The birth of LotusRescue

[johnpwalsh]

4 hours ago, silverfrost said:

Well done John,  Glad it went well even with the parts issues you had,  onwards and upwards for lotusrescue  

Thanks Dan. Just want to see it 100% completed now and away.

 

[Stuart Monument]

Looks fantastic John well done. And of course to Wendy who supports and encourages to. 

[johnpwalsh]

Ooop's. I've just gone and done a Barry Kearley, only difference being the wife knew about it. It's like Barry's latest little gem, the V8 Elite. But waaaaaaay different. A car I bought about 4 years ago, sold to someone as a project and now taken it back half completed. BUT with a HUGE difference. Details and pic to follow shortly.

[silverfrost]

look forward to seeing what it is John 

[Barrykearley]

Remember the top gear camper conversion 👍

[silverfrost]

Really ?    I look forward to the pics,  James May loved that car, it looked really tidy also,  Very practical ,  unlike Clarksons mobile two storey apartment car lol

[johnpwalsh]

So couple of hour's drive to go have a look at the project, and crazy though it sounds, it's on. Anyone know of a wrecked excel. No engine or gearbox required. but just about everything else.  Dont even need the shell. Needs to be pretty cheap to make this one viable. But it's going to happen.

[johnpwalsh]

On 21/10/2018 at 10:48, silverfrost said:

Really ?    I look forward to the pics,  James May loved that car, it looked really tidy also,  Very practical ,  unlike Clarksons mobile two storey apartment car lol

OK, so sneak preview. Now get the imagination working and maybe you can see my vision. Color change to a fairly light shade of British racing Green metallic with Yellow pinstripe. Original wheel diamond cut,and on the back a fully prepped engine and gearbox on a stand complete with a prop shaft angled down to the floor as a dummy drive unit. The project will be for show purposes only. The structural integrity of the shell has been preserved along with bracing bonded into the rear half to prevent any flexing. The rear panel has been converted to a drop down tailgate and tails lights split where the tailgate drops down. The cargo deck has been lined out and coated with the timber being professional cut and fitted by a bespoke carpenter who is a  specialists in classic restoration's.

 Now what's the vote, crazy, stupid, or what.

 

 

 

[march]

Well I really like it - but then again I'm not really  known for my taste in things.

[LotuStuart]

im in Brighton now. Took a drive past the esprit. Really mouldy.... 

[johnpwalsh]

Mould is nothing to worry about Stuart. The thing is, can it, will it be saved.

[ramjet]

21 hours ago, johnpwalsh said:

OK, so sneak preview. Now get the imagination working and maybe you can see my vision. Color change to a fairly light shade of British racing Green metallic with Yellow pinstripe. Original wheel diamond cut,and on the back a fully prepped engine and gearbox on a stand complete with a prop shaft angled down to the floor as a dummy drive unit. The project will be for show purposes only. The structural integrity of the shell has been preserved along with bracing bonded into the rear half to prevent any flexing. The rear panel has been converted to a drop down tailgate and tails lights split where the tailgate drops down. The cargo deck has been lined out and coated with the timber being professional cut and fitted by a bespoke carpenter who is a  specialists in classic restoration's.

 Now what's the vote, crazy, stupid, or what.

 

 

 

Sorry John. I am trying, but I just can't get there.

[Bravo73]

21 hours ago, johnpwalsh said:

I’m the opposite. I love it!

[LotuStuart]

im in Brighton now. Took a drive past the esprit. Really mouldy.... 

[silverfrost]

An Australian Lotus, got to love the Ute 

i take it the floor is alloy or steel lined ?

Looks like a great project and well befitting of lotus rescue ,  just needs some decals 

 

[johnpwalsh]

        

Decals all designed and new name plate for the tailgate. Lotus Ecup.  Ecup Translated to, A Gift From God. E in keeping with the Lotus Ethos of always starting with an E for the name. Was going to call it Lotus ICUP ( pronounced Ik Up 0 but didnt seem right with a I. Might change it yet though.

Maybe Lotus ElGrand.

Or Lotus Ethos Ikup.

 Ethos definition is - the distinguishing character, sentiment, moral nature, or guiding beliefs of a person, group, or institution;.

 

[Arregueti]

I am liking it, too. I would add a small crane and you have a Lotus tow vehicle.

 

Edited to add. You may need a V8 conversion for that, too.

[johnpwalsh]

Did think of that one but I recon weight restriction may come into play as there will be virtually no weight in the back.

 

[USAndretti42]

I saw that at the Practical Classics show early this year.  I thought it looked great.  It reminded me of the XJ6 pick-up that used to ferry parts around Jaguar's Browns Lane factory in the 70's.

