Elite/Eclat/Excel video & picture thread!

[johnpwalsh]

Love these old cars hence I have owned my Éclat for 6 years now, well actually gave her to the wife as a wedding present but she will never be sold. Banana as she is known has loads of history with being owned by Lotus for the first five years of her life. I now have a nice Excel SE to keep her company along with my Esprit S3 N/A so a nice little collection.

 

[sharedmedia=garage:vehicles:967]

 

 

http://www.thelotusforums.com/forums/gallery/image/1898-banana/

 

 

Edited June 22, 2013 by johnpwalsh

[ChrisJ]

Here are some photos of a very nice Elite from last year's Club Lotus Goodwood track day.

 

 

 

 

Chris

[Loose Cannon]

Drooooooooooooooooool.  Great thread resurrection Chris!

 

Kimbers will confirm but I think that was one of his old man's company cars, the last registered Elite.

 

Back at you with this one, I paid £5 for an old magazine for one picture, tragic.......;

 

[ChrisJ]

Mark - I'm fairly sure you are right, Peter, the owner, said it was the last Elite registered - hence the 84 numberplate.

 

I'll get some more photos of it in May at Goodwood again.

 

Chris

[Loose Cannon]

If he has the bonnet up make a note of the colour code from the chassis plate, want to make sure I get mine resprayed that shade (there are no less than 4 different Lotus codes for "copper"!)

[ChrisJ]

You could join us at Goodwood

[Mark Blanchard]

That bronze A reg Elite goes like stink, I was behind it in my Esprit a few years back going up to Donington and the Owner was opening it up! It's the nicest Elite I have ever seen.

[Dunc]

I mentioned to Peter that Kimbers thought it had been his dad's and Peter seemed surprised as MK had judged a concours it was in and never mentioned it.

 

Perhaps MK didn't want people to think he was choosing it as the winner for sentimental reasons alone?

 

It's a lovely car with a knowledgeable owner (organiser of our Surrey Club lotus meets). One of small number of excellent cars in the hands of a long term owner, and consequently unlikely to ever come onto the market.

Edited February 21, 2014 by Dunc

[Loose Cannon]

One of small number of excellent cars in the hands of a long term owner, and consequently unlikely to ever come onto the market.

 

I know, I asked him

[Kimbers]

I do remember the old man having one of the last off the line and I'm sure it was a Gold one.

 

I think it was at this meet where he judged the cars and his old Burgundy Elite won. At the time I'm pretty sure he was only 50/50 on the gold one. I seem to remember it more than him! But it may have been a different one.

 

[Dunc]

I know, I asked him

 

I gather there is a queue....

 

positive proof that good cars are sought after items.

[Loose Cannon]

MJK had a copper coloured Riviera for sure, confirmed by the factory. Maybe that is where the confusion with this one crept in? He also had a blue Riviera, in fact if production was barely into double digits for the last 3 years he and the other directors must have owned nearly all of them.

[ChrisJ]

It's a lovely car with a knowledgeable owner (organiser of our Surrey Club lotus meets). One of small number of excellent cars in the hands of a long term owner, and consequently unlikely to ever come onto the market.

 

Peter rebuilt a black Elite before this.

 

Chris

[Loose Cannon]

TLF member EspritTragic's period shot of an Eclat, presumably near the factory?

 

[Dunc]

I wonder why its called the three horseshoes?

[johnpwalsh]

Named after the horse that never one a race !

[mat grant]

It's named after the legendary giant horse with three legs. It's hooves were as wide as a car - when it died the shoes were used to make the gable ends on the pub.

[Loose Cannon]

You are right, nowhere near!

 

The Green, Letchmore Heath, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD25 8ER

 

[Dunc]

Might be a cool idea for a photo?

 

The old one on the left with its instagram esque patina and the new one on the right in sharp modern colour with a caption - 40 years of Lotus enjoyment..

[johnpwalsh]

Been digging though some folders and came accross this one of old Banana so thought you might like a peak. this shot was taken from the top of a bus in Inverness during a classic car run through the city.

Edited February 25, 2014 by johnpwalsh

[EspritTragic]

You are right, nowhere near!

 

The Green, Letchmore Heath, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD25 8ER

 

Good detective work Mark, Letchmore Heath it was indeed!

Cheers

Sean

[Loose Cannon]

Any more pics you have would be welcome!

 

 

Guys - Classic Team Lotus have started a Flickr page featuring unseen Lotus photos from over the years.

 

 

Oh thank you Jesus! (and Nello for letting us know)

[nello]

So who has RPW 889M then?!

[pbharcourt]

Not listed on DVLA !

[EspritTragic]

One fine August afternoon in Oxford, 1987 ... are you still out there, D908YLL?