Curious About LH Drive Lotus Elan +2 Cabriolets

[hethel_haus]

I've been surfing the net lately looking at Elan Plus 2's and am mildly curious about the cabriolet conversions carried out by some of the Lotus Specialists. Has anyone out there ever seen a LH drive version? Any comments good/bad about these conversions in general? Any comments good/bad about the original coupes? Love the looks of the sleek Plus 2 roofline but crave that open air motoring experience!

Cheers!
Steve

[RoadDad]

Steve,

I love the +2 although many don't. I think it is a very sexy car, handles very well, and can carry 2.5 adults unlike the baby Elans which can only carry 2 adults.

It was not infrequent for the original and/or subsequent owners of a +2 to have a sunroof added as the interior of the car, particularly in the rear seats (where the whining kids would sit and complain about it being too hot or muggy or stuffy or are we there yet), could become fairly stuffy and hot. Often the sunroof was added by the dealer or other installer. Webasto sunroofs were the quality choice when the cars were made. This would be the way I would go if I wanted some open air feel. It is not out of line with "originality."

As far as making the +2 into a drop head coupe, I've never liked that idea structurally or cosmetically, but that's just MHO. I've never seen a +2 LHD DHC conversion, although I've seen several RHDs chopped. I am not a fan.

Personally, I would either leave the coupe untouched or go with a Webasto sunroof. Ultimately, however, it would be your car and if it makes you happy, do it. Tell the antique purists like myself to sod off and enjoy your ride.

[ChrisB]

Originally Posted by hethel_haus

... Any comments good/bad about the original coupes? Love the looks of the sleek Plus 2 roofline but crave that open air motoring experience!

Cheers!
Steve

I had a +2S when I lived in Beloit...just down the road a bit from you...well more than a little bit. It was my daily driver year 'round. It wasn't great in the snow because of the light weight, flat bottom and low ground clearance, but I made it without ever getting stuck.

I really loved that car (when I wasn't cursing it). The fact that I have another Lotus now is testament to my feelings about that car. It was a fragile car, though. It was a year old when I purchased it and it required frequent repair. Something was always breaking or needing work done on it. The factory service manual was a godsend since the nearest Lotus service location was in Chicago and that was just an old two-bay ex-gas station.

It is the only car that I've ever had a mechanic tell me to "Never bring that @#$%&#* car back here!" He had spent most of the day replacing one of the broken half-shaft donuts. I did all the rest of the maintenance myself...sometimes in an unheated garage in the middle of the winter.

I would love to have it back...if I had a live-in mechanic and a flatbed truck to follow me around.

[DeanG]

I believe there was one at LOG within the past few years. Try LotusElan.net: Your Complete Lotus Elan Information Source. where the denizens don't say Lotus when the mean Elise.

[55mini]

Hi Steve,
I will try to answer some thoughts to your request on a +2. I helped my son restore one a few years back and have continued to work on it since. It has driven to the last three Log events.
A little background first I have worked on and own or owned baby Elans, +2, Europa TC, Esprit, Esprit Turbo, M100, later Elite and an early Elite type 14.
The +2 is one of the best handling and driving machines in the group! The lines are really great and it is great to drive. The only major complaint would be interior air flow on a hot long drive. Even with the windows down air does not really enter the cabin. The areo dynamics of the car lets all the air rush by and not enter the car.
As for handling with the right shocks and setup it is hard to beat. It has a slightly longer wheel base than the baby Elan and will provide a very cusioned ride without giving up any performance.
The big valve motor has nice zip and we have made several upgrades on the last rebuild. The stock is in the 115-125hp and we are up around 150 range now. This makes the power to weight work well together. My son Patrick has been doing some autocross lately and just loves the car.
If you ever come down our way feel free to stop in and have a look as we are in eastern Iowa and not to far away.
Sorry can't add much to the topless modified ones.
I will try to add a recent picture if I can.
Cheers
Mark