Above: Tuned Zetec puts out 175bhp and 147lb ft. Spyder Engineering can supply brand new units at just £1200.

It was this frustration with both the kit and classic car markets that lead Mick Stott to the door of Spyder Engineering in Peterborough. Mick's previous project, a terrific V8 Fury, has already graced the pages of Which Kit?, but with a wife and two small kids in tow he knew his time with a small two-seater hellraiser was up. With 2+2 options within the kit car industry somewhat limited, he looked towards the classic car scene and soon found the Lotus Elan +2 providing an obvious alternative.

Superbly styled, the streamlined +2 also has that all important rust-free fibreglass body which can be unbolted and lifted off Lotus' original backbone chassis. With sad examples available for as little as £1500 it seemed an ideal next project to get his teeth into. He already knew that he could get a replacement chassis from fabrication expert Spyder Engineering, but a quote elsewhere of £6000 to build the Lotus engine, gearbox and rear diff was something of a surprise.

Mick had a friend who was already running a Vauxhall-powered Banks Europa, and the alternative engine option seemed an obvious route to take. As luck would have it, Spyder had also been considering different engine options for the Elan so, with Mick's enthusiasm, the company set about re-engineering its replacement chassis for a more modern power source.

Which Kit? took a look at this exciting re-engineering exercise earlier in the year, in our April issue, since a simple engine swap soon expanded to include a  completely new suspension package. Based around the Ford Zetec engine and later MT75 5-speed gearbox, the new chassis also benefits from bespoke wishbones and fabricated uprights in order to make use of a Sierra's rear differential, hubs and brakes (Escort front discs).

This completely new running gear now puts the Spyder Engineering Elan +2 somewhere between a conventional kit car and classic car. Having found yourself an aging Elan +2 you simply unbolt the body from the chassis, lift it away and discard all the old running gear.

Below: Replacement backbone chassis is at the heart of Spyder's +2. Front and rear wishbones are purposed designed.

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Which Kit? September 2002