’ roof. At a time when almost every Elan that ever had one has been resprayed, it’s lovely to see this one is still in the same condition as it was when it left Hethel almost 50 years ago.

The pop-up headlights rise and fall as they should (many don’t…) and twin Luca foglamps add a touch of period utility that we like.

There is the odd small stonechip and patches of micro-blisters, but none of these are anything to worry about or detract from the way it presents. Even more importantly, these blemishes serve as proof that this is the original factory finish; a less understanding owner might have been tempted to eradicate them completely by respraying it but a car is only original once, so we’re pleased to see it in this lightly patinated condition.

The black vinyl driver’s and passenger’s seats are in amazingly good condition and are still as firm and supportive as you’d expect given the car’s gentle use and low mileage. The rear seats are even better and look to have been barely used, which those of you who have ever tried to sit in them won’t find surprising.

Nor are the door cards warped, another common problem and one that can be indicative of less than ideal storage conditions and/or an unsympathetic owner. The electric windows rise and fall quickly too, another good sign and something of a rarity with the Elan, as aficionados will know.

The original three-spoke, leather-rimmed steering wheel might be a little larger than you imagine but it offers a direct line to the front wheels unfettered by power steering; the rim might dance and writhe in your hands on imperfect surfaces but it leaves you in no doubt as to exactly what is happening underneath you.

The wooden dashboard is still glossy and highly polished. There are no cracks in either the lacquer or the surface varnish, and everything still fits perfectly thanks to an absence of warping.

The dials are still bright and clear too, and the chrome bezels still sharp and shiny. The top of the dashboard is free of cracks and other damage, and the headlining is taut and clean. The vinyl-covered centre console looks as good now as it did when it was new and even the light inside the glovebox works, as does the ambient temperature gauge - and that is almost never the case.

It is genuinely in time-warp condition and a remarkable testament to the care it has received from its two owners over the years.

While the lettering on the dashboard is still bright and white, if we were to nit-pick then we’d point out that the black rocker switches have faded over the years to a dull grey colour. Again, most enthusiasts will appreciate that this is inevitable and a corollary of the car’s originality but replacing them with new/old stock or remanufactured items would be an easy exercise should the owner want to revitalise the interior.

Oh, and the car still has its original push-button Philips radio. True, it is in the boot as it doesn’t work but originality buffs will know that these are very rare now and getting it fettled and working again would be a straightforward job for a specialist.

You’ll recall that the second owner was something of an enthusiast and chose to add a few upgrades to help improve its drivability and reliability during the car’s recommissioning.

Originality is all very well but materials and technology move on and retro-mods like this are an accepted way of helping owners get more out of their cars under modern conditions while not compromising the integrity of the underlying engineering.

So, the Elan benefits from the following:

• a solid driveshafts conversion,

• an Aldon electronic ignition, which is supplemented by Magnecor HT leads and a sports coil,

• a new double-row radiator and a modern, high-efficiency Kenlowe electric cooling fan,

• new Spyder sills,

• a Spyder conversion on the fuel tank,

• a new windscreen fitted by the renowned independent Lotus specialist Paul Matty (fitted only because the old one had a stone chip in it),

• a new clutch master and slave cylinder plus an Aeroquip hose,

• various bushes were changed and the suspension arms were powdercoated,

• the suspension trunnions and ball joints were changed,

• the chassis was painted in POR 15 paint to protect it, and

• modified adjustable handbrake arms and yokes (by Sue Millar) were fitted along with new brake discs and pads.

Other recent work includes having the engine removed in order to detail and dress it properly. Paul Matty supplied the new clutch, timing chain, and waterpump that were fitted as a precautionary measure while the engine was out of the car, and the engine block was repainted in the correct shade of grey.

There is also documentary proof that the engine has never been repaired in its life yet it is still running well after all these years after having had no more than routine servicing. Again, another urban myth laid to rest…

It is also fitted with the desirable Dellorto carburettors (recently refurbished) and the four-speed gearbox, which most enthusiasts prefer over the later five-speed Austin Maxi unit.

The engine bay now looks stunning; not over-the-top, just very neat and clean and a pleasure to both view and work on.

We’ve driven it, and the road tester reports that: “There are no knocks or whines. It drives like a new car, and hasn’t degraded over time at all. I’ve driven a few, and this is, I imagine, as close as you can get these days to driving one that performs as Colin Chapman intended. It really is fabulous.”

The Elan has a full MOT until March 2021 and this was gained without incurring a single MOT advisory point. The online MOT history shows nothing of concern whatsoever and it confirms the car’s low mileage.

The car comes with a number of expired MOT certificates plus a sheaf of invoices and bills to confirm the works that has been done to it. So many, in fact, that we haven’t been able to photograph them all, so we’ve settled for a representative sample and would be more than happy to make them available for prospective bidders to browse through at their leisure.

The Lotus also comes with a Classic Certificate of Vehicle Provenance from Lotus Cars confirming its specification when new, a sales brochure from the time when the car was new, and the original service history booklet and owner’s manual plus a typed history.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been maintained in recent years to the very highest standard.

NB. We know that many of you will be limiting your social exposure over the coming days and weeks, so please give us a call and we can shoot a personal video of the car honing in on any areas you’d like us to concentrate on. Or, even better, contact us with your mobile number and we can set up a WhatsApp video call, where you can direct us in real-time.

Yes, we know you think you want the original two-seater Elan that we all lust after. And why not? After all, they’re sensational to drive and achingly pretty.

But, this Elan +2S drives, dare we say it, even better. It’s more practical too with space on the backseat to throw your bags, coats and all the other junk that simply wouldn’t fit inside anything smaller.

And, your money will get you a far better +2 than it would an Elan; our guide price for this wonderful, nigh-on perfect example would buy you a middling Elan at best. Food for thought, eh?

Because we think this one, which is one of the best, if not the best, we’ve ever seen, will sell for between £23,000 and £30,000 – and that’s remarkable value. In genuine time-warp condition and ready to drive, it wants for nothing and is ready to thrill and delight its new owner for the next half-century.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; but in these difficult times we are recommending a thorough inspection of the gallery. Please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Classic & Sportscar Finance for purchase-financing, Footman James for classic car insurance Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car and AnyVan for transporting it.

BORING, but IMPORTANT: Please note that whilst we at The Market always aim to offer the most descriptive and transparent auction listings available, we cannot claim they are perfect analyses of any of the vehicles for sale. We offer far greater opportunity for bidders to view, or arrange inspections for each vehicle thoroughly prior to bidding than traditional auctions, and we never stop encouraging bidders to take advantage of this. We do take a good look at the vehicles delivered to our premises for sale, but this only results in our unbiased personal observations, not those of a qualified inspector or other professional, or the result of a long test drive.

Additionally, please note that most of the videos on our site have been recorded using simple cameras which often result in 'average' sound quality; in particular, engines and exhausts notes can sound a little different to how they are in reality.

Please note that this is sold as seen and that, as is normal for used goods bought at auction, the Sale of Goods Act 1979 does not apply. See our FAQs for more info, and feel free to inspect any vehicle as much as you wish.