1969 Lotus Elan +2S |

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1969 Lotus Elan +2S

This vehicle has now been sold - click ‘Register Similar’ below to get notified when we consign a similar vehicle.

Sold Price

£15,000

Mileage~1,135 on clock
TransmissionManual
Engine1.6L
LocationKibworth

SOLD

1969 Lotus Elan +2S

I WANT ONE

Introduction

Darren Rungasamy

Photographer and Editor

The Elan +2S is the most usable of all of the Elans; adding a little extra practicality to its wonderful driving experience.

Considered as the family man's Lotus, the +2S version was introduced in 1969. The increased dimensions also came with a plushness to both its ride and furnishings, which signalled Lotus’ intent to position the brand further upmarket. The longer wheelbase allowed a more seductive body style, while retaining the steel backbone chassis and twin-cam engines. When new, the Elan +2S was just £50 cheaper than the entry-level Jaguar E-type, so Lotus needed to make sure its dynamics, comfort and accommodation were right. Becoming the company's first fully built factory car, the bigger dimensions allow rear seating, a usable boot and far more accommodation space, helping to place the Elan as a genuine long-distance touring car. While it is recognised as the most usable of all the Elans, it never strayed far from its racing roots.

Coming from ~8 year ownership with our vendor, this well-presented 1969 +2S is finished in "Lotus Yellow" with a black interior. It is a RHD UK spec car that has spent much of its life in Sweden, and saw a body and paint restoration shortly after coming back into the UK in 2016. It has over £3,000 worth of invoices, including a carb rebuild and head skim. It comes with two keys and is MOT and is road tax exempt, happy motoring.

This listing was written from information supplied by Darren after meeting David the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

A delight to own and maintain, the extra space and stylish lines still impress me.

David has a mechanical engineering background, specifically in the motor industry, so he knows his way around cars. He has owned several classics in the past, so he was attracted to this well-restored back to factory spec example. It has been mainly used for leisure, garaged since he bought it and only driven in fair weather.

A lack of use and increasing mobility issues are the main reasons for its sale. David will be happy to answer any questions about the car in the comments section below.

David

Vehicle Owner

David saved £2,700* when they
sold their Lotus with us.

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EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

Finished in Lotus Yellow, the exterior presents well after being restored.

Wheels and Tyres

The knock-off 13” alloy wheels are cleanly presented, with minor signs of age and light rim marks. The front and rear of the car are fitted with Dayton D100 tyres, with the front showing a spec of 185/70 - these are date-coded from 2007. They appear to be in good shape with plenty of even tread.

Please take a look at the photos and videos for a detailed view of the exterior of the Lotus and a closer look at the wheels and tyres to make your assessment of their condition.

Bodywork

The external presentation is of a high standard and free of any panel damage or deformation. We didn’t see any blemishes on the body, although the area under the fuel cap shows imperfections. The doors all open and close without obstruction, and the shut lines look even. The underside of the car looks positive too, with no issues noted in the engine bay, boot floor or wheel wells. You can see photos of the restoration in the history section.

We've highlighted in more detail our observations through our high-resolution images and videos, so please take time to look through all the media files for a detailed view of what’s on offer, and for you to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

The "Lotus Yellow" paint finish has a positive lustre and smooth even coverage with minimal swirling. This is the factory colour, the car restored back to this after spending some of its life painted black. There is very little in terms of marks or chips on the paintwork, aside from a small blister on the offside rear wing above the bumper and what appears to be a little brush of paint on the corner of the rear nearside wing above the tail light.

The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there for yourselves. So please take the time to fully assess these high-resolution images and videos of the car, for you to make up your own minds about the condition of the paint.

Glass and Trim

The glass and seals are in good condition. The lights and lenses are decent, with some minor signs of age noted on the front indicator lenses.

The chrome trim is correctly mounted, and there are mild signs of age on some of the chrome, mainly on the door pillars and roof trim. The rear bumper has a little corrosion on the left-hand side corner.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

Plush and comfortable, the cabin has been well cared for over the years.

Seats and Carpets

The seats are all in great condition, and the carpets are clean and dry. The car comes with two sets of mats and the boot trim is tidy with minimal signs of use.

The headlining is positive, with minor signs of age. The door cards are complete, but show a loose fit on both sides. The rest of the interior panels trim are good.

Dashboard

David has told us that he renovated the burr walnut dashboard as it had shown cracks and wear. The finish, while it shows imperfections, has a comprehensive array of dials and switches. All but the clock and ambient temperature gauge are said to work. The padding and centre console are in good shape as pictured.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The steering wheel presents well, wrapped in black leather. The wooden gear knob and its gaiter are in decent condition too as pictured.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

Its strengths in handling and performance are only bettered by its engaging character.

Engine and Gearbox

Like most engines with multiple Weber carbs, it starts from cold with a few pumps of the accelerator, but soon settles down to an even idle. There were no unwanted noises from the engine, and it was free of vibrations. The dashboard warning lights remained off as the exhaust showed a few minor puffs when blipped, but the car remained smoke-free once the engine warmed up.

The engine presentation is positive. While some components show signs of age, David has kept up with the maintenance and has serviced the car and replaced the starter motor, and it has seen a new silencer. The carbs were rebuilt in 2016, and the head was shimmed in the same year.

David tells us that the four-speed gearbox has been trouble-free in use and engages gears without issues. He also reported that the clutch works well with a decent biting point.

