Details of XCE 656T, yellow Rover V8 powered Elite...

[Limecat]

Hello Lotus enthusiasts.

 

I was wondering if anybody could shine any light or information regarding the above car?

 

Going back to being a kid, my Father built the car over a period of about 2 years, he painted it in bright yellow (was previously red I think?) and I can remember walking around a 'Spyder' factory who he bought a brand new chassis from.  It was trimmed in a tan colour leather on the bolsters with striped tan/black velour centres from memory, a Rover SD1 V8 was fitted with a big shiny circular 'pancake' filter on the top, a 5 speed box and some form of a Jaguar LSD.

 

Literally every component on it was new/refurbished. 

 

I would love to know what became of it.  I have checked the DVLA website and it appears to be SORN at this moment in time which would fit in with what I was told about the person who bought it.  Apparently he was in the legal profession and had some sort of private collection of vehicles, he spent around 20 minutes viewing it and said he was 'smitten' then bought it.  LOL.  It was sold about 16+ years ago at a guess?

 

Does any of the above ring true for anyone?  Has it been seen at a show or the like anywhere? 

 

I used to think it was the best thing since sliced bread as a nipper but having seen one recently, they haven't aged gracefully have they?  No offence intended to any owners out there.

 

Thanks in advance, Wayne. 

[Dunc]

I've not see that one around, sorry.

Sounds like your dad built a "Spyder Donnigton", using the kit from Spyder to fit the rover V8 and the Jag IRS tail.

[pbharcourt]

Spyder Donington?

I haven't heard of that before, was this a particular chassis setup that Spyder made for the Elite Eclat?

Do you have any info/pictures Dunc?

I remember seeing a strange body kit advertised in the 1980's for the Eclat, was that part of it?

[Loose Cannon]

http://www.spydercars.co.uk/lotus-elite-eclat-chassis/

 

There was a part-finished project for sale very recently that had one of these, presumably mothballed in the 90s when the kit was popular.

[Dunc]

Paul,

 

Yes, the Spyder Donnington was a special chassis replacment kit for people wanting to fit Rover V8's.

They are no longer available, and differ slightly from the Spyder replacement chassis in Mark's link above in that they grafted in a Jaguar IRS at the back, which provides an easy way of adding an lsd, the correct gearing and disc brakes to your V8 engined monster. The "normal" replacement spyder chassis in the link above doesn't offer the mounts for the V8, and it offers the possibility of Spyders own top rear link rear end with the standard diff (which has been criticised by some for its geometry).

Whether the Jag IRS was better, I have no idea. It would certainly be better in a straight line, but going round corners I just don't know.

I believe Denis on here has a spyder donnington equipped elite with a 4.6 V8.

I spoke to Spyder at Castle Combe last year and asked how many donningtons are likely to have survived, and they guessed a handfull, however whether or not owners/convertors would have any need for further interactionwith Spyder after buying the kit is perhaps debateable.

There is an eclat for sale in Wales recently that had a spyder chassis without the rear link kit, and I believe as a straight replacement they are supposed to be ok. A freind acquired A spyder chassis recently - perhaps the one Mark mentions....

[Debschet]

https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/26807/lot/33/?fbclid=IwAR0gVtG4sTymQBgGvv69pvLLDUGCF7wpeeR5Y10gSvR4lJALQ_ysuji4kjE 
it’s up for auction

[rjwooll]

1 hour ago, Debschet said:

https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/26807/lot/33/?fbclid=IwAR0gVtG4sTymQBgGvv69pvLLDUGCF7wpeeR5Y10gSvR4lJALQ_ysuji4kjE
it’s up for auction

Very interesting - you don’t see many of these Donington conversions about. Shame that the bright window trim has been painted rather than restored - it is difficult/expensive to find - but looks a decent car for a patient owner to restore/recommission. Would love it with a decent auto gearbox (like the ZF 4 speed fitted to the Excel SA)

Cheers, Richard

[exeterjeep]

1 hour ago, rjwooll said:

Shame that the bright window trim has been painted rather than restored

Agree, looks less refined. 

