The Lotus Elan was Colin Chapman and Lotus’ first affordable road car, produced from 1962 and, along with its larger Plus 2 (+2) variant, until 1974. As a replacement for the expensive Lotus Elite, the Elan and Plus 2 were both successful sports cars, which carried Lotus through the 1960s and into the 1970s. Starting with a brief history of Lotus and the Elan, this book provides a detailed originality guide to the Elan and Plus 2, identifying the design changes Lotus made to the models through their lifetimes. An ‘owner’s guide’ provides detailed information on owning and maintaining the cars in tip-top condition, and gives details of common faults and upgrades. The restoration guide gives any potential restorer the information to carry out the tasks needed to bring one of the these cars back from the dead. With anecdotes and experiences from current and previous owners of Elans and Plus 2s, along with many colour photographs, the book provides a valuable insight into owning, running and racing these iconic cars.

ll in all a truly invaluable and absorbing book for all Elan and +2 owners and prospective owners and it comes highly recommended by us - Club Lotus News --- Planning to buy a Lotus Elan? Buy this book first - Classic Cars --- Well written with good quality photographs, this is a great book for those who want to focus on what the Elan is today, rather than the stories of its past - Classic Car Weekly --- his book is a must-have companion ... it's an incredibly useful reference. - Practical Classics --- Everything is beautifully presented and provided with clear photos, at the back you will also find a useful index. A great job - Autoliefhebbers.be --- This beautiful book should not be missing in any bookcase! - www.autotaal.be --- An essential bit of kit for all Elan owners - or for those contemplating the purchase or restoration of one of these iconic British sports cars. - Classic Driver --- Anyone who owns a Lotus Elan (or is toying with a purchase) cannot ignore this work. - British Classics (bi-monthly) --- It’s well-researched, thorough and straightforwardly presented - Octane (UK) --- a welcome addition to the Elan and/or +2 owner’s library. - Chicane

Matthew Vale has been writing books on classic British motorcycles and cars since 2004. Now retired from day-to-day work in the IT industry, in which he was a Chartered IT professional specialising in computer security, he now devotes his free time to classic car and bike restoration, writing classic motoring books and articles, and spending time with his wife and family. In the past he has run such diverse classic cars as a Triumph Spitfire Mark III, MGB,Triumph Stag and a Lotus Elite, as well as restoring and riding classic bikes including the Triumph Bonneville, Norton Commando and BSA Lightning. With a lifelong fascination for glass fibre bodied cars (stemming from early holiday jobs at various glass fibre factories), and ownership of many rusty cars, he is currently carrying out a nut and bolt (and glass fibre) restoration of a Lotus Elan Plus 2, while enjoying driving a lovely Plus 2.