autoevolution
 

Graham Hill’s Lotus Elan +2 Up For Auction at No Reserve

Back during an era when Lotus was the reflection of its founder, Colin Chapman, the British manufacturer also happened to be one of the leading forces in Formula 1. When Graham Hill drove for the Hethel-based team, the two-time world champ also enjoyed the perks of being the asset of Lotus and the confidant of Chapman.
Graham Hill’s Lotus Elan Plus 2 9 photos
Photo: Historics at Brooklands
Graham Hill's 1968 Lotus Elan Plus 2Graham Hill's 1968 Lotus Elan Plus 2Graham Hill's 1968 Lotus Elan Plus 2Graham Hill's 1968 Lotus Elan Plus 2Graham Hill's 1968 Lotus Elan Plus 2Graham Hill's 1968 Lotus Elan Plus 2Graham Hill's 1968 Lotus Elan Plus 2Graham Hill's 1968 Lotus Elan Plus 2
See the sorry-looking jalopy in the featured photograph and gallery? That’s the car Hill drove on public roads during the late 1960s. First registered on June 18, 1968, this Elan +2 was originally finished in silver. But by the time the current owner acquired it, the car sported daffodil yellow-ish paint.

To be offered at auction at no reserve by specialist classic car auctioneer Historics at Brooklands, the sale also includes a letter from Lotus that states that “RAH 400F was supplied to Graham Hill for his exclusive use during his associations with Team Lotus and was registered by Lotus Cars Ltd." In addition to the that, a photograph of Hill standing next to his +2 is also included for added authenticity and peace of mind for the upcoming owner.

Even though the current owner garaged the car for the past 37 years, he previously used the car for commuting and going on holidays abroad. In one of his trips, the owner experienced an engine problem. Thus, the original engine was swapped for another 1,557 cc Lotus TwinCam inline-4. Matched to an all-synchromesh 4-speed manual, the 1967 to 1975 Lotus Elan +2 is good for 126 ponies and a 0 to 60 mph (100 km/h) sprint of 7.9 seconds.

Regardless of the fact this vehicle was owned by the only driver to win the Triple Crown of Motorsport (Le Mans, Indy 500, Monaco GP or F1 Drivers’ Championship), the Elan +2 also happens to be as rare as hen’s teeth and horse’s toes. Roughly 5,200 units of the four-seater sports car were made during its production life, of which less than 1,200 are believed to have survived the passing of time in working condition. With a little bit of tender loving care, Hill’s Elan +2 can also be brought back to its former glory.
If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
About the author: Mircea Panait
Mircea Panait profile photo

After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
Full profile

 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories