Description
1968 Lotus Elan Plus 2
I have owned this car (Ponyo) since 2024 and it is in a presentable but not perfect condition, which I have thoroughly enjoyed using. It’s now time to sell it as it is in good condition and to allow me to focus on other projects.
The car was originally restored in 1979. At that time the engine was rebuilt by VeganTune in June 1979 to big valve 136bhp specification when the milage was 31, 000. Indicated milage now is 16, 822. The car comes with a massive history file. The car has a Plus 2S beige interior trim and beige carpets along with a Plus 2 Dash with the four minor instruments (oil pressure, water temp, fuel and voltmeter) as well as the speedometer, tachometer and toggle switches. The car is painted in a dark blue which is very similar to Lagoon Blue, and has a white painted roof with a subtle metal flake finish. It has a Lotus chassis, Lotus Twincam engine, four speed gearbox, and it is fitted with Lotus knock-on alloy wheels.
The car is fitted with various improvements or modifications. These include a late model headlight operation, where the lights are fail safe - i. e. they pop up if there is a vacuum failure and are held down by the engine vacuum. There is a Revotec inline electric cooling fan switch fitted in 2019. A hazard warning light system is fitted. I have documentation that shows the engine has been rebuilt and tuned by VeganTune in 1979 and certainly performs well. It is fitted with a pair of Twin Choke Dellorto DHLA 45 carburettors.
The distributor has a Powerspark electronic ignition system fitted and magna core leads. It has a Lotus chassis and this appears to be in good condition, although with some surface rust from age. I do not know if it is the original or a replacement. It is not a galvanised unit. The sill internal members are new stainless steel units which I fitted last year. The headlights stay down for a while when the engine is turned off implying the front cross member is still airtight. It also has solid driveshafts with Universal joints on the outside and the inside.
The interior is from a later Plus 2S and is in beige vinyl with cloth inserts in the seats. It’s in a reasonable condition, tidy but showing some wear.
The body is pretty good with a few stress cracks but the paint, while OK in general, is showing extensive micro-blistering. The boot and bonnet have some cracks in the paint - these tend to imply that the paint is too thick and has shrunk over the years. The car would benefit from a respray due to the micro-blistering and the cracking, but it looks good from a distance.
Recent work includes:
*
Rewired engine bay
* New walnut veneer dashboard
* New stainless steel sills
* Rebuild of Delloto carburettors
* Brake discs and pads all round
* Front suspension trunnions
* Brake master cylinder
* Clutch master and slave cylinder
* The rear brake calipers were stripped and rebuilt with new seals and stainless steel pistons in 2020, the handbrake still works well.
The engine has the usual twincam puff of oil smoke on starting if it's been left for a time, but a compression test showed an average of 190 psi +/- 5 psi across all four cylinders. Late last year I completed an engine oil and filter change, new coolant, antifreeze, spark plugs, air filter and checked the timing chain tension. It had new gearbox oil and diff oil in 2024. It is currently running nicely on BP5ES plugs.
The car’s previous owner is an author where the car features in Lotus Elan and Plus 2 source book.
To sum up, the car drives fantastically but with some cosmetic issues. I have really enjoyed driving Ponyo and taking it on long trips to Goodwood and South Wales, but unfortunately I need the space and time for other projects and house renovation work.
