Elite/Eclat/Excel video & picture thread!

[ChrisJ]

What red is that? I think it looks superb.

[Don't Be Foolish]

Hi Chris,

Many thanks for your kind comments.

My Elite is canyon red, which is a colour that I think Lotus first used on the series 2 Elise, around 2006.

[rjwooll]

On 10/12/2020 at 16:42, Peapod said:

Probably been on here before, but I found his interesting.

 

 

It’s a real period piece that video! It has been around for a while but looking at it again I have a question - does anybody recognise the country house used for the publicity shots (at around 16.40) - someone has suggested Hampton Court, someone else Waddesdon Manor, but I’m not sure it’s either of those?
 

Cheers, Richard

[ChrisJ]

@Don't Be Foolish - ah, so not an original colour. I think it suites your Elite really well - more pictures please

I wonder how it would look on an Esprit? @Buddsy - it you are ever thinking about repainting your Esprit, if you want to go non original, I think this would look great.

[Don't Be Foolish]

Hi Chris,

Here are some more pictures of my Elite, as requested.

The photos were taken for a recent feature in Absolute Lotus magazine after my car had undergone a two year restoration at Lotusbits.

[ChrisJ]

What a great car 

[LOTUSMAN33]

Total credit to a fantastic quality restoration, it looks stunning 👍🏻😁

Dave  

[TAR]

8 hours ago, rjwooll said:

I have a question - does anybody recognise the country house used for the publicity shots

Could it be Burghley House?

[Hawaiis0]

My thoughts are no. BH doesnt have the central square tower. But good idea.

[USAndretti42]

On 13/12/2020 at 18:30, Don't Be Foolish said:

Hi Chris,

Here are some more pictures of my Elite, as requested.

The photos were taken for a recent feature in Absolute Lotus magazine after my car had undergone a two year restoration at Lotusbits.

 

A 2-year restoration at LotusBits sounds expensive but the car looks worth it.  Beautiful.

[Don't Be Foolish]

Hi Trevor,

Thanks for your comments about my Elite.

As you say, the restoration wasn’t cheap, with bills totalling nearly £100.00 (well, the one’s that I dared show my wife!) but to say that I’m over the moon with the work carried out by Mike and his team at Lotusbits is an understatement.

[Tim Jones]

"Bills totalling nearly £100"

Bargain 😂😂😂

[Mark Blanchard]

That really is a stunning looking Elite.  One of the best looking Lotus's imo.

[jep]

I cannot think of a better place to have a 70s Lotus wedge restored than LotusBits . Whatever the bill, it would be a lot less than most establishments.

I need a small paint repair on my Elise..first quote who knew it was an insurance claim was £6k+.....laughable. If I was paying myself - would expect it to be £1k or less. I won't let a paint shop rip-off the insurance, so I will make the effort to have it repaired at a fair rate. 

Justin 

 

[Emmerg]

Don’t Be Foolish - got to say your car looks fantastic.  A real credit and would love to see it one day. 
 

 

[Don't Be Foolish]

Good evening Guy,

Fingers crossed that things return to something more like the old normal soon as it would be great to be able to travel to be part of the Winterbottom Run and meet up with fellow members of ‘Oliver’s Army’ ( the ‘wedge-iment’?!) later in the year.

 

[soldave]

Looks very good in Absolute Lotus too, and a nice little backstory on it. You find that a lot of these older Lotus have interesting histories to them.

[phoenix]

It’s so pleasing to see cars like this restored to such a high standard.  It normally starts a process where others follow, the cars are appreciated and values rise.  I commend you on your effort and it’s also a great tribute to Oli. I hope you get to enjoy it and look forward to hopefully seeing the car in the not too distant future. 

[CoffeeHeretic]

Greetings from the states everyone. Here is a few shots of my 523 in Red Rocks Park in Colorado. We have sun year round here, so even after a little snow the roads clear. Lots of twisty mountain roads to enjoy. 

[Clive59]

Looks lovely, and what a view! I have fantastic roads up here in Scotland too, but a much shorter season than you.

[exeterjeep]

For those who remember their lotus history - who knows where these were taken - when the elite was just out.

[jep]

Nice snaps. No idea, does not look like Bell and Colvill or London Lotus Centre. 

Purple! Purrrrr....where da gold one, man?

Justin 

 

[phoenix]

Fantastic pics Keith, many thanks for sharing. The early pics from the days of chemical photography are so nice to look at, particularly when it comes to these cars as they look spectacular in their new and shiny glory. These 70’s colours are also seldom seen these days. 
Are you able to post the pics individually in better resolution? 

[exeterjeep]

No-one has guessed correctly yet, can post images again later - did not want to run out of space. . You can tell that these early cars had vacuum headlights!!. My first lotus was a 501 -I did replace one of the solenoids  I have loads of photos, the early negs were the old C22 developing process which was replaced by C41., many years ago  The old roman purple was quite a nice colour. If you look on the esprit photo thread I posted a picture outside of an old dealer in exeter - no one id'd that one.

So I'll post the answer in a couple of days..

[exeterjeep]

Another pic of the brown one in the size originally scanned.