calvan
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Posts posted by calvan
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Further detail to Andy's list of Europa models.
The early Twin Cams had the Renault 352 four speed transaxle. The Specials had a Renault 356 five-speed box. There also are a cars labelled as Twin Cams that have the five speed.
The five speed transaxle is supposedly stronger and better able to handle torque loads. At least that was the rationale that Lotus used for not putting the 126 bhp, Weber carb version of the Big Valve in the early Twin Cams. Mine, for example, has the four speed and Stromberg carbs. It is mildly tweaked with no gearbox issues. Still, the five speed version in the Special is the preferred transaxle.
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I didn't intend to be nitpicking, but the picture of the Gremlin brought back fond(?) memories - a lack of power exceeded only by the feebleness of the brakes, a steering box that used oatmeal as a viscous coupling fluid, and more understeer than your average oil tanker. It was even that colour.
By the way, the Gremlin was funded by her father as a grad gift. He ignored our advice to get a Honda Civic because it had just been introduced to North America and you know how unreliable those foreign cars can be for getting parts. That just illustrates the basic golden rule of money - he who has the gold makes the rules.
By your reference to "mama", I assume you mean the Supreme Exalted Ruler who can drive either Lotus but generally chooses not to.
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Chrysler Gremlin? That's an AMC Gremlin.
I should know - my wife had one when we got married. And its driving characteristics are not as bad as its appearance - they're worse!
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Here is a list taken from cars that I have seen in real life, not just in pictures. That does tend to limit the list somewhat.
These are in no particular order but are the five that have had the most visual impact:
1. Lamborghini Miura
2. Bugatti Type 57 Atlantic
3. Lotus Elite - Type 14
4. Ford GT40 Mk. II
5. Iso Grifo
My own two Lotus - Esprit and Europa - make an honourable mention list but that takes it beyond a top five. It also shows that I may be stuck in a bit of a time warp as there are no really current cars that came into consideration.
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I've heard that they are planning to market it as the Dodge ReCharger.
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I agree with Daniel. From 30+ years of Lotus ownership (31 for the Europa and 5 for the V8) I've learned that they are much healthier when exercised regularly. Something always seems to go wrong in storage.
When winter weather permits I like to take mine out for a good run - at least ten miles to gp through all the gears and get all the fluids up to temp. Perfect excuse for a blast along the back roads on a sunny day.
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You mean they knocked it cock-a-leekie and now we're all in the soup?
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Not bald, just getting broken in. Plus, the car needs a bath.
It turns out that the timing was not bad - it was close to home and it looks like the tire will hold air until I can get it attended to. It could have been a disaster next week as I'm going to the West Coast Lotus Meet in Oregon. Unfortunately, I don't have enough time off work to take the coast road so it will be about 490 miles down I-5. That road has to be at least a quarter-finalist for the world's most boring highway.
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Went down to the beach for fish & chips this evening. This is what I saw on exiting the car:
Not amused, but made it home.
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Well, the woodwork can be a very comfortable place at times.
To start worming my way out of the wood, here are a couple of international shots showing my V8. In both pictures the car, beach and boats, are in Canada. Thesewere taken just down the hill from home in white Rock. The land across the bay in the background is part of Washington State in the US of A.
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The title for this thread calls for car pics in "noteworthy places". That should disqualify my messy garage. Still, the recent comments about the Europa call for a picture of the Lotus fleet at home. (Assuming that I have atteahed the picture correctly - bit of a Luddite at the keyboard)
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I see thta a dealer in Kensington has a Bizzarrini 5300GT listed on its website.
Good thing the wife bought a lottery ticket this afternoon.
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The Esprit shares garage space with my Europa. I've had the Europa since 1977 so from long useage and seniority, it is simply called "the Lotus". From side-by side physical comparison, the Esprit is called "Wideload".
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1997 Esprit V8
Midnight Blue Metallic / Tan interior
SCCFE33C4VHF65199
Mike Boyle
White Rock, BC, Canada
As an example of what this could turn into, check the Europa registry at:
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I may as well mention three upcoming events in the Vancouver area. These are all static shows, but they provide some opportunity to other cars and owners
First, there is a British car show in Fort Langley on April 20th. This is a realtively small show, with attendance capped at 60 cars due to space limitations. I had my Esprit there last year but will be entering the Europa this year. The link for info on this is www3.telus.net/lambmc.
Second, there is the larger All British Field Meet at VanDusen gardens on the Saturday of the May long weekend. I think its the 18th but don't have a calendar handy. I'll probably take the Esprit in this year.
Third, is the Langley Cruise-In in September. This is a massive show with 1200 -1500 cars, although it is >95% street rods and muscle cars. Not really a typical Esprit crowd, but I figure that since I grew up in Langley and the Esprit does have a V8 in the back, it should fit right in.
Mike.
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We've had disparate comments on the announcers in this thread. We may have an odd advantage here in Canada as the F1 races are available on two networks - SpeedTV or TSN, which picks up the ITV feed. That allows the commentary to be compared.
