The birth of LotusRescue

[eeyoreish]

I suppose it depends on whether you sell these cars as private or trade sales? As a private sale it's buyer beware and the onus is on the purchaser to do all their checks before buying. It's unfortunate if something unexpected goes wrong afterwards but that's the risk of paying less privately over paying more with a dealer for the reassurance of a warranty.

Sadly in my experience too, some private buyers don't realise that and expect problems to be compensated post the sale.  I had one guy threaten all sorts and even turn up at my house expecting a refund when his dual mass flywheel made the same noise it had during the test drive! In the end I refunded him £200 towards the repairs but only because it was someone else's money and the person I sold the car for was willing to do it.

[theelanman]

I bought the car in question........

The only time I've bought a car blind.......

I discussed in detail with John it's state....and always knew I was buying a rolling restoration......

I've never complained or asked for a refund......I have kept John up to date with events.......to which he kindly sent me a bit of cash........but I must say never asked or expected.....but hey I was never going to say no.....

I've had the car 2 months almost and still not turned a wheel in it.....again not a problem....altho I would have liked to have a drive in it......

It's cocked up the finances for the restoration as I'm into serious money for the engine and brakes.......the restoration is going to be a non rolling one now........there was too much work involved so the car is now off the road until I've done them all......

Thanks for all your help John

I think half my battle is that I've never had one before so it's a massive learning curve for me......I know elans old and new inside out......and the evora....but I'm new to the 501 Elite so it's all a big voyage into the unknown

[johnpwalsh]

Hi Gareth, thanks for your kind response. Yep I can confirm you never asked or hinted at getting a refund, or anything else for that matter. I just felt duty bound to do something and will continue to help where possible. Hope you got the manual Wendy sent down to you, that's a huge bonus having that.  It still annoys me that the engine was running sweet as a nut after the carbs rebuild and tune up, probably one of the smoothest I had heard in a long time. As could be heard on the video clip.  You know how to get hold of me if you have any questions and I will get that panel sent down to you after the Christmas mail rush is over.  All the best for Christmas to you and the family.

[johnpwalsh]

So. Update on the Lotus Ecup project. The donor car has been purchased. A rear ended Excel which will give all the required parts for the rebuild which will start once the White S1 has finaly left my workshop in a couple of weeks time. All being well. Plan 1 is to MOT the BRG Excel I have and get the number transferred to the project. C 10TUS which I think will suit her. The engine bay will be prepped and painted first in her new colour then fitted out. The make a start on the interior which will be painted the same as the engine bay. Couple of mods to do to do the exterior then have that painted in her finished colour. About a years work I recon.The engine bay and exterior are going to be done in two different colour's both of which are my favorite Lotus colours.

[johnpwalsh]

So, two cars coming on the market shortly. Neither belong to LotusRescue, just helping the owner market them.

One is my old Excel Auto which has now been completely restored to as new condition and was on show last week at the NEC exhibition Birmingham, so this car now has had everything done. Engine, interior, brakes, suspension and paint, all to a very high level. The second is what I would class as a very simple rolling restoration. Again an Excel in Silver metallic and priced very sensibly. This car, although in very good looking condition and with known history, has not been started for 7 years and the current owner would prefer to leave as is so that the next owner will see exactly what he is getting. Nice and fresh to the market. PM me for prices and photographs of either cars and I can put you directly in touch with the owners. Check out the video at 3 mins 15 secs and youcan see the auto. The clip showing the Orange Esprit.

 

https://nortonsafe.search.ask.com/search?chn=1000&cmpgn=&doi=2018-09-07&geo=gb&guid=fbe69935-7c40-493b-b157-d5aea95d23d8&lang=en&locale=en_gb&o=APN12174&p2=^ET^cd00gb^&prt=ngc&trackId=&ver=3.7.0.12&ctype=videos&tpr=2&enc=2&q=ecak3YlbaNr0u24GHqd0eM_P7_5A2ypl0oOSgb2nTnqwisg_0UXMbIUY1glS_CDUdA2RL0vBZkwSji6cMdy0QihNosmdEhDckoMiBp8Qch-2_7qVprpYYxPOxw6uWC4WABuyDHn3q6cheFjSbHpOB2ZbHGpoL-W5mFn1VEn0J_D_RIvltpO1Blse1Xcne_a_3ClVZUVoU4GLWT2X2JIvM3eT-LNz7nDXYuhaoEB0vHidEB1_k8-KnAr1FFuJo6lVSkVcObIKZxi9euyIgQBRc8XAsLu5QzYpladrs99iYwJtqEfu1mWzXvtdskv1JzkRh1LC3wEan3lupFT2VzpWvw&ts=1553761524964

