Out of the blue, another 1982 Eclat Riviera Restoration

[LotusElan17]

My 39th (ish) Lotus, a 1982 Eclat Riviera in Helleblau (light blue) paint code A15.

Resprayed circa 1992, hence the lack of Riviera decals, engine rebuilt about the same time after catastrophic failure, then for some unknown reason parked in a garage in 1992, last tax disk displayed, and hasn’t turned a wheel under power since.

Left with spark plugs removed and now engine seized. I purchased recently from a chap in Wakefield, he conveyed the sorry story to me but he had acquired it relatively recently so didn’t know the full story, I suspect it was kept near the coast as the amount of corrosion is frightening, I have never seen so much surface rust on a galvanised chassis and for a rebuilt engine to seize solid over that period of time is unprecedented in my experience. I have oiled the bores and will wait for some time to see if it will turn over, but I have decided on a full strip down and rebuild in any case, I have even budgeted for a new chassis but remain hopeful that I can fix the rust issues.

On the plus side the interior apart from the dash is in excellent condition, and the all important Riviera parts are present and intact. I am not going to do a rebuild blog as Benco’s excellent thread covers it and is the same car, but I will post a few before and after pictures when I get around to starting the rebuild.

David

 

 

[exeterjeep]

Good to get another one back from the 'dead'.

[LotusElan17]

6 hours ago, exeterjeep said:

Good to get another one back from the 'dead'.

It’s my mission in life, I must be a reincarnated masochist.

[Bibs]

On 08/08/2022 at 10:46, LotusElan17 said:

My 39th (ish) Lotus

Wow!

[jep]

Do you name your cars? If this is out of the blue, it must be ELO. 

Perhaps Geely will do an Electric Lotus Off-Roader one day.

 

[LotusElan17]

2 hours ago, jep said:

Do you name your cars? If this is out of the blue, it must be ELO. 

 

Never really named any of my cars, just the usual profanities when they break down.

Having said that I just realised that my Avatar picture Exige S1 was known in Lotus circles as “BlownK”, namely due to the number plate B10WNK and the fact that it had blown two supercharged engines prior to my purchase and a third Turbo Technics TT230 in my possession at the inaugural Lotus On Track race at Brands Hatch March 2007, that’s it exploding in the picture.

Edited August 9, 2022 by LotusElan17
Additional info

[Benco]

Brilliant, can’t wait to see your progress with this sibling Riviera! Mine was originally A15 but was resprayed (badly in places) as A33.

🙂

[LotusElan17]

12 hours ago, Benco said:

Brilliant, can’t wait to see your progress with this sibling Riviera! Mine was originally A15 but was resprayed (badly in places) as A33.

🙂

You’ve made excellent progress, very impressed particularly with the chassis, I fear that it is the route I must take, done it a few times before but still a daunting task.

A33 Ice Blue, I particularly like that colour, it looks great in your pictures, I am sure you can sort out the imperfections. Mine will need a partial respray and I of course will be sticking with the A15 original colour, the bumpers will be going Amy Winehouse (back to black).

Haven’t as yet started the rebuild as the Gold Elite is taking up my garage space, need to make a decision on wether to find a workshop for the restoration (expensive), find a lock up for the Elite as it will be destroyed leaving outside for any length of time, the final solution is to sell the Elite but I know I will regret that decision.

[Benco]

I’m sure you’ll make the right call and until you mentioned it, I hadn’t seen the colour matched bumpers on the car now. 🙂

[Don.Hasi]

Great find David. Which chassi number is it exactly?

[LotusElan17]

27 minutes ago, Don.Hasi said:

Great find David. Which chassi number is it exactly?

Not sure at the moment Don, will send you a PM when I dig out the V5

[Don.Hasi]

So, fortunately you will keep this one and complete your mission  Some kind of fate  Did you get the chance for checking the VIN?