I gave up on the ITV announcers last year, as they spent at least 70% of their time marvelling on how the sun rises and sets from Jenson Button's arse. (Not a knock on Button, but simply the jingoistic announcers). I haven't watched ITV this year, but I suspect that the fawning over Lewis Hamilton may be even worse. I'll steel myself and try it for one of the North American races later in the season. Not before, sice the races start at 5 am here on the West Coast and since I'm not daft enough to get up to watch, I will have to tape one or the other for a more leisurely viewing time.
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I may as well chime in, although a bit late for still being Albertan. I moved back to "civilization" on the West Coast last year after spending five years in Calgary. I was there long enough to learn that one of the beauties of the Calgary climate is in getting spring six times a year, although one of them is usually in August. On the other hand, B.C. taxes hurt a bit. Both Loti ('97 V8 and Europa) are now comfortably set in the limited snow zone about 50 km. SE of Vancouver.
Mike.
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One of the (relatively) old gaffers at 52 and have had my Esprit for three years.
I bought a Europa when I was 23, and still have it. Next July will mark 30 years with that car. It has seniority over children, although my son thinks it is an heirloom with his name on it.
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Now somewhat politically incorrect, but try "The Party" - Peters Sellers 1968. Funny, even if he does drive a three wheel Morgan in it.
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Quite some time ago, must be close to 20 years, some knuckle draggers with an ice-pickspent a night going up and down the hillside where I live. Some 50 t0 100 cars had some, or all, of their tires punctured. They got all four on my Europa, but those tires were crap anyway so I was not entirely displeased to have my insurance company replace them.
The real point is that those particular knuckle draggers were not too bright as their spree included all of the cars parked outside of the Hells Angels clubhouse (since moved, but those guys were good neighbours). The police never caught them but it also never happened again. DYI justice, perhaps?
Mike
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No need to wave Wayne, I'm still here. I was suprised at the amount of posts this generated.I didn't get to talk to the guy but I frequent that Tim Hortons so I will have to see if I can "bump" into him again and chat.
A lot of interesting comments in this thread.
I can't help thinking that out here on the West Coast I am much more likely to take my Esprit to Starbucks instead of Tim Horton's. I'm also more likely to see something interesting parked there than at Timmy's. Or is this just a form of caffeine snobbery?
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There's this Irish bloke walking down the street with a small steering wheel sticking out of the fly of his trousers.
Finally, someone says "Excuse me, sir, do you that you have a steering wheel sticking out from the flyof your trousers?"
"Oi," he says, "and its driving me nuts!"
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I,ve driven my '97 V8 between Calgary and Vancouver a few times, just short of 600 miles each way. It is scenic drive across the Rockies, and I improved it with a 200 km. detour to avoid highway construction last time. Having said that, I basically sick of it from repitition these days.
My wife and I took a good drive two years ago, taking an extended route to Calgary. We crossed the line into the U.S., went down the west coast of Washington and Oregon. The coast is spectacular although we encountered the worst traffic along this stretch. We then backtracked up the Columbia valley, through Idaho and crossed back into Canada in the Kootenay region of southeastern B.C. Some great roads with little traffic as we avoided the interstates as much as possible. The total distance was a little under 2000 miles spread over about five days. The Esprit ran fine the whole time (this was before the engine blew up) and there may be a similar trip in the cards for this year.
Mike.
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I'll add my tale of engine woe. This should be a rare event but I am curious to hear if anyone else has experienced this type of failure.
I have a '97 V8, originally a US market car adapted to Canadian regulations. About 18 months ago the engine grenaded with about 19k miles on the clock (previous owner didn't drive it much). The shaft that turns the cam belts suffered a sudden, and complete, bearing failure. In addition to dropping bits of bearing in the sump, the right cam belt lost tension and stopped turning. Four pistons each hit four valves.
Lotus replaced the engine, so I was happy with that. Actually, they replaced it twice as the first replacement wouldn't turn over after the dealer put it in the car. All is fine now with the replacement. However, if it fails again within 20k mi. I might be measuring the engine bay for a Chevy small block.
Have there been many known failures like this?
Not sure if I should laugh or cry....Damn Mrs
in Lotus / Motoring / Cars Chat
Posted
Getting back to the original topic of cars and wives, I can see my automotive future planned out for me.
My wife thinks the Evora is marvellous and wants one for herself once it hits the Canadian market. Since I plan to retire in two or three years and have no intention of leaving the present house with its two car garage, it looks like the fleet take shape as follows:
-buy an Evora for daily use and permanently allocate one spot in the garage to it
-rent offsite garage space and alternate the Esprit and Europa between there and the second spot
-keep her Merkur XR4ti since a large hatchback comes in handy from time to time. It can continue to live outside.
-ditch the Jetta tha I use for work now.
Things may not work out that way, but that's the plan for now.