A low-mileage 1972 Lotus Elan +2 S130/5 will be up for grabs in the UK on February 25, 2023. It is expected to fetch £60,000–70,000 thanks to the identity of its first owner – the legendary Colin Chapman himself, a talented engineer who founded the Lotus brand.
The coupe (see video) is based on the standard Elan model, but features a lengthened wheelbase and a couple of extra seats inside. It was the company’s first attempt to invade the premium vehicle segment in Europe where Jaguar had reigned supreme. To that end, the Elan +2 received a deluxe natural leather and wood trim. It was also the first Lotus ride not offered as a DIY kit car, further emphasizing its superior status.
This particular example came equipped with a 1.6-liter engine that churned out up to 130 PS (128 hp / 96 kW) back in its glory days. A five-speed manual transmission handled the torque. The whole four-seater tipped the scales at just 900 kilos (2,000 pounds) or so.
Colin Chapman drove the coupe every day and put slightly over 10,000 km (6,200 miles) on it. It then proceeded to the Lotus Auto Museum and stood there as a static display exhibit. The museum eventually sold it into private hands to free up space for more recent vehicles, but the buyer – a car collector – barely drove it. The listing states the mileage as 6,922 miles, or 11,140 kilometers.