[MPx]

On 23/10/2018 at 13:35, johnpwalsh said:

        

Decals all designed and new name plate for the tailgate. Lotus Ecup. 

 

You've missed a couple of letters John, surely the Lotus EggCup 

[johnpwalsh]

Well guys, coming to the end of another year, and LotusRescue have been busy. Sadly, I sold a guy an Elite which had undergone a restoration several years ago.

I gave the car a good service with all the usual stuff, sorted out electrics, replaced the carbs and off she went. Now the car had been running about on short runs at home since I had it MOT'd in July with no issues other than a fuel leak from the carbs, hence they were eventually replaced. So as mentioned, the car was sold as a rolling restoration. Delivered said car and as coming off the trailer, the brakes failed. Got the car onto the drive, had a look about, but couldn't see any obvious leaks so suspected master cylinder seals. Notified the buyer and off we went. The buyer then gets a local garage to have a look at it and agreed it was master cylinder seals, which they then went and replaced. The buyer then goes to collect the car, drives out and finds an oil leak. Yep, rear oil seal had gone and that's on a fully rebuilt engine. Of course he's not happy so I gave him a partial refund to help with the cost. Lesson learned. Even if a car has had a fully documented rebuild, prepare for the unexpected. I can only think that the seals had maybe gone hard with sitting for several year's, but then why be ok driving about short distances then suddenly go. As for the brakes, they had also been fully rebuilt at the same time as the engine rebuild so I now have to suspect, even if new they will require replacing on any future projects. The buyer has been very understanding in the fact the car is sold as a restoration project and therefore comes with no warranty and it was sold at just over cost which is now a loss to me as I gave a partial refund. But the more annoying thing is the fact that it has happened and to a guy who had been on about this car for months before going ahead and buying. So for me it's a lesson on never trust work carried out by others regardless of how good it seems, and for buyer's, be prepared for disappointments and additional unexpected costs  

😣

[Barrykearley]

These are old classic cars John. They can only be bought or sold on the basis of such. They will require near constant fettling to get right and keep right. 

Just when I think I’ve got a running Esprit - there’s something else to attend to either on a planned or unplanned basis. That’s not too say they are unreliable or trouble - but anyone whom hides one of these cars in a garage or drives it a few hundred miles a year gingerly - ain’t doing these cars any favours. They need proper maintenance and regular thrashing to keep them happy

[johnpwalsh]

Yep, most of us know this. Just feel a bit sorry for the guy who bought her. First time I have sold one on and kind of let someone down.

[Barrykearley]

Sadly - the Blue S4 has highlighted to me just how irrelevant a big file of service history and bills can be. 

This ain’t your fault John and you shouldn’t be shouldering the burden 

[C8RKH]

You did the honourable thing and went on and beyond that John. So don't feel bad at all.

I agree with Barry - all these cars are "classics" and "buyer be ready with an open wallet" should really be the slogan used. I'd love an old Esprit, or an Elan (sprint or the +2)  but I know i am not handy with a spanner, I'm getting too old to learn (though have plans for all sorts of mechanics courses for when I retire lol) and so I ain't buying one - yet lol!.  I have a tremendous amount of respect for people who can fix these cars, and for the people who buy them, but if you ain't able or prepared to do the spannering then don't go there unless you're prepared to open the wallet.  And expect to open the wallet as soon as you receive the car...

I also agree with Barry that cars that do not get used tend to be the worst sort of buy - they just need to be used to keep everything tip top and also by using them the problems appear and so can be fixed.  We're still too obsessed with mileage as an indicator of condition in this country - a 20 year old car with 10k miles is not as usable as a well maintained, 20 year old car that was a cat c/d 12 years ago but was fixed properly and has been well maintained and driven since.  My 17 year old Type 116 is very much a modern car. Was built in 2001, Cat C (bodywork damage in 2007) and is now on 58k miles and flies over the tracks of the UK (well, chugs when I'm driving it, flies when someone who knows how to drive is steering it!) and has, in the past 2 years of ownership been 100% reliable.  Most would turn their noses up at it (due to the mileage being perceived to be too high (for crying out loud) and the cat c 11 years ago) and would instead go and buy a lower mileage car that has been sat and done maybe 300 miles a year for the past 10 years at almost double the cash i paid for my car. And then be too afraid to use it as that would make it dirty and reduce the resale value. FFS!..............................

Keep going John, one day I just may get to the point where I know how to hold a spanner and could be getting a lovely Esprit S3/3 in Ice blue from you!.........