Antonio Silva
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Gentrification?
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Many were the months, even years that he was scrutinizing the market; He finally saw an opportunity in Geneva, Switzerland, at a reasonable price for the magnificent condition it had, and that is that the Swiss in general take good care of their classics. The car had been pampered by a collector and would remain so in his Spanish retirement by another hobbyist. As it was, he rolled it home ...
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Starting from the original two-seater base, the model was evolved to the point of creating versions with a rigid roof or with a Hard Top. The control panel became more luxurious, being already made of wood and with a glove compartment since 1964; two years later, the more exclusive SE version was launched, with a 116 hp engine and servo-assistance for the 4 disc brakes, among others.
Soon, Lotus listens to pilots with children and creates the +2. To do this, the initial Elan lengthens by 500 mm, now the total length of the vehicle is 4,29 m compared to 3,68 for the two-seater. In this way, it is possible to increase the habitability, even to the point of introducing two rear seats that by the way are wider than for example those of a 911. The little one of the English house thus becomes a genuine 2 + 2.
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Overall, about 15.000 units were made of the Elan. Of the +2 it is not known for sure how many were produced, but various sources affirm that there were about 5.000; This figure includes several special series, the most mythical being the JPS -John Player Special- with 130 hp mechanics and special black colors with golden roof and side lines, a variant with which the first 50 victories of Lotus in Grand Prix were commemorated. .
The Elan will continue to evolve until 1974, the year in which production officially ceases. Thus, our 1973 unit has accessories such as a 5-speed gearbox, electric windows or a motor boosted up to 130 HP.
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Twisty and Galician pleasures
Those who know me know that it is more common to see me in regularity tests as a navigator, and this is no exception: We participated in the Rías Baixas Rally in the category without measuring instruments. Whispers at the wheel and I navigating, although in some link section I take over from my partner. The Galician rallies are really entertaining, very complicated for the sailors but terribly fun for the drivers, who carry their mounts through winding and twisted roads.
On this type of road the great rigidity of our chassis was revealed, at the same time as the refined cushioning that allowed us to continue advancing in areas with very low grip. The layout included a surprise, a two-lap stage in a circuit, which of course were used by Whispers to squeeze the Englishman and show me how easy it is to take it to the maximum, even marking some exquisite crosses in several curves.
I'll just say that it drives like a book ... You just have to brake to avoid overshooting and then modulate the skid with the right pedal and the steering wheel, nestled in a racing interior and with that spectacular roar of the engine between 4-6.500 Rpm.
A sumptuous dinner with the best Galician seafood was the culmination of this rally, while the Lotus rested on display in the closed park. How could it be otherwise, we were champions of our category (!) ... but above all we enjoyed the beauty of an exceptional mount.
Everything that was narrated happened a couple of years ago; Today I recall it with "Whispers" while we have a few cokes with the Elan in the background. My son, who has accompanied us in the back seat, plays on some nearby swings. It is certainly a car that I would have in my garage; in fact, I know my friend has been considering selling it for a while ...
For me It is a car that is at the level of performance of a good 911 Pre73, but its price, for the moment, remains lower, much lower, much lower than that of its German colleague. It is something that I do not quite understand, because it is as exclusive or more than the Porsche and also cheaper to maintain ... You draw your conclusions, my son at 4 years old has already drawn them: "Papa buy the Lotus."