Suspension and Brakes

The car rides well on the move, absorbing the bumps with no unwanted noises or wayward actions.

The braking on the car is reassuring, free of sqeals or vibrations and remains true when slowing down. It saw an extensive brake overhaul in 2017.

The Drive

The Elan in +2S form compares favourably to many 1960s sports cars, capable of outgunning bigger-engined rivals with ease. The Elan’s steel backbone chassis, race-tuned engines and all-round independent suspension brought commercial success to Lotus; the +2S' refinement was a glimpse into the company's potential.

The Elan is a beautifully balanced car on the move, which certainly helps the driver to encourage the car at greater speeds. It corners smoothly, with no unwanted noises from the wheels. The ride is smooth, feeling refined and comfortable at dual-carriage way speeds. The car felt secure and rigid, and it was free of creaks. Please note we introduced the car in the Mechanical Review cold engine start video as the +2S 130. The car is documented as a standard +2S.

Electrics and Other

David has informed us that the car is not fitted with passenger door locks, but is fitted with an immobiliser. The Speedometer reads ~1,135 miles. David replaced the KM speedometer in January 2020.

A towing bracket has also been fitted to the front of the chassis, and it has a Halogen headlamp conversion.

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History and Paperwork

Coming to market from ~8 year ownership, the car has been well looked after over the years, and has been spruced up with new paint, brakes and mechanical attention over the past ~10 years.

Registered by Tollgate Engineering Ltd, Sussex, in January 1970, the car comes with a Lotus heritage certificate confirming a build date of November 1969. It was exported to Sweden in 1977 and spent almost 40 years under the care of several enthusiasts.

In Sweden, it had been well maintained and kept in a good visual state, including a clean bill of health from a respected Motorsports specialist in 2009. Included in its folder are Swedish import documents, a detailed email of some of the car's Swedish history, restoration photos and images of the Lotus when it was black.

Once it was imported back into the UK in 2016, the car was restored to its original Lotus Yellow paint finish and saw work on the engine, including a cylinder head shim and a carburettor rebuild.

David bought the car in late 2017 and went about cleaning the chassis and suspension components, followed by mechanical maintenance and servicing, speedometer recalibration to MPH in January 2020 and a replacement starter motor. David told us the mileages on the MOTs are actually in kilometres as the odometer hasn't been recalibrated since it's time in Sweden.

There is also Club Lotus correspondence, including a heritage document from them. Invoices include the aforementioned engine work, new windscreen and seatbelts. The rear silencer and a complete brake overhaul were carried out in 2017, tallying up to over £3,000 since it returned to the UK.

It comes with two keys and is Road Tax and MOT exempt. The car will also be sold with its ageless six-digit number plate.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a history check on the vehicle - this is a professional check operated by HPI that will highlight if the car has been previously stolen, recorded as being in an accident, or have any outstanding finance - note, this does not include a mileage history check.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment of the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bids, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History

Date	Type	Mileage
30-08-2017	MOT	79,099
13-05-2016	MOT	79,099

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Key Details

ModelElan +2S
Transmission4-Speed Manual
Reg. Date01-01-1970
CC1,588
Mileage~1,135
ColourLotus Yellow
Interior ColourBlack
Interior TrimVinyl
Chassis #50/2277
Engine #F/21060
RestoredBody in 2015/2016
Engine RebuildHead skim and carbs in 2016
MOT29-08-2018
MOT ExemptYes
Road Tax ExemptYes
Former Keepers1 in UK
Tyre BrandDayton D100
Tyre Age2017
Security SysImmobiliser
# of Keys2
LHD or RHDRHD
Sale TypePrivate
Owned~8 years
Key FeatureWell maintained and smart presentation
Auction ID3021

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All Images

All Videos

Vehicle Sold

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Ask Questions

Seller : DavidPlus2S Sale Date 14.08.2025

Post a comment or ask the owner a question about the car.

6 Comments

Benno

9 months ago

Hi David, has the cylinder head/valves been modified to run on unleaded fuel? Thanks

DavidPlus2S

Seller

Benno

9 months ago

I believe that this work was done prior to my ownership but have no documentation to support this.During my ownership I have run the car on 98 octane fuel as recommended by the previous owner.

lanceg

9 months ago

Hi David, a few questions:

1. Are the chassis front turrets corrosion free and not been repaired?
2. I note the oil pressure is around 35psi; the standard twin cam runs at 40psi- has the engine been rebuilt?
3. Have the inner sills been replaced?
4. Why fit a tow hook?

Thanks. Regards, Lance

DavidPlus2S

Seller

lanceg

9 months ago

When I purchased the car I examined the chassis and found no evidence of repair or corrosion. I subsequently painted all visible areas of the chassis and suspension with phosphate based paint and mastic sealer .
The oil pressure listed in the workshop manual is 35-40psi the car starts at 40psi and drops to 35psi when hot.
I have no evidence that the sills have been replaced.
On a car of this age I felt it advisable to have a towing bracket and I also purchased a flat tow rope which would aid clearance of the front valance. Neither have been used.
Regards Dave

rufalike

9 months ago

Hello David do you know if the car has an original or replacement chassis?

DavidPlus2S

Seller

rufalike

9 months ago

It is the original chassis which is good condition

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Vehicle Location

Kibworth

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