Lotus Elan Plus 2S Zetec Spyder Restomod | The Small Car With a Big Place in History

Lotus Elan Plus 2S Zetec Spyder Restomod | The Small Car With a Big Place in History
Lotus Elan Plus 2S Zetec Spyder Restomod. In todays special we get to have a close look at a 1971 Lotus Elan Plus 2S - a truly iconic classic British sportscar, but this one has a difference - why is that? Because this Lotus Elan has been thoroughly modernised and refreshed under that beautiful exterior by Lotus specialists Spyder cars - that's right this Lotus Elan is a restomod.
Watch now to see a brief background of the Lotus Elan and its significance to automotive history in terms of sportscar design. As with my regular format, we'll also have a chat with the cars owner and get out on the road to see what this car is all about. Many thanks to the owner Nick for the opportunity to film and drive his amazing car.
Enjoy this video? Want to see others like it? Check out the Craig on Cars Specials playlist, where you will get to see me sharing the stories of other amazing vehicles and their owners:
• Craig on Cars | Specials
⏱ Timestamps ⏱
0:00 Intro
0:43 Brief background on & importance of the Lotus Elan
3:33 Why I bought a Lotus Elan
5:22 We go for a drive in the Lotus Elan
18:43 Outro
20:22 Outtakes / Bloopers
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#lotus
#lotuselan
#restomod

[@CraigOnCars]

Enjoy? *PLEASE HIT THE LIKE BUTTON* to help me out - Thanks for your support 😃👍 Check out the Craig on Cars Specials playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PLlKUAQ7QTf-f-HUqaJEkRWo8HcqDWbgbI

[@peterfulmyk9492]

Had a +2 many years ago. at 6'1" it was surprisingly easy to get in and out of. Wish I still had it!

[@steveprevett]

Nice film guys, love the drone footage!

[@CraigOnCars]

Thank you Steve, that was Nicks handiwork - very brave driving while trusting the drone to follow!

[@sunnysidebreakfastmeet1596]

What a fabulous car, i had no idea how significant it was. Would love to welcome it to a breakfast meet sometime!

[@CraigOnCars]

Im sure it will pop in! Yes the Elan inspired lots of cars directly or indirectly. Quite an achievement for a small volume british manufacturer.

[@sunnysidebreakfastmeet1596]

@@CraigOnCars without doubt! Also an interesting point how parts were borrowed by many different cars & manufacturers during that period

[@CraigOnCars]

Yes, that was the way back then!

[@cliveyboyb5770]

Always great to see a fellow Elan owner enjoying their car.

[@Mr_Spegru]

Proper stuff

[@WDWINS]

Well done chaps. Still looking good Nick. Great car for road and surprisingly capable on track even now (ask the Alpine driver on Rallye D’Aumale). Looking forward to seeing it on this year’s Bear Run.

[@CraigOnCars]

Thank you! Was a pleasure meeting Nick and having the opportunity to film the Elan. When is the bear run this year? If my 8 series is roadworthy i could come along 👍

[@nickrusswales]

Hope I got the WDW backstory close to right!

[@CraigOnCars]

@@nickrusswales who dares wins is as cool a company name as it gets. I’ll have to pop into the shop sometime

[@bernardwarr4187]

Great car and video, and definitely sound original, like it’s running on Webbers. Only one thing, think those Jenveys are ment to go around to 8000 plus RPM?

[@DigiDiver]

The owner Nick looks familiar. Has he been on TV before? The Lotus is a beautiful car, I'd like to see what a big budget version would be like. Glad to see Lotus still have it with the new eviega evenga thing they've just released.

[@CraigOnCars]

I’ll have to ask next time we cross paths 😉. I am yet to see the new Evija but from what i’ve seen briefly online it looks like a gamechanger! Such a futuristic design. We best make the most of their new Emira too before they stop making combustion engined cars!

[@benhur_9377]

👍❤️

[@LongJohn97]

The rear lights in common with the E-Type were from Alfa Romeo 105/115 series

[@ambersimaginationstation758]

Thats a cool car the horn sounds funny

[@CraigOnCars]

It did didnt it 😂. Was good fun filming this one.

[@ambersimaginationstation758]

@@CraigOnCars take sunglasses next time 😂

[@CraigOnCars]

Yes 😂😂

[@nickrusswales]

The horn is actually a period Maserati twin air one that I believe was on the original Elans. I agree though it's a bit quiet on modern roads!

[@CraigOnCars]

Thats a cool bit of trivia! It was a cool sound - keep it!

