1968 LOTUS ELAN +2S - SPYDER ZETEC

This Lotus Elan +2S is a ‘restomod’ style British classic, with significantly upgraded mechanicals that make it a very quick car for the road or track. It is powered by a 2.0-litre Ford Zetec engine producing around 200bhp, with rear-wheel drive via a five-speed Ford MT75 transmission. The odometer shows 57,830 miles from new.

First registered in January 1968, there are nine previous registered keepers on the log book. In 2005, this car was recorded as a Category D insurance write-off due to repairable damage. Following this, the owner at the time made the decision to restore the car cosmetically, but to upgrade the powertrain, driveline, suspension and brakes.

A comprehensive refurbishment followed, using a new Spyder spaceframe chassis as the foundation. The shell was completely restored, and was repainted in Amalfi White from the modern Audi colour palette. New independent suspension was fitted all round, finished with polyurethane bushes, and the ride height was raised by 15mm. It was given a set of 14-inch SCP Minilite-style wheels, with Lotus Gold painted centre spokes to match the bumper trims.

The engine is a blueprinted and gas-flowed 16-valve Ford Zetec motor, uprated with Raceline RL200 camshaft kit, Weber throttle bodies, new engine mounts, and an Alpha Pro 5 programmable ECU. There is also an alloy Radtec radiator, and a Spyder exhaust manifold. Its fuel system was upgraded with a custom alloy tank, pump and battery cut-offs, and a dead-end injection system.

The five-speed gearbox is coupled to a Spyder propshaft, Ford Cosworth limited-slip differential, and solid drive shafts. There are alloy front wheel hubs, which are braked by Wilwood vented discs. Its cabin was stripped out and was refitted with Mamba bucket seats, four-point safety harnesses, and a roll bar. The heated rear window was removed and replaced with lightweight plastic, the boot area was also stripped out, and a race-specification Odyssey battery was installed. The headlamp motors were upgraded to more reliable Mazda MX-5 items.

Today, the fibreglass body and paint are still in superb condition, with a few small bubbles present, a small blemish underneath the nearside front bumper section, and minor chips around the window surrounds. There are also some marks on the sill covers under the doors where they have rubbed the paint slightly. Window and door rubbers are sound, and the brightwork is generally excellent, with only small blemishes on some pieces of trim.

Inside, the rear seats remain in place, while the Mamba bucket seats provide much more comfort and support for driving - particularly if the intention is to use on track. The trim is aged and cracked in places, and the dashboard has been fitted with a carbon-effect panel. The same aesthetic is carried across on the lightweight door cards. It has a three-spoke Moto Lita steering wheel that shows some obvious wear and discolouration, while the gear knob cover has also perished, though is of course easily replaced.

It has covered approximately 1,500 miles since the comprehensive restoration, and remains in excellent mechanical condition. The only note from the seller is that there is a slight noise that occurs above 80mph, which may be a wheel bearing, or may simply be road noise on account of the lack of sound deadening.

The Elan is now exempt from MOT testing on the basis of age, but its last test was on 13 August 2016 at 57,535 miles, which resulted in a clean pass with no advisories whatsoever. The car has covered only a few hundred miles since then. The wheels are fitted with modern Toyo Proxes in size 195/55 R14 all round, which are in very good condition with plenty of tread remaining.

Accompanying the car is a detailed photographic record of the restoration and modification work on a USB drive, as well as a raft of receipts and invoices covering this work. The original plate from the Lotus chassis also remains with the car. As well as being exempt from annual MOT testing, the car is also exempt from VED road tax.

This Lotus Elan +2S is a lightweight classic coupe presented in very good order. While the interior is track-focused and would benefit from smartening up in the future, the car’s overall cosmetic appearance is impressive. Its punchy Zetec engine sounds superb under high revs and, coupled with the upgraded suspension and brakes, the performance is in a different league compared to a standard car.