Whats modified in this S1?

[ddevil]

Hi,

I'm looking for LHD S1 with the original exterior&interior... this one is for sale on ebay for 2 months already, but it's hardly modified. Engine doesn't matter to me, but exterior of this S1 is modified too.

Maybe someone can tell me what exactly is changed and is it hard to get all the original exterior parts for this vehicle?

Thanx.

Forget to put a link: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cars-Trucks...t=1218634435265

[mblommel]

Looks like it has turbo bumpers, turbo hatch and turbo airdam/side skirts. The tailights are also wrong (should be the Fiat X1/9 units instead of the Rover ones). Of course the wheels are also wrong too. The bumpers and hatch shouldn't be too hard to change. I'm not sure about the skirts and the airdam. Some more experienced folks here may chime in on how those are usually attached. At the very least I would assume you would have to fill some body holes. One thing is certain though, I won't be cheap to put this car back original.

Edited August 13, 2008 by mblommel

[GordonMasson]

Have a look at this ...

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=h...l%3Den%26sa%3DN

I remember seeing this car from a few years back... it was a lovely S1 before they did all the changes ... used to have woolfraces on it too

[winners]

Why did they do that to an S1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[gtookey@hotmail.com_]

I think most S1 buyers are looking for purity. The simplicity of the design and the mechanics. Not much purity left in that S1. As has already been said, I really don't think it would be cost effective to convert the car back to original spec.

IMO the car is also way overpriced.

Edited August 13, 2008 by gtookey

[ian heighway]

I find it hard to look that the pictures for to long. How could some 1 do that to a S1.

[Advantage]

I don't dislike that...

I think most of the body mods are due to the engine swap. The new front airdam houses the larger radiator, the side skirts feed air into the engine bay and the rear hatch lets the hot air out. I've seen worse.

If you're planning on returning the car to it's original spec then have a poke around the front of the engine bay. The Rover/Buick lump doesn't normally fit without either chopping bits of the chassis and bulkhead (firewall) or modding the front of the engine with some custom parts, such as remote water pumps etc.

Obviously, it's cheaper and easier to slice bits off the car...

[Tony K]

Welcome to the forum, Anton.

This S1, below, is much more original:

It is a mechanically very tidy car with matching numbers, original "gelcoat" finish, and lots of recent work done by a long-time specialist, and can be bought with either the Speedline wheels shown or with Wolfrace wheels. The owner is asking $13,000 USD. PM me if you are interested.

Cheers,

Tony

[ddevil]

tailights is from the Fiat X1/9... what other parts from more popular cars is suitabble for S1?

[Paul Coleman]

Here's a list of interchangable parts... http://www.gglotus.org/ggpart/espritxref.htm

I personally wouldn't touch the S1 you posted the link to, it needs too much doing to it. The seats look as though they've been changed. The one that Tony posted looks a much better bet and in the long run will be much cheaper!!

Regards, Paul.

[GordonMasson]

In hind sight no, you wouldn

[Tony K]

I don't think there is anything "sorted" about those "Lotus Mutilated by Claudius" cars. We always talk about how S1s are underdeveloped and have all kinds of issues (including cooling system); I'm sure these Claudius cars don't have one twentieth of the development miles that Lotus put into the 907 in the S1. I never see any of these Claudius cars driven; I think they are reduced to playthings that can be used for a quick drive around town on a clear day. I have yet to see evidence of an engine cover in one of these cars, which means no usable boot space, and the brake rotors throwing dirt everywhere inside the boot on the first rainy day. The exhaust is questionably routed (danger of melting the body), and the V8 obviously raises the center of gravity and adds weight to what was a finely balanced car. Claudius' conversions may have worked well for driving around sunny California for a thousand miles or so, but I think that's the best they ever did.