Author: Richard Heseltine
Photography: Manufacturers/Absolute Lotus/UK Sportscars/RM Sotheby’s
S.M.A.R.T.
Aerodynamicist Frank Costin had form when it came to shaping Lotuses. His final effort, however, wasn’t an official model. The one-off Stirling Moss Automobile Racing Team Elan was driven with verve by Sir John Whitmore. It wasn’t pretty but it was effective, the biggest physical deviations over the regular Elan being its oddly bulbous-looking roof. It won several races in 1963.
Did you know? The car was raced in early 1964 by Moss’ secretary Valerie Pirie before being sold on.
Frua SS
The Pietro Frua-styled series 2 Elan was commissioned by the Swiss Lotus concessionaire, Holiday Cars Import. It appeared at the 1964 Geneva Motor Show before doing the rounds at other Continental events. Despite it being bodied in aluminium, and rather more luxuriantly-equipped than the standard car, it weighed only 6kg more than a regular Elan.
Did you know? Oddly, the car wasn’t registered until it was three years old.
Hexagon ‘Elanbulance’
This intriguing shooting brake was conceived by dealer/race entrant Paul Michaels. His Hexagon of Highgate concern was one of the longer established Lotus specialists. Michaels loved Elans and craved one with sufficient room to accommodate his dog. He roped in Specialised Mouldings to realise his vision, before offering conversions for public consumption from 1971.
Did you know? Hexagon followed through and produced a droptop version of the Elan +2 130s.
Ian Walker Racing Part One
Ian Walker created this pretty coupé for 1964 sports car season, his key objective being a tilt at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The car received a bespoke aluminium body shaped by famed metal-wielders, Williams & Prichard. A pre-knighthood Jackie Stewart guided the car to class honours in that year’s Grand Prix de Paris meeting at Monthléry.
Did you know? Mike Spence crashed it next time out at the Nürburgring. As such, it was too badly damaged to compete at Le Mans.
Ian Walker Racing Part Two
During the 1964 Grand Prix de Paris weekend, a Swiss gentleman had approached Walker with a view to buying his would-be Le Mans racer only for his offers to be rebuffed. Mr Huber subsequently changed tack and commissioned this car as a gift for his father. Walker demanded a free hand while styling the Lotus and viewed its construction as essentially a fun exercise; a little light relief from racing.
Did you know? The car was similarly bodied by Williams & Pritchard. Harold Radford Ltd trimmed the cabin in red leather.
Shapecraft Elan
The brainchild of Barry Wood, this intriguing Elan fastback was crafted by London coachbuilder, Shapecraft. As many as 17 cars were converted with an aluminium roof section being bonded to the donor car’s glassfibre body. Each differed in detail, with Peter Sellers reputed to have been an early adopter. He bought one in 1964 for his new wife, Britt Ekland.
Did you know? Rumour has it that the Shapecraft outline was inspired by a design by Ogle, but this has yet to be substantiated.
Chrysalis
John Bishop built this curio using a burned-out Elan Plus 2 as a donor car. Starting in 1974, he fashioned the new glassfibre body in a neighbour’s garage, the silhouette to some degree being dictated by the use of a Ford Consul Capri windscreen. Dubbed ‘Chrysalis’ by its builder, the car hit the road two years later. Bishop estimated he spent around £800 fashioning his dream car.
Did you know? The car’s signature feature was its roof: a Perspex centre section slid back over the rear screen.
Broadspeed
David Pennell approached Broadspeed in 1972 with a view to creating a bespoke Elan S4 Sprint. He tasked it with inserting a Cosworth-Ford BDA unit, which necessitated altering the front crossmember and creating new steering arms. This is but a thumbnail sketch of what was involved. Motor Sport magazine tested the car and it proved slower than the standard Sprint due to excessive wheelspin.
Did you know? The car was originally Colorado Orange but was repainted yellow during the 1980s. It spent a few years in Ethiopia during the 1970s before arriving in the USA.
Elan Estralle
Long-time Lotus owner Roger Malhlouf believed in using his classics. He loved the Elan Plus 2 but desired something a bit more practical, which is where marque specialist Paul Matty came in. Using the Hexagon ‘Elanbulance’ as inspiration, Matty and Clive Smart at Shapecraft set to in 2002, the five-years-in-the-making Elan Estralle employing an aluminium roof and a full tailgate rather than a mere hinged window.
Did you know? Modernist touches included central locking, electric mirrors, and power sockets.
Christopher Neil
Lotus never offered a convertible version of the Elan Plus 2, but that didn’t stop other firms from creating their own al fresco takes on the theme. Hexagon of Highgate and Classic Transport Company were among their number, but the most prolific was Christopher Neil Sportscars. It offered its Elan Cabriolet conversion during the mid to late 1980s.
Did you know? The Cheshire outfit also offered the CN Sprint which was an exacting replica of the original Elan.
Which reworked Elan deserves the top spot? We would love to hear from you in the comments below.
