Elite/Eclat/Excel video & picture thread!

[mpse14]

That could be true, but Chapman would not have missed the opportunity to sell the Woolfies as accessories.

[GerardJPC]

Chapman would have sold the air for the tyres if he could! Special Hethel air, of course. 

[johnpwalsh]

Almost as good and as scarce as Heilan Mist.

[Dunc]

On the 520, there was a dealer option alloy wheel offered, but it was the "Electron" style alloy rather than the wolfrace, which I believe was only ever a popular aftermarket choice.

I'm told the steel wheels fitted to the 520 are of lotus cortina dimensions and are worth a fair bit nowdays... no direct knowledge myelf - just what somebody once told me.

[williamtherebel]

10 hours ago, mpse14 said:

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? 

Who knows the inner working of the genius mind!!

[igg-hiss]

I have 75 which is a pre production Eclat, she sits on triumph pcd. Colin must have had lots and lots of plus two parts available to break production to use up parts. But surely the parts book should answer the question?

[williamtherebel]

I don't think so. (although my memory isn't what it used to be!) Many years ago when I first got the car and checked what brakes I needed to replace the ones that were on, they were totally different and I ended up just taking the old ones to the garage.  I found out later that the ones I had, were fitted to the Plus Two.

[igg-hiss]

• The bloke was sublime, saved money using plus two parts up and then saved money skimping on the parts book. 

[Don.Hasi]

On 12.10.2017 at 16:56, pbharcourt said:

Grandsons picture of my Lotis

Start them young!

Seems to me, that your car is slightly blowing.... 

 

Time for some additions too.

[Jeanvm]

Nice riviera, very low against the other cars.

Would love to see some picture from the interior.

[Don.Hasi]

Thanks Jean, the interior is not in a top condition. I have tried to make it more usable and after this, it had to be overhauled for the complete front seats, the dash and the A pillar. But due to a change in my personal situation it will not be done in the next 1-2 years. Until this, I will use it in this state nevertheless. It does too much fun and of course they suffer from not being used.

 

[Jeanvm]

This Riviera interior is from the one and only LHD from Belgium. I do know there is one blue LHD in Germany near München.

 

[Dunc]

There are a few Riviera's in Germany on the old register. It seems to be a hotspot for eclat Rivieras.

[Loose Cannon]

Anyone seen the yellow Eclat Riviera on Autotrader?

 

[Escape]

That does look tempting! If only it had been for sale a year ago...

Anybody interested in an early Excel?

Filip

[GerardJPC]

My Eclat has a wimpy 1980s aftermarket sunroof.  I'd much rather have a Riviera roof.

[johnpwalsh]

That Riviera is a bit pricey though.

 

[eclat22]

I'm sure this is the place that had an Excel and Esprit for sale last year, both restoration projects.

[johnpwalsh]

Yo could be right Dan, I think he had about 6 cars in all that came from a clearance or something similar, but not sure.

[eclat22]

I have a feeling that if the seller hasn't got a link to the now defunct "London Lotus Centre" he must have got them from a guy who has. There have been Lotus cars for sale on and off from that area for as long as I can remember, I heard that it was possibly the son of one of their employees from years ago. A friend of mine went to look at one of the cars years ago, but didn't buy one, eventually bought a used Elise from  Strattons

[Escape]

We got some snow today. And for some reason it seemed like a good idea to take the Excel instead of the Range Rover. No drama, bit of tire-spin but only when provoked. I did see an oodi have a hard time turning out of the same street...

[cbclotus]

Hi Filip...No No........That excell should be in a nice dry garage.Looks great I like the early cars on the toyota wheels.Mery Christmas .....Mike

[Escape]

Mike, I haven't had access to a nice dry garage since the fire destroyed our workshop... So both the Excel and Esprit have been living outdoors. Luckily this will soon come to an end. Although not finished, I've started using the new hall to keep the cars protected during winter. Not ideal, as it's not where I live at the moment. And I'm still using the Esprit as a daily, so she will have to face some more snow today and maybe the next weeks.

Filip

[phoenix]

Storing the cars where you live. Filip, you sound like a man who has his priorities right.

[Escape]

It's more like having a small appartement (converted office) in a workshop. :-) About 250m² workspace + 200m² first floor storage in the workshop and 35m² living space for me. All I need really.