[@gregandroly9129]

Yes get the smell of fuel looked at. I have a similar car and have had fuel lines leaking all over the place, so have replaced them and the fuel smell has been cured.

[@CraigOnCars]

Thanks for reaching out, i’ll pass it on!

[@rogerhudson9732]

A car should never smellof petrol, to think otherwise is crazy.

[@rogerhudson2814]

Shouldn't it have an 'umbrella stick' handbrake, that thing on the tunnel is where the armrest should be, it must be difficult to lift as well. Restomodding a +2 could make a great GT. The dashboard needs a lot of rationalisation.

[@CraigOnCars]

I suspect the handbrake we see now is part of the more modern underpinnings and restomod. Was certainly an enjoyable ride as a passenger in the short time i was in it - still not convinced how comfortable it would be used as a typical continental crossing GT!

[@rogerhudson9732]

@@CraigOnCars The current handbrake is simply an abomination. I knew someone who crashed his Elan +2 into a petrol pump, the remains were amazing to see, always the best decently sized of Chapmans classic era cars.

[@jimestall413]

A lovely video. Investigate the smell of petrol. They shouldn't.

[@CraigOnCars]

Thanks for the feedback! I’ll pass that along to Nick 👍

[@rogerhudson9732]

The fuel smell comes from the poorly positioned tank breather up by the cabin air 'exit' vent behind the door, easily fixed. For me the only real horror is the central handbrake, just where the armrest should be.

[@johnclegg6739]

I take it you were driving the camera car? Double white lines mean....? No, the fuel vent runs side to side over the back window ( unless spyder have modded it ?..... )

[@jimpatterson7954]

I think if you can improve your voicover audio it would lift the overall quality substantially.

[@CraigOnCars]

Appreciated. Its a learning experience as i go, and this is the first video since buying a new external mic to work with the laptop. I was hoping that would help 😬. Im using imovie. Any tips? 👍

[@Lemma01]

Forget the resto - get the original. Way cheaper and a lovely drive. Enjoy.

[@davidstuart4915]

doesnt sit naturally, too much track / wider wheels too

[@Musker1989]

Quite go kart esque you say 🤔😂

[@CraigOnCars]

It really was! Such a small car im amazed i fit in it 🤣. What did you think of this one?

[@Musker1989]

Another lovely video and stunning car, keep them coming 👏

[@Musker1989]

I particularly enjoy the bloopers never stop including those 😂

[@CraigOnCars]

@@Musker1989 wherever bloopers occur, they will be included!

[@CraigOnCars]

@@Musker1989 shall do 💪. Need to organise some more subjects to film first

[@jefftaylor-jacksonceng2154]

+2 with Leather seats? Sorry, but the Plus 2 never came with leather seats. I have had two Plus 2's since 1981.

[@CraigOnCars]

The plus 2 S was a higher spec i believe, perhaps leather was standard on the S or at least an option.

[@jefftaylor-jacksonceng2154]

@@CraigOnCars No. Plus 2's were never supplied with leather seats front or back as standard. The options were black or Oatmeal (cream). Both my Elans +2s 150/5, both late 73, five speed boxes, one had Oatmeal, the current one black interiors. Vinyl, not leather. However, if you want to re-trim it now, like this car, you can buy leather kits from aldridge trimmers or Spyder themselves. But not an original option.

[@johnbuxton6443]

Well the base car was not a +2S for starters! 50/1237 is way before the inception of the +2S and the dash reflects this amongst other things.

[@CraigOnCars]

Thats very eagle eyed of you on the vin plate! - i don’t pretend to be an expert and could only go on what the owner told me about the history of his car. I hope you still enjoyed the video of what im sure you’d agree is a cool car whatever its exact spec, and thanks for watching and for engaging 😃

[@Oran-35]

Lotus are great cars, there way overpriced. I believe one of the Elan's had a Toyota engine. The Brits blew it with the electronics, but handling and power to weight spot on.

[@vincereynard4890]

Where virtually every mechanical part has changed it's deluded to consider it an Elan +2. A Spyder kit car with a +2 body - perhaps.

[@awalk5177]

I'm not sure having changed so much how close this will be to an original Elan +2. The driving experience will be different. I am a purist and have successfully managed to keep cars original including a Lotus type 54 Europa, which I have owned since 1973. Then you really feel what Lotus means.

[@rogerhudson9732]

It is a lovely body shape except when the lights ar up, A Lotus prototype had a very AC Ace front end with nice headlights.

[@claylittlewood540]

Boring rhetoric . You didn't show anything about the restored. Try again .