Sunbeam Lotus in Surrey village

[Veloce_Rosso]

Spotted this in our village a few days ago. Looks like a Lotus.

 

 

[LotusLeftLotusRight]

Good spot. The DAC prefix cars are supposed to be very desirable. I can’t remember why, but someone on here will know.

[Veloce_Rosso]

1 hour ago, LotusLeftLotusRight said:

Good spot. The DAC prefix cars are supposed to be very desirable. I can’t remember why, but someone on here will know.

The Avon version is meant to be very desirable. Rare as hens teeth.

[MPx]

Most of the Avon cars are DDU reg.  DAC are normally "ordinary" Series 2 cars.  The Avon certainly has some extra cachet being a numbered limited edition with different trim etc, but the two tone blue paint with red stripe is a bit of a marmite thing and I'm not a fan.  Personally I like the Series 1 embassy black cars - so that's the one I had - but they're all great fun ...

[Veloce_Rosso]

Cheers for that. Everyday is a school day.

Edited March 17 by Bibs

[kkv444v]

That car will be on the SLOC stand at the NEC next weekend, if anyone wants a proper drool.

The cars with DAC registrations were all sold by one garage (Arbury Service Station) who did a deal with Talbot to buy up the remaining stock towards the end of 1982 when there about 200 still unsold. They offered them at a discount and sold over 100 (not all had the DAC plates). Avon Coachworks also had a deal in place and ended up with 56 cars that to which they added their own touch (paint and interior, nothing mechanical) but charged more.

Only a handful of Avons are on the road now, whereas there are loads of Arbury cars. Sellers will often big them up as "rare DAC car" when in fact, one in ten of all Sunbeam Lotus sold in the UK had a DAC registration from Arbury. And there are a lot still about. But they do seem to be more sought after than others, even though they are no different. As Mike says, Avons are not everyone's cup of tea cosmetically, and nearly all had glass sunroofs so that puts buyers off as well. but their interiors (blue velour) last better than standard.

Anyone at the NEC for the Classic Restoration Show, please come and say hello. Stand 372 in Hall 5 (a bit further away from the other Lotus guys this time, sorry...).

[Veloce_Rosso]

Wow, didn't know that.

Edited March 18 by Bibs

[Veloce_Rosso]

Number plates aside, what is the aesthetic difference between normal and Avon cars?

[exeterjeep]

Don't know if this helps:

http://www.lotusdriversguide.com/Genealogy/Sunbeam.php

and 

https://www.asoc.co.uk/articles/sunbeam-lotus

looks to have some interesting history.

 

[MPx]

4 hours ago, Veloce_Rosso said:

Number plates aside, what is the aesthetic difference between normal and Avon cars?

That Lotus Drivers guide that Keith linked has some useful pics to show you and I'm sure Graeme will be along soon with a more difinitive set - no one knows more about the SL than him!  But for now:

The Series 1 were all Embassy black with a silver side stripe and grey cloth interior.

The Series 2 continued with the same black pattern but added options for Moonstone Blue with either Silver or Black side stripe and they had "piccadilly" striped seats IIRC.  (There were other minor cosmetic differences like bigger headlights and no frame on the tailgate but overall very similar)

The rare Avon cars were all Series 2 cars numbered (red pinstripe down the side with a number by the door mirror) and many had the same number on their DDU reg.  They were all two tone blue (as shown in the pic Keith linked). Inside they had a "luxurious" velour seat trim in a similar blue colour. 

In fact there were also a few others:  The police had a few cars in different non standard colours.  Some owners have chosen their own paint schemes.  And of course all of the real rally cars were painted in either the factory colours (like Graeme's Poly) - or other team colours - like Andrews Heat for Hire.

[Veloce_Rosso]

9 hours ago, exeterjeep said:

Don't know if this helps:

http://www.lotusdriversguide.com/Genealogy/Sunbeam.php

and 

https://www.asoc.co.uk/articles/sunbeam-lotus

looks to have some interesting history.

 

Thank you for the links. Yes, that's helped.

4 hours ago, MPx said:

That Lotus Drivers guide that Keith linked has some useful pics to show you and I'm sure Graeme will be along soon with a more difinitive set - no one knows more about the SL than him!  But for now:

The Series 1 were all Embassy black with a silver side stripe and grey cloth interior.

The Series 2 continued with the same black pattern but added options for Moonstone Blue with either Silver or Black side stripe and they had "piccadilly" striped seats IIRC.  (There were other minor cosmetic differences like bigger headlights and no frame on the tailgate but overall very similar)

The rare Avon cars were all Series 2 cars numbered (red pinstripe down the side with a number by the door mirror) and many had the same number on their DDU reg.  They were all two tone blue (as shown in the pic Keith linked). Inside they had a "luxurious" velour seat trim in a similar blue colour. 

In fact there were also a few others:  The police had a few cars in different non standard colours.  Some owners have chosen their own paint schemes.  And of course all of the real rally cars were painted in either the factory colours (like Graeme's Poly) - or other team colours - like Andrews Heat for Hire.

Very insightful. Thanks.

[kkv444v]

Hi Richard,

here is a little guide for you. We (SLOC) have a few members in Surrey and I am sure one would be happy to show you their car. We will also be at the Club Lotus track day at Castle Combe at the end of May, likely with every variant to look at and perhaps blag a ride on the lunchtime parade.

Graeme. Sunbeam Lotus Historian. (Owner of more than one Sunbeam plus a couple of 21st century Lotus)

(I am mindful that most of this thread might perhaps be better in the Sunbeam section...)

 

[MPx]

7 hours ago, kkv444v said:

Owner of more than 1 Sunbeam ...

You left a nought off there or are you cutting down these days?? 😉

[Veloce_Rosso]

17 hours ago, kkv444v said:

Hi Richard,

here is a little guide for you. We (SLOC) have a few members in Surrey and I am sure one would be happy to show you their car. We will also be at the Club Lotus track day at Castle Combe at the end of May, likely with every variant to look at and perhaps blag a ride on the lunchtime parade.

Graeme. Sunbeam Lotus Historian. (Owner of more than one Sunbeam plus a couple of 21st century Lotus)

(I am mindful that most of this thread might perhaps be better in the Sunbeam section...)

 

Won't be able to make Castle Combe, a couple Alfa meets during May. More than happy for someone to show me around a Sunbeam Lotus at anytime.

Thank you.