My first yellow badged Lotus

[ChrisJ]

Well I've finally gone and done it and bought myself an Excel (again)

 

As the title says, my first yellow badged car - my Turbo Esprit is black badge and my previous Excel in the 1990s was the BCA thing!.

 

It's going off to GST to have it's belts & fluids done and will be my daily(ish) driver.

 

1989, Monaco white, half leather interior

 

 

 

 

 

Chris

[Bazza 907]

Chris

Looks great. I had an '89 Excel too which was wonderful.

 

I did wonder when I saw you asking about tyres..

[pete]

at last .looks good Mr 2 loti

[ChrisJ]

It has three different make 225s on it.

 

It is in really good condition. My previous was a black 87 SE - sadly didn't seem to have lasted too long after I replaced it with a 1980 Range Rover.

 

Pete, it's the best colour as well

[Bibs]

Lovely, nice addition to the collection mate

[pete]

So which one is going to brooklands and which to duxford

[ChrisJ]

Esprit to Brooklands, the Excel to Duxford if the family want to come.

[Bibs]

Kimbers posted on a thread on here some time ago with the info from MJK... 

 

http://www.thelotusforums.com/forums/topic/25912-history-lesson-for-me/#entry252795

[ChrisJ]

Buddsy, did you see the S3 with a yellow steering wheel badge?

[bwwooster]

Nice!

 

But once again, it just serves to remind me that I'm on the wrong end of the planet!

(We never got Excels.)

Edited February 28, 2015 by bwwooster

[Bibs]

Can you not import them or would they struggle with the emissions in Ca?

[ramjet]

Very nice! Looks great.

[bwwooster]

Bibs: Yep, it's the emissions. If it's made after '75, it's got to pass tailpipe emissions tests as well as (and this is the real PITA) a visual inspection and all of the original smog equipment has to be there and untampered.

 

The federal regs allow cars older than 25 years to be imported, but the additional California regs don't allow it.

 

On the other hand, Golden Gate Lotus Club had a track day Monday at Laguna Seca, Sunny, clear, 23ºC... but no Excels there!

[bwwooster]

Chris: are the steering wheel and shift knob stock pieces?

[ChrisJ]

Steering wheel yes - it has the centre piece (a padded foam thingy) on it now - the garage selling didn't know what it was Although I must say, it looks quite nice without it. 

 

Gear knob - don't know, Looking around the internet, looks like it should be round, so good spot.

 

Chris

[cbclotus]

looks a nice car.great colour combo. Mike

[CharlieCroker]

Liking that, nice find.

[ChrisJ]

I think I prefer the previous "slotted" wheels. These ones look like one side is going forward, the other back. I guess they will grow on me.

 

Chris

[rjwooll]

After my thread about the steering wheel badge I was wondering about the nose badges. To be honest I thought I knew the answer but recently looked it up and realised I dont know when they did what nose badges. I know there is a load of old tosh about black badges but one site said all Lotus after 1968 had black badges fitted. Well I know thats not true as the modern cars have the yellow and green classic badge. So when did they return to this badge?

 

Just curious you know...

 

Buddsy

As far as I know, the black/silver 'ACBC' nose badge was introduced on the Elite in '74 and continued across the range up to the introduction of the Wickens/BCA badge (events from then onwards are covered in  Kimbers' post).

 

I went non-standard on my '81 Elite and fitted the yellow/green badge cos I think its prettier!!

 

ATB Richard

[ChrisJ]

Getting excited now.

 

It has tax, MOT & insurance, and is with Gerald having the belts etc. done.

[pete]

Could be seeing it Thursday then

[ChrisJ]

Hope so, will hear tomorrow if it is just a straight forward service.

 

Got the complication of having to get the Esprit back up to Gerald as it is stuck in first gear. He might trailer the Excel down and go back with the Esprit ... if so then it may or may not be Thursday, depends on their schedule.

[ChrisJ]

Here's an S1 Esprit with a Yellow/Green nose badge, so the tosh of all cars since 1968 have Black/Silver is just that - tosh.

 

 

This car is back on the road - MOT expires 29/05/15, well done in rescuing it.

 

Chris

 

 

[ChrisJ]

Won't be here this week, as it isn't quite a straight forward service. Hopefully the following week.

 

Chris

[pete]

car still for sale on dealers website