Lotus Elan and Evora: Books - History and Models

Lotus Elan - S1, S2, S3, S4 & Sprint (1962-1973) - Plus 2, Plus 2S 130/5 (1967-1974) - Essential Buyer's Guide

With a winning formula of glass fibre bodyshell, and simple sheet steel backbone chassis, the Elan was an affordable replacement for the expensive and exotic glass fibre monocoque Lotus Elite, and became the mainstay of the Lotus road car range throughout the 1960s and into the 1970s.
First introduced as an open two-seater in 1962, and as a Coupe in 1966, the Elan was available as a do-it-yourself 'kit' car or in factory assembled form, and was refined through the 1960s, culminating in the famous Sprint models of 1971, with the big valve 130bhp Twin Cam engine.

The widened and stretched 2+2 Elan with its vestigial rear seats - named, unsurprisingly, the Plus 2 - was introduced in 1967, followed by the higher-spec Plus 2S in 1969, which was the first Elan not available in kit form.
The Plus 2S 130 gained the Sprint specification engine in 1971, and the final Elan was the Plus 2S 130/5 of 1972.
Just over 9000 Elans were produced between 1962 and 1973, while just over 5000 Plus 2 were produced between 1967 and 1974.

The Essential Guide to buying the Lotus Elan of your dreams, this book has been written to provide the prospective owner with all the information they need to establish if an Elan or Plus 2 is for them, and what to look for when viewing an example. All aspects of the cars are examined, including paperwork, mechanical issues, bodywork and interior with many photos of example cars to assist in the assessment of an individual car, and understand the implications of many of the common problems that a car can exhibit.
The author is a Lotus enthusiast, and has been working on and writing about classic Lotuses for a number of years.

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Lotus 2+2s - Elan, Elite, Eclat, Excel and Evora

This engaging book follows the history of the Lotus 2+2 coupes from the Elan through to the Evora. The authors cover the Elan model history from start to finish of the range with details of the changes made through the years.
They then follow the developments of the Elite through the Eclat to the Excel, including coverage of the attempt to break into the 'executive' market.
The book finishes with the development and history of the Evora, including coverage of the return of Lotus to racing and the creation of its fastest production car ever with the Evora 430GT.

The book also includes a buyer's guide with details of what to look out for on each model and where to find replacement parts, along with estimates of time needed to complete restorations. Complete with original photography and tips and advice for current and potential owners, this book is a must for all Lotus fans.

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Lotus Elan and +2 Source Book - A comprehensive purchasing, maintenance, and restoration guide

The Lotus Elan was Colin Chapman and Lotus' first affordable - not to mention successful - road car. Produced from 1962 and, along with its larger +2 variant, until 1974, as a replacement for the expensive Lotus Elite, the Elan and +2 were both successful sports cars, eclipsing the Elite in price and reliability, and carrying the Lotus brand through the 1960s and into the 1970s.

The Elan introduced the chassis/GRP body combination that would become a trademark feature on later generation road cars - cars like the Europa, +2, Elite, Eclat, Excel, and Esprit series. Combined with Lotus' own Ford-based Twin Cam engine, and race engineering underpinnings, the Elan was marked as something rather better than many contemporary low volume sports cars, such as TVR, Reliant, and Marcos.

Beginning with a brief look at the history of the Elan models, Matthew Vale provides a detailed originality guide, from engine specs and gear ratios, to dimensions and capacities, identifying the design changes Lotus made to the models through their lifetimes.
An 'owners guide' section dives into real-world ownership and maintenance, revealing how to keep the cars in tip-top condition, common faults, and worthwhile upgrades. A section on restoration - or rescue - gives any potential Lotus restorer the inside knowledge needed to bring an Elan or +2 back from the dead!

Covering Elan S1, S2, S4, SS, S4 and Sprint models, and Elan +2, +2S, +2 S130, and +2 S130/5, produced from 1962 to 1974, this is your complete and comprehensive ownership guide.
Revealing each model range's features, and with up-to-date information, and high quality colour photography, it provides a unique combination of originality and restoration information, and practical advice on owning and running a Lotus Elan or +2.

Contents:
- Details Elan and +2 product history and chronology
- Guide to original features, and changes,
- Highly detailed specifications for all models
- Engine, transmission, suspension, steering, brakes, and dimension specifications
- Comprehensive restoration, renovation and preservation section

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Lotus Elan - The Complete Story

The Lotus Elan was Lotus's definitive roadster. It replaced the elegant but expensive Lotus Elite and was the first car to employ the innovative Lotus steel backbone chassis.

The original Elan was produced as a two-seat, open-top sportscar and hardtop coupe from 1962 - 1973. The range was extended by the addition of the 2+2-seater Plus 2 from 1967 to 1974. Lotus introduced an all-new front wheel drive Elan in 1989, the M100, which was produced until 1995.

"Lotus Elan" looks at the history and development of all the Elans and describes each model in detail. It gives technical details for all models, examines unusual conversions, and includes driving experiences from Elan owners.

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Lotus Elan (1962-1974) - Brooklands Portfolio

Brooklands Portfolio book about the Lotus Elan models from the years 1962-1974. Describes the Lotus Elan Series 1, 2, 3, 4 and S4 Sprint, Plus2 and Plus 2S.

• The 62 articles, taken from contemporary British and American car magazines, provide much information about history, model changes and technology.
• Also driving impressions, tests, comparison tests, technical specifications, etc.

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More information on the Brooklands Portfolio books

Lotus Evora: Speed and Style

NEW

This history of the Lotus Evora traces the genesis, context, manufacture and evolution of the Type 122 Evora and its derivative models.The Evora's prowess as a grand touring sports car is demonstrated with the author's international road trips, and its essence is detailed through in-depth interviews with leading personalities at Lotus involved with the design, development, construction and marketing programmes.
The book concludes with the launch of the Evora's successor, the Type 131 Emira in 2021.

Features:
- This book provides a unique insight into the Evora's entire production lifetime, from conception and assembly to the open road
- Researched by the author at the Lotus factory, where he observed the Elise construction process
- The author was given direct access to key figures in the Evora's design, development and construction
- A look at the Toyota 3.5-litre V6 engine, always used for the Evora, and demonstrating the continuation of a historical synergy
- The chassis shared the bonded aluminium technology pioneered in the Elise, comprised of a central tub and modules front and rear
- Several road trips in Evoras are showcased as drive stories for this book
- Over 300 stunning images, many previously unseen, including professional photos and specially commissioned artworks.

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Lotus Elan: Die britische Sportwagenlegende

No less a person than the Formula 1 team boss, "lightweight construction pope" and brilliant designer Colin Chapman presented a small, agile and well-motorized sports car for 1962, which was available both as a convertible and as a coupé.
In 1967, the Plus 2 followed, a closed 2+2-seater version with a significantly stretched body and better suitability for everyday use. After production of the Elan models was initially discontinued in the mid-1970s, Lotus revived the name a good 15 years later with the Elan M100.

In his first auto monograph, author and Lotus specialist Matthew Vale tells the story and development of all Elan models up to 1995. Detailed and meticulously researched, he devotes himself to every version of this technically highly interesting English classic.
In addition to detailed technical data for all models, numerous Elan owners also have their say and report on their passion for the second road model in Lotus's company history that was produced in large numbers.

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