nope....

 

It's still a covert black op's project.

 

I do need the garage space and some cash to make my next project come to life - a racing eclat.

I do need the garage space and some cash to make my next project come to life - a racing eclat.

Relevant to my interests.

nope....

It's still a covert black op's project.

I do need the garage space and some cash to make my next project come to life - a racing eclat.

Your busted once it sells - the other halfs gonna smell the cash!!!!

My next project come to life - a racing eclat.

Ah, now this sounds interesting, you've got my attention. ..

I am sure Duncan can hide the cash!

Good luck with the sale. It has after all done Brands.

It was expertly driven round Brands Clive - I was admiring your racing lines from the seat of my eclat (at 20 mph.....)

 

Here you are guys - some pictures of the pre-lap party!

 

Looks like it has now sold and will be off to a happy home...

The money will probably be re-invested into making an eclat 520 go faster....

It's not nice seeing complete cars sold and converted into a box of parts is it! Just happened to me with the Elite.

1 hour ago, Loose Cannon said:

It's not nice seeing complete cars sold and converted into a box of parts is it! Just happened to me with the Elite.

Sorry to hear that Mark -- what a bu99er!

On 25 November 2015 12:26:23, oilmagnet477 said:

Sorry to hear that Mark -- what a bu99er!

Still have my Esprit so can't get the violins out just yet - but it is a wake up call when cars depreciate almost to zero but parts stay the same price!

Hope the Excel went to a good home Dunc it looked nice and original.

On 25/11/2015, 11:18:07, Loose Cannon said:

It's not nice seeing complete cars sold and converted into a box of parts is it! Just happened to me with the Elite.

Not sure why you would be under that impression, let me assure you that your Elite is as intact as it was the day it left your possession a few weeks ago, there is absolutely no intention to break it and it will be re-commissioned by me over the next six months, my target is to have take it to the Club Lotus day at Castle Combe end of May.

Sorry my attempt at humour has left everyone with the wrong idea! This;

 

has left the garage and it's place been taken by this:

 

Which nice though it is doesn't seem like a fair swap.

LOL - defo got the wrong end of the stick!

1 hour ago, Loose Cannon said:

Sorry my attempt at humour has left everyone with the wrong idea! This;

 

has left the garage and it's place been taken by this:

 

Which nice though it is doesn't seem like a fair swap.

That's akin to mine where an Excel and Esprit left mine a couple of weeks ago, with an Excel exhaust equivalent to the above, a gas-flowed head and manifold, and a few other necessary parts are arriving. Soon to be used on the replacement Excel.

Ha...

I knew what Mark meant - as he knows what the proceeds of the excel will be spent on, and it continued the theme. Looks like the proceeds of his elite are being spent in a similar fashion on go faster bits!

Whilst on the subject of manifold porn  - here's my newtubular one for an eclat : It's not shiny stainless, but its super straight!

I had to be in the North Yorkshire dales at short notice this weekend. For a variety of reasons I didn't have any other form of suitable transport, so I took the excel for a fairwell run (my first significant run in my time with the car - its just been local pottering to date).

It despatched a 540 mile round trip with relative ease. Conditions on the way up were attrocious with huge tailbacks on both the M25 and a the M1. I moved 5 miles in an hour and a half near Sheffield and it kept its cool nicely, with no electrical maladies, despite everything being on.

The engines a cracker, it pulls strongly with good pressure and a never gets hot. The gearshift has loosened up nicely and now works perfectly (it had previously been obstinate in the 3rd/4th plane).

On the downside, the brake started dragging again when I left Yorkshire, but it fixed itself when it warmed, so I'll have to have another look at freeing and lubing the caliper slides before delivery to the new owner. The shocks are also gubbed (disclosed in advert). The suspension loses its composure above 75mph unless the road is smooth. I dropped the tyre pressures to what they should be - which definately helped its previous steering twitchiness, but its still a long way from feeling and handling like a Lotus should. New shocks are definately prescribed!

I also parked it nose down on a steep hill and lost a 1/4 of a tank, which was a new one for me....

but on the whole - with a new set of shocks all round, I think the new owner has an excel with real potential. The important bits all seem good!

(Seat was super comfy compared to the firmer eclat one....!)

 

 

 

1 hour ago, Dunc said:

I also parked it nose down on a steep hill and lost a 1/4 of a tank, which was a new one for me....

 

What? figuratively on the gauge or literally?

literally....

no flow lock on the excel? or deleted on my one by a previous owner?

 

Hmmmm,

After turning down something like six people and telling them it had sold, my buyer pulls out saying the company that employs him as a sub contractor has gone under, leaving him unpaid.

I did keep a small reserve list, so the excel is now going to a happy home in the hands of another TLF forum member.

Lucky one.

Just received this:

"Hi there;

I have a rare restored Austin Allegro S2 1.3L A+ Super Deluxe, in near perfect condition, valued @ €4,250 (£3,000).

I'm looking to do a deal for a classic sports model.

just checking if you may have an interest in doing a swap on your Lotus Excel?

Let me know either way.

Regards,"

I actually thought it was one of my mates taking the piss, but no, someone genuinely wants me to do a straight swap for an MOT'd and taxed Lotus Excel for an Austin Allegro 1.3....

 

I have a potting shed in my back garden. Depending on the number of bedrooms his house has do you think he'd be up for swapping his house for my shed?.

On 06/12/2015 at 17:33, Loose Cannon said:

Lucky one.

Second that...

I could reply back for you... I am known for being sensitive and politically correct

 

What were they thinking anyway, a Lotus 2.2 for a  BL 1.3   

I was even more offended that it was a 1.3 rather than an "Equipe"......