[Tony D]

Painted trim was for most people the way to go in 1990. Cars not really old enough to worry about originality (but if you're changing the engine, I guess that is last thing on your mind), and all new cars at the time were moving to colour matched bumpers and trim ( even lotus - look at the Excel 😀). 

Now though, it's a different story. The car needs the bright trim. 

Tony 

[ChrisJ]

I'm with Tony on the colour coding being the modern look in the late 80s early 90s - my 82 Esprit was colour coded in 1985/6.

I think I'd probably leave as is, as that is how it has been since converted. I can understand the change back view though, and I'd guess that the trim is still there "protected" by the paint?

I like the way that there is no bonnet bulge.

 

[rjwooll]

Tony Rudd was nearly fired by Chapman having the trim on his banana yellow Elite anodised black. In penance, he was made responsible for ensuring that company cars did not deviate from factory specification. He was amused to see that the colour scheme on Chapman’s boats at the boat show the following year was...banana yellow with black trim!

[Tony D]

3 hours ago, ChrisJ said:

I'd guess that the trim is still there "protected" by the paint?

If it's still looking decent after 30 years, there won't be an anodise finish under the paint to reveal. 

I wrote the above having experience of this change and view point. My restoration started in 1989, and I intended to paint everything in body colour. The only way to get a good key to the anodised trim is to seriously  rough it up, then apply etch primer, filler primer then top coat. 30 years on, the restoration is still going, but now my plan is to keep as standard as possible. Fortunately, I had a donor car along the way, with decent anodised rails, so no bridges burnt. 

Tony 

[Limecat]

Many thanks to Debschet for sending me a private message which resulted in me getting an email notification, bringing me here for the first time in almost 8 years!  
 

I’ve googled the plate a few times in the years since but never had much joy in finding anything about it.

 

It’s lovely to see it again.  It’s pretty much identical to how I remember it.  The only 3 things that may have changed are the location of the front number plate - I recall it being a vinyl stick on plate between the bonnet badge and vent on the bonnet?  I also am unsure if my Dad had painted the surround of the rear screen?  My recollection was that it was chrome?  Lastly, the rear wiper has been deleted, always a daft location as the boot opened from the top but the wiper was located at the bottom.  
 

the rear seats were awesome.  Most comfy seats ever, like being in business class on a Boeing!  My old cat can also testify to that as when the car was being built it used to climb up through the hole for the gearstick and sleep in the back!  
 

I used to earn my pocket money by washing it, back in the days where a bucket and sponge were the weapon of choice.  Not like nowadays where I have thousands of pounds worth of detailing gear!  My other task was putting tyre paint on (anyone remember that?) and picking out the lettering on the tyres in gold tyre paint pen, something that’s stuck with me for the tyres on my track car, albeit they get picked out in white!  
 

With regards to keying trim, that’s a bit of a sore point with my Dad.  I once saw him wet sanding the windows of his Escort and at a later date decided I’d help when I found some sandpaper.  I did the lot, every window, the wing mirrors, the rear view mirror, vanity mirrors in the sun visors.  I even went as far as doing the speedo, clock and LCD display for the radio.  I’m surprised I wasn’t put up for adoption?  LOL

Edited March 6, 2021 by Limecat

[Barrykearley]

9 hours ago, rjwooll said:

Very interesting - you don’t see many of these Donington conversions about. Shame that the bright window trim has been painted rather than restored - it is difficult/expensive to find - but looks a decent car for a patient owner to restore/recommission. Would love it with a decent auto gearbox (like the ZF 4 speed fitted to the Excel SA)

Cheers, Richard

Had one a couple of years ago. Frankly - it was crap. I’d much rather it had the lotus engine in it.

[Limecat]

Sorry to bump this but I’m lead to believe the person that bought it at auction is a user of Facebook (I am not).

 

Any news on it’s progress?  
 

needs some 16” Compomotive MO’s on it to get rid of those awful wheels in my opinion.  I’m generally not in to aftermarket wheels but Comps look awesome on almost everything.

 

 

Edited April 2, 2022 by Limecat