[USAndretti42]

I saw the auto at the Practical Classics Restoration show last weekend and it did look very nice although all the dash was out as were the seats.  Owner went through the work that had been done on it an it did look like a good buy.

[johnpwalsh]

Looks like cars are moving or becoming available for the season.

I've been asked to market a rather rare Lotus Eclat Riviera by a friend of mine. Cars been in regular use since an engine rebuild. Sadly, after an accident. the current owner can no longer drive it. Any interest. Will be for sale at a sensible price to a fellow enthusiast.

[johnpwalsh]

So the Riviera. Had chance to go view it today for the first time in a couple of years and I must say it is still looking good.Probably because its stored in a nice dry, damp free shed along with a host of other vehicles. I explained before why it is now up for sale, but here are the pics I have taken today.

On the rear nearside quarter there are two star cracks caused by something moving about in the boot, there is a little bit of damage to the front spoiler on the nearside where it caught a high kerb, on the scuttle panel below the windscreen on the right hand side a bit of paint has peeled off,  the paint is otherwise all original, there are minor stone chips on the front valance, the interior is spotless for her age with the original crash pad on the steering wheel to match the interior.

The original storage bag for the lift out roof section is still in the boot along with the tool kit etc. The car has had quick wash down to remove storage dust so that I could see the condition of the paint and other than what I have mentioned, it's pretty good and nothing that a good polish wouldn't cure. The engine is obviously in very good condition having been rebuilt just a few years ago by a local specialist race car builder.
The car is for sale at a fixed price of £7500 which will include the private registration plate which I checked on various web sites and is valued at £500.00.

[silverfrost]

Good luck with the sale John,  Hope it goes and finds a new owner  soon,   a chance for someone on here to own a lotus  rare car  

[johnpwalsh]

Hi Dan. It's a nice honest car with good history. I'm only helping the current owner get it advertised, hes well into his 70's and not so good on his feet now, hence the need to sell. I recon for what it is, he has priced it very fairly. Sell the private plate for 400 squid and you have an even cheaper car.

[Millobrush]

Hi John, do you think the riviera will make 2 300mile trips back to London in you're opinion? Thanks jack

[johnpwalsh]

Absolutely no problem. It's a cracking good car with great history, rebuilt engine, tried and tested. I would drive it down without a second thought.

[Millobrush]

Hi John, looks like I'll be booking a flight soon. Just need to get a weekend free, in a week or two. It's exactly what I've been looking for, was just scared to commit because of the distance, exciting times, first lotus! 

Kind regards Jack. 

[johnpwalsh]

Hi , Jack, sorry for late reply  currently down in chelmsfor for a funeral, home on Friday night. Email me directly on jwl344@aol.com

Cheers

 

John.

[johnpwalsh]

So Covid has cocked thing up a fair bit for LotusRescue, as it has done so many other business. It hs delayed work on a clients S4 and meant hat all my own cars are about 1 year behind what I had planned for them. Over last couple of weeks I have been stopped twice going to my workshop and told that I wasn't a full time business, I should not be traveling. So, got round that by having some business cards printed, which I received the other day, so now if I get stopped I will just give them a business card. I fully understand and endorse the rules. But my workshop is about 1.5 miles from the nearest neighbor and nobody comes to the site.

