Elite/Eclat/Excel video & picture thread!

[GerardJPC]

Here is my 1981 Eclat S2, currently in use daily.



 

[ChrisJ]

Great to see another wedge in daily use.

Cloth interior as well

[Testdriver]

daily use rocks! The more I drive mine, the less problems I have (none, currently). I believe if they are driven regularly, they don't break down. Maintain them, drive them. Don't have them hidden in a shed to drive them twice a year :-) 

[Mark Blanchard]

That's a lovely looking thing.  Looks proper exotic class!

[phoenix]

Well done that soldier. 

[GerardJPC]

Lighties on -

 

[ChrisJ]

I see that you have bought a donor car for a spare set of rear lights

[GerardJPC]

That SD1 has been the most reliable classic car I've ever owned.  It's only done just over 50,000 miles and is almost flawless. 

[GerardJPC]

This early Elite belongs to a friend.  The non Lotus paint is grotty, but the car is a fun drive.


 

Edited November 14, 2017 by GerardJPC

[Testdriver]

1 hour ago, GerardJPC said:

This early Elite belongs to a friend.  The non Lotus paint is grotty, but the car is a fun drive.

same colour scheme as my elite (and same grotty paint ;-) )

[williamtherebel]

Here's a  photo of my SUPERSTRONG Eclat!!    Serious question - The Wolfrace wheels were already fitted when I bought it 25 years ago. I went to get some 'original' wheels from some Lotus Guru in the North West. He told me the Wolfrace wheels were offered as an option extra at the factory. (different PCD) Can anyone confirm or deny this? Cheers. 

[GerardJPC]

I dunno, but I think that the wheels suit the car, as does the colour, and you could have a good weekend with that caravan.

Here's mine getting some attention from the hard working Romanian car wash dudes up the road -






 

Edited November 17, 2017 by GerardJPC

[phoenix]

Hi William. I assume your car is an early 520 and very nice it looks too. I have one myself, same colour with Wolfrace wheels. The 520 which came out in 1976 was the entry level car and to differentiate from the more oppulent elite had skinnier Ford Steel wheels with a different smaller PCD.  That meant the GKN alloys of elites and later éclats would not fit.  Any 520 éclat with GKN alloys must have had the hubs replaced. Although Lotus had a contract with Wofrace to supply alloys for the 1976 and 1977 Esprits, I am not sure if any éclats left the factory with Wolfies as I have never seen any evidence like a spec sheet to prove. I would imagine such an upgrade was carried out at Lotus dealers although these wheels were massively popular and fitted to many English cars of the era. I hope that helps. 

Regards Roddy

[Dunc]

My first flirtation with an eclat was a '77 yellow 520 on woolfies...

[phoenix]

You flirt Dunc. I think most 520's ended up with Wolfies, GKNs  or other aftermarket alloys as the Steele wheeled cars are now something of a rarity. 

[GerardJPC]

Frosty today -

 

[Testdriver]

What a couple - Eclat and SD1 side by side 

 

My Elite has a comfy garage space fortunatelly :-) 

Love the SD1 one of my favored cars ever - is it yours?

[GerardJPC]

Yes it is.  It's a 1982 2600SE manual, and a reliable daily.   I may be selling it.

Lights up or lights down?

 

 

[ChrisJ]

My dad had a 2300 - rotted away within a couple of years, replaced with an auto 2600 which lasted well.

[GerardJPC]

The Series One Solihull cars rusted, the Series Two Cowley cars were better made and better painted.  Mine has a small area of rust at one door corner but is otherwise pretty good.  The colour is called Moonraker Blue.

 

Edited November 19, 2017 by GerardJPC

[mpse14]

A friend of mine had a facelift 2600 manual, went very well, but you had to use the 'box and keep it revving.

[GerardJPC]

Yes, you do have to do that .  It winds up well on motorways and will thrum along at very illegal speeds, but it won't win traffic light GPs.

[williamtherebel]

On ‎17‎/‎11‎/‎2017 at 08:26, phoenix said:

Hi William. I assume your car is an early 520 and very nice it looks too. I have one myself, same colour with Wolfrace wheels. The 520 which came out in 1976 was the entry level car and to differentiate from the more oppulent elite had skinnier Ford Steel wheels with a different smaller PCD.  That meant the GKN alloys of elites and later éclats would not fit.  Any 520 éclat with GKN alloys must have had the hubs replaced. Although Lotus had a contract with Wofrace to supply alloys for the 1976 and 1977 Esprits, I am not sure if any éclats left the factory with Wolfies as I have never seen any evidence like a spec sheet to prove. I would imagine such an upgrade was carried out at Lotus dealers although these wheels were massively popular and fitted to many English cars of the era. I hope that helps. 

Regards Roddy

Hi Roddy thanks for the info. And here's me thinking my Eclat was unique with its Wolfies. How quickly the forums can shoot one down in flames!! I had heard the early Eclats were fitted with Plus2 hubs?? To use them up" a la Chapmans" frugal policy waste not want not!!

[mpse14]

I really don't know why Lotus should have gone to the expense of making different hubs for an 'entry level' model, the Elite and presumably Esprit already had Triumph hubs on the front, why not just fit Triumph steels from a GT6/Spitfire or Vitesse? 

[andydclements]

Perhaps the offset of the Triumph wheels didn't give the right wheel track for the more stringent handling characteristics. that would have meant spacers which are a real pig.