1973 Lotus Elan

Estimated Price: £14,000 - £18,000

The Elan +2 combined Lotus’ renowned lightweight engineering and handling with a more refined 2+2 cabin, featuring walnut veneer, comprehensive instrumentation and greater practicality

Where its junior sibling was aimed squarely at the enthusiastic hobbyist, the +2 was conceived to tempt the affluent young family man out of his Jaguar and into a Lotus for the first time

The most powerful and desirable iteration of the Type 50 was the +2S 130 featuring the1,558cc ‘Big Valve’ Lotus-Ford Twin Cam producing 126bhp through twin Weber carburettors and, in this case, coupled to a four-speed gearbox

This example was built at Hethel and despatched on 24/05/1973 to G.S. Cars of Warmley, near Bristol, where it served as their dealer demonstrator

Finished in Lagoon Blue with a contrasting Silver Flake roof and retaining its original-style alloy wheels, along with a refreshed interior

Restored by Ant Anstead and his team for The Naked Mechanic, retaining an appealing degree of gentle patination

Further work carried out since the show includes upgraded electric pop-up headlights, a new dashboard with new switches and wiring, a new electric fuel pump and starter motor

A particularly interesting +2 S 130 with early dealer-demonstrator provenance and the added interest of its recent televised restoration.