Saleofcar.com :Lotus

Lotus Other (1971)
for sale

Price: US $15,500.00

Description:

You’re considering my 1971 Lotus Elan Plus 2. I believe it is one of the nicest you’ll find. I purchased the car from California after searching for several years for a nice one and the Elan now lives in Texas. The car was then, pretty much in the condition it is now although I’ve fixed lots of small things over time. I would characterize the Lotus as partially restored as it retains the original chassis. The previous owner did not have much documentation of the work carried out so I flew to CA. and inspected the car first hand. I was very impressed and purchased the Lotus on the spot; having it transported to Texas after the fact. The fiberglass body has been stripped and gel coat renewed followed by a comprehensive re-spray; a nice job that is not perfect but holding up well. It has some of the typical “crazing” that appears on most of these cars over time but it is pretty minimal. The worst crazing appears on the passenger side upper fender. It. doesn't show up in the other photos so I’ve included a close up shot of this area. Overall the color (medium-dark blue with silver-gray roof) and finish is just beautiful. I’ve always believed that this color combination flattered the lines of this gorgeous shape like no other. The interior is largely original although the dash has been redone by Madera Concepts and is just superb. As you can see in the photos, the seats have some light scuffing from use. The panels under the dash and around the gearbox tunnel could use some regluing and general sprucing up. The door panels an headliner look great. Unusual for a Lotus of this vintage, all of the electrical componentry now functions as it should including the clock with the exception of the fuel gauge which does work, but does not rise to the 'full' position. Except as noted below, all mechanical systems function well and the car is an absolute pleasure to drive. The engine is the famous Big Valve Head unit. It runs smooth, never runs hot and pulls very strong in this light chassis. The 4 speed gearbox is quiet and shifts great. The alternator has been recently rebuilt and I have stayed on top of the numerous small jobs (all fluids replaced, tune ups, wheel bearings and chassis greased, windows lubricated, cooling fan relays replaced, grounds cleaned, switches lubricated etc.) that are part of the ownership experience with these cars. The tires are several years old but have good tread remaining. The exhaust is as-new; a little loud on long runs, but it sounds glorious at full acceleration!
Overall this is a beautiful Lotus that drives outstanding. Items that need attention? There is a slight clunking sound coming from the rear driver side. It is only audible at lower speeds. Probably a strut tower bushing or minor exhaust interference. I haven’t been able to locate the source. The engine does mark its territory with a few drops of oil when parked after driving, but nothing out of the ordinary. The Lotus will also show a puff of blue smoke upon takeoff if it has been idling for a period of time. There is no smoke when accelerating or any other time during operation. The original radio is not hooked up and probably inoperative. The Elan is in regular use and can be driven with complete confidence. In fact, I know of no reason why the car could not be driven anywhere but I advise trailering or transporting beyond a few hundred miles out of respect for the car and conditions that prevail en route on today’s interstate system.
I welcome pre-bid inspections and I'm happy to answer any questions you have before the close of the auction. Call Al at (210)870-0667.

_{update: 2016-01-31}