1971 Lotus Elan

Vehicle Description

Model Lotus Elan (1962-1975) Era1970s Origin British Location Located in S.F. Bay Area, CA

This 1971 Lotus Elan +2S was purchased by my late brother in 2015 and it underwent a refurbishment by Spencer’s Motorsports of Rohnert Park, California, in 2021. Work involved a repaint, a refresh of the interior, an overhaul of the suspension and brakes, and a rebuild of the 1.6-liter inline-four. The car is finished in yellow over black vinyl upholstery and features a fiberglass body, a four-speed manual transmission, dual side mirrors, 13″ steel wheels with hubcaps, four-wheel disc brakes, twin bucket front seats, a split rear bench, lift-up windows, a Pioneer CD stereo, and a wood-accented dashboard. This Elan is now offered with the owner’s manual, records from the 2021 work, a car cover, and a clean California title in the seller’s name

The Elan +2 debuted in 1967 and featured a 12″ longer wheelbase than the standard Elan, which made room for two rear seats. This example is finished in yellow and was repainted during the refurbishment. The headlamp vacuum pods were replaced at that time. Additional equipment includes twin fender-mounted side mirrors, rectangular taillights, and a single exhaust outlet. Blemishes are shown up close in the gallery. The seller reports a vacuum leak in the headlight system and that the headlights close and remain closed when the car is turned on but open and remain open when the car is turned off.

The 13″ steel wheels wear hubcaps and polished trim rings, and they are wrapped in 175/70 Kontrol tech Kinergy ST tires. The car features four-wheel independent suspension, and braking is handled by discs at all four corners. The shocks, springs, wheel bearings, and ball joints were replaced during the refurbishment, and the brakes were also overhauled, including replacement of the master cylinder, rotors, pads, caliper pistons, and hoses.

The 2+2 cabin houses twin front bucket seats and a split rear bench trimmed in black vinyl. The carpets, headliner, and dash were replaced and the door panels re-covered during the refurbishment. A Pioneer CD stereo and replacement speakers were also installed. The driver’s door handle is broken, there is seam separation on the seats, the left window is difficult to lower, and the dash is peeling on the left side.

The three-spoke steering wheel frames a 140-mph speedometer, a tachometer, and auxiliary gauges for oil pressure, coolant temperature, oil temperature, and fuel level. The six-digit odometer shows 35k miles.

The twin-cam 1.6L inline-four features dual carburetors and was rebuilt in 2021. Additional work at that time involved re-coring the radiator and replacing the wiring harness, alternator, starter, spark plugs, and water pump.

Power is sent to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transmission. The clutch, hydraulic cylinders, and rear main seal were replaced during the refurbishment, and the flywheel was resurfaced.