The Lotus Grand Tourers

Hi folks,

Alas time to move on and lottie needs to find a new home.

1989 Reg 'G' on 1990 spec - Reg'd October 1989 mine since May 2001

SE in Calypso Red with FULL Raven leather & Grey Carpets / Over mats

90,965 miles

Air Con and Ice Detection System - both working

Mot'd til July

Recent water and pas pump as pas pump bracket bolt had sheard ans was causing squeels and not full assistance lock to lock (as per MOT man)

Very good P7000 all round

S/Steel Exhaust

Headlinging a little tired (not sagging) 'C' pillar covers need sorting due to sun fade

N/S window a bit slow in going up/down

Club Lotus 'Lakes' Concours Competition runner up 2001 - WINNER 2002

She is a really well kept, great looking car - DPR will probably agree.

Looking for £5,250 ono

Not sure how to do pics on the forum - can email them directly if required

Cheers, Graeme

Agree, very much so.

Paul J pointed me to it on eBay. Don't often look in this section.

If you leaving the Lotus fold, many thanks for the warm welcome you offered when I first got mine and met the NELOC chaps for the first time.

Hope see you back in a Lotus soon.

Dave

IIRC, I was at that Lakes meeting and you did win the concours I remember...but only because I'd turned up too late on the Sunday to enter...

Seriously though, it was well deserved and I don't feel bitter

And although my sand leather is near perfect, I must say I think the Raven with the red body colour is in a class of its own (and maybe a rare combination, is it?).


Peter

Thank you chaps, I'm not sure it could well be - don't often see raven interiors being mentioned anywhere really..

I'm starting a hunt for a +2S 130/5 so not leaving the Lotus fold

Its gotta have a metal flake roof and be yellow with black interior though

Thanks again

Graeme

Kelvedon Motors have just the job-almost(4-speeder).

Thank you Nigel for the nod, I will try and have a look at it - not so sure how easy a conversion is to that of a 5 from 4 speed.

Anyway, the car has been sold today and will be heading down to Essex in a week or so.

Have mentioned the site to the new owner and he has my set of 3 stickers so he doesn't forget.

Regards,

Graeme

Graeme Clark wrote:Thank you Nigel for the nod, I will try and have a look at it - not so sure how easy a conversion is to that of a 5 from 4 speed.

I wouldn't bother if I were you. The 5 speed has a truly awful gearchange, whereas the 4 speed Ford box is well known for the standard-setting quality of its change. Easier to get parts for too.
I had a 5-speeder in the late 70s, so I am talking from experience.
If nothing else, do yourself a favour and make sure you try examples of both before you buy.

If you are determined to convert a 4 speed for M-way cruising etc., I suggest you look at fitting a 5 speed Sierra box if possible. Much more readily available, if you can find a bellhousing that fits.

Wasn't the +2S 5-speed box a variant of the Elite/Eclat 5speeder - i.e. Maxi gear clusters in a Lotus papier-mache housing ?

amarshall wrote:Wasn't the +2S 5-speed box a variant of the Elite/Eclat 5speeder - i.e. Maxi gear clusters in a Lotus papier-mache housing ?

Basically, yes. The +2 was the first production application of the gearbox.
Nothing wrong with the casing IIRC, its just the various levers and rods that shifted gears conspired to make an awful gearchange. Whether the BL gears and synchromesh contributed to this, I don't know.

The +2 was also used as a mule for development of the 907 engine

nigelrobertson wrote:The +2 was also used as a mule for development of the 907 engine

Are you sure? The 907 is a much larger engine, and you would struggle to fit it in a +2 engine bay. All the literature I have read says they used Bedford vans, because they used the dimensionally similar Bedford/Vauxhall block to develop the cylinder head.

A version of the engine was also used in the Type 47 racer (based on the Europa)

Paul-I sure remember reading this
Only can't find my reference-so until I do so can only treat this as a myth.

From what I read the 905(iron block) engine was tested in the Bedford van
and Vauxhall Viva.
Despite the gearbox/casing being the same,the 5-speed is not a direct swap between a +2 and Elite-the output shaft and housing are a different length

nigelrobertson wrote:Paul-I sure remember reading this
Only can't find my reference-so until I do so can only treat this as a myth.

From what I read the 905(iron block) engine was tested in the Bedford van
and Vauxhall Viva.
Despite the gearbox/casing being the same,the 5-speed is not a direct swap between a +2 and Elite-the output shaft and housing are a different length

Yes, they used some Brabham Vivas I believe. The two versions of the 5 speed box would have to have different bellhousings at the very least.
I would be very interested to know your reference re the 907 in a +2.

Cheers,

Paul.

Pistonheads/classified/lotus/classics
Yellow 130/5 for sale
reasonable price
seems to be a popular colour!

Graeme Clark wrote:Thank you chaps, I'm not sure it could well be - don't often see raven interiors being mentioned anywhere really..

I'm starting a hunt for a +2S 130/5 so not leaving the Lotus fold

Its gotta have a metal flake roof and be yellow with black interior though

Thanks again

Graeme

I have a copy of a very good video that deals with the purchase, servicing and modifying of the Elan +2. A lot of it was filmed at Paul Matty's premises.
It was published by Classic Car Videos, and may no longer be available to buy new. I may be able to put it on DVD for you if interested.

PM me