So with the above in mind I stole two days of my time to do some work on my own car as it's WELL overdue for the paint shop. Yep The Ice Blue S3 Turbo is going for a full monty makeover. She will go to the paint shop over this weekend and I will get her back in about 4 months. Our man, Steve Margary took of the task of making a full set of carpets to original color and spec, complete with leather rim at a very reasonable price. Carpets arrived within a couple of weeks of order and I must say I am well impressed. I have another company down in the Wirral who are going to do a full leather interior replacement to which I have already sourced the correct leather in original Parchment Baby Blue, so she will have all new internal and external finish to the highest of standards. Mechanically the engine had already been fully rebuilt just prior to her going off the road and only have covered a couple of thousand miles, all is good in that department, but the engine will come out for a full service and a paint over. Both fuel tanks need to be replaced so I have already purchased them some time ago along with loads of consumables I have been stockpiling just for her rebirth. Worst job undertaken during the 2 day strip down must be the four 10mm nuts hidden away up behind the dash. Lotus position plus 10.

Onward and upward for a cracking good car coming back to life. Sometime in the near future. Covid provided.

Now to get back to the S4.

 

[C8RKH]

Sooooooooo, looking forward to seeing that Ice Blue Esprit coming back to life.  Get on with it then John!

[johnpwalsh]

Shes on the trailer ready for off. BUT the bloody road into my workshop is blocked by blowing snow which as caused huge drifts. Neighbour's tractor going up in the morning to clear it.

[Greg | ValetPro]

All sounds interesting.  

We might be able to add some Value.  ValetPRO are always looking for barn finds or project cars that just need a good detail to revive them.  We could do a car for you no charge,  which should add Value.  For us its about being able to create video content for YouTube and demonstrate our products. If your interested please let me know.

[eeyoreish]

You’re welcome to come and valet the current Mrs H’s Merc ML if you want to create some before and after video content. She has horses so it’s a dusty mess in there 🐴☹️

Nice and local. Chichester, West Sussex!

[Barrykearley]

Woah - down boy @eeyoreish - my wife’s had her car nearly 2 years now. Looks like it’s been lived in by swampy for a decade - smells much the same also.

[eeyoreish]

She probably shouldn’t let you use it.

[Barrykearley]

I’m not allowed to use it - that’s what my cars are for apparently 

[johnpwalsh]

On 12/02/2021 at 18:43, Greg | ValetPro said:

All sounds interesting.  

We might be able to add some Value.  ValetPRO are always looking for barn finds or project cars that just need a good detail to revive them.  We could do a car for you no charge,  which should add Value.  For us its about being able to create video content for YouTube and demonstrate our products. If your interested please let me know.

Hi Greg. Thanks for the kindly offer. I do in fact use some of your ValetPRO products having bought a kit off TLF previously. I think the stumbling block would be the distance between us. If you are willing to travel and present your products in NE Scotland, I could organise a club meet where you would have a larger audience and therefore a better sales and promotional opportunity as I am also founder of Club Lotus North East Scotland with a club membership of over 150 members and around 160 cars.

You can contact me directly on.

jwl344@aol.com

You could start with my last hedge find, this Brown Elite. Or more realistically another project car, this Excel which will be finished soon and could well do with some detailing and paint correction, although the paint is not that bad.

 

[Greg | ValetPro]

On 13/02/2021 at 22:09, johnpwalsh said:

Hi Greg. Thanks for the kindly offer. I do in fact use some of your ValetPRO products having bought a kit off TLF previously. I think the stumbling block would be the distance between us. If you are willing to travel and present your products in NE Scotland, I could organise a club meet where you would have a larger audience and therefore a better sales and promotional opportunity as I am also founder of Club Lotus North East Scotland with a club membership of over 150 members and around 160 cars.

You can contact me directly on.

jwl344@aol.com

You could start with my last hedge find, this Brown Elite. Or more realistically another project car, this Excel which will be finished soon and could well do with some detailing and paint correction, although the paint is not that bad.

 

I think your right that the distance would be an issue but I think this more of an issue during this pandemic.  I'll have a word with Mark Langley who organising these sort of thing.  It would also be good to combine this with one of our retailers in Scotland if as an event we could get more people together.  Again gatherings are an issue right now.   If we can make it stack up with good will and get some good video content that might just make it work.  Anyway thanks for this, I'll get back to you re practicality soon.

[Greg | ValetPro]

How much is the navy blue Excel SE?