The birth of LotusRescue

[johnpwalsh]

Got a couple on my phone, not great ones but once I remember to take said phone out of the car I will post them.

[johnpwalsh]

Just posted the latest acquisition by LotusRescue. One of two Lotus Elites, this one is a 501. See classifieds for more info.

[johnpwalsh]

12 hours ago, silverfrost said:

Looking forward to pictures of the elite John,  Not to many black elites about and i think that colour really suits them  

So you want a matching pair.

[johnpwalsh]

On 7/21/2017 at 16:44, silverfrost said:

Gald to see Lotus  Rescue still going full speed ahead John  ,   Look forward to the pictures of upcoming projects for sale.  

Still cant get over the state of that red s4 and how bad it has got, such a shame 

 

Hi Mike, that S2 is a bit of a shed. Going to need loads of work, inside, outside, on top, underneath. Every inch of her although keenly priced and comes with a new crated engine due o head gasket failure some years ago.,

[Barrykearley]

S2 or S4 ??? Asking for a friend you understand 

[johnpwalsh]

The S2 is in reference to G car I was offered about a month ago, and as stated needs loads of work.

Now you need to have a serious word with your FRIEND and explain that while the S4 is a great car and a fantastic drive. Its still not quite got classic status, whereas the S2 would be a long term project and an obvious sound investment which in a few years time prices are going to climb as have the S1's. Inform your FRIEND that if it were me I would be investing for the future, for my children's education, for my sons first classic car and to try break this habit you have (sorry your friend has) of buying broken cars in box's in the vane hope that the wife will never find out the true cost of all those little box's that arrive at the door. The fact that your friend has an agreement with SJ/Lotusbits that all deliveries come in plain unmarked box's is immaterial as she knows fine well that a box marked 2 dozen fluorescent lamp holders is not enough for a 500 meter long chicken shed. So basically mate, your FRIEND was rumbled long ago and SWMBO is stacking up get you back points to be used for the next holiday booked to an exotic location, 5 star, via TUI.

Lose the S4, purchase the S2 and stick it away in a corner for a nice job on a winters day while others are fitting out chicken shed's. And you can honestly tell your wife it was cheap. No reference to chickens. 

That's of course assuming that your FRIEND is in the same game industry as yourself.

[johnpwalsh]

Well at long bloody last the imported S1 has finally come out of the paint shop and I must say it is looking rather good. Nice new front spoiler, bumper and lip on her and gone are those stupid looking valances. The side repeating lights have all been removed and new rear spoiler and bumper fitted along with the correct recess for the rear number plate. The interior has been sorted out and where she had bloody awful shag pile carpet on the dash and center console, is now cover in a nice Alcantara which color matches the original flock and looks pretty good. The paint job has come up really well with  good depth of finish. Mind you, it should after all the work and time that went into her. Now just to sort out the mechanical. First issue is the nice new correct S1 exhaust which was bought doesn't fit the American made manifold, so that has to be changed. The radiator, frame and fans will all be renewed to bring her back to original spec along with a host of other parts. The chassis is all good and very fresh, so no concerns on that score. Next the wheels will be stripped back of their paint and the original rims polished which will further enhance her appearance. So next is sort out the wiring for the lights, get them all working with additional inline fuses. Change fluids, belts, service the carbs and give them a tune. Do the brakes, and double check all the bushes. The shocks and springs all look pretty near new and have adjustable's fitted. Still waiting on parts from SJ, like the engine cover and door mirror. And one job I am dreading. Rebuilding all the door parts, window mechanism etc. Over 400 photos taken of the restoration process to date which will be ideal for any future owner.

 

[johnpwalsh]

LotusRescue have been asked to market a rather nice Lotus Esprit Dry Sump in Essex Blue color's due to change in circumstances.

 

Here are some of the details of what has just been completed on her.

Turbo and Waste gate done.

Two new fuel tanks done

New thru chassis coolant pipes,

New oiler cooler

New stainless steel clutch hose installed.

New clutch assembly.

New ignition module and ignition set up.

New alternator.

New high torque starter motor.

New poly bush gearbox mounts.

New rubber engine mounts.

New coolant hoses.

 

Complete engine rebuild to include liners, pistons, rings, shells, oil seals and gaskets, valve stem seals. In fact everything a newly built engine would have.

 

Interior re-trim to include a new windscreen.

 

Front and rear brake rebuilt including calipers and new discs.

Probably loads I have missed but a full breakdown of works and invoices as proof are available.

 

To date this car has cost just over £30,000 and the owner is looking to recoup his costs. If a further 5/6k was to be spent on paint then this car would be one of the best out there.

 

There is a huge history file with the car which shows very low ownership and an original letter from the first owner when the order was placed for the car. It makes interesting reading. 

Plus loads of history on the car from Andy Graham, Lotus Archivist, and the previous owner.

She is not officially and Essex dry sump but must be one of the closest original cars there is out there, even the chassis numbers are very close to the Essex run.

 

Obviously huge investment potential as we all know pries are rocketing.

 

Photographs to follow.

Any interest please PM me.

[cbclotus]

Good luck with the sale John .Hope alls well ....Mike

[johnpwalsh]

Hi Mike, all's well up in sunny Scotland but bloody cold. Started the rebuild on the American S1 and it is now looking good, the paint job came out very well and with the change back to proper spoilers, bumper's, light etc looks far, far better. Hows your car coming on now.

[cbclotus]

Slow lol .....Very Slow .....just sold my Jensen Healey ....bit sad really took me back to my youth ......Mike

[johnpwalsh]

 

Guy's. LotusRescue have been asked to help sell off a load of new and old Lotus parts.

- S4 Esprit Turbo inlet manifolds brand new.

- Flywheels, clutch etc, lots of random parts.

- OE NOS LC Excel Peco downpipe

-Mann air filter, K&N Oil filters, Magnetic sump plugs, Cambelts, Drivebelts etc.

- Late Excel chassis - has both sets of suspension mounting points at rear for late and early model excels.  Complete with diff and driveshafts

- Potentially the very early narrow body excel.

PM for more details and prices.

[KAS-118]

Wow - sorry, although I've often seen this Thread's title I just assumed it was regarding some breakdown service 🤭

Having just read the first post - what a fantastic idea 👍

[Corranga]

Great thread and great venture.  Really interesting flicking through the last 8 pages!

[johnpwalsh]

So after a long and protracted wait, the first of the 2 Elites has been collected and taken home from their deep slumber's. This first one comes complete with about 8 years of dust, but other than that she is almost( don't count the period correct sunroof) completely original. Also found out she has a rebuilt engine which has not been run more than 100 meters on a private road. Engine rebuild consisted of new valves, head skim, liners deglazed and pistons refitted with new rings, bearings and shells etc. All good to go. The paint had been flatted down after a respray many years ago, but had never been polished up. She was resprayed in Black from her original Blue to match the previous owners second Elite which was Black. I noticed a couple of small blisters on the front offside corner, but other than that the paint should polish up nicely. See what you think.

Anyone interested in a nice project for not too  much money, PM me for further details.

LotusRescue currently have four project cars immediately available

2 x Elites.

1 x Excels SE

1 x Excel SA

[johnpwalsh]

LotusRescue invited to go see a 1971 Lotus Elan which has been in storage since almost new. Had some water damage many, many years ago and been in storage under cover ever since.

Also been given the option on a couple of Esprit X180's and a V8. Just waiting to find out if the are Turbo's or n/a's.  Very little info on the V8 as yet.

Busy week.

 

[johnpwalsh]

So two X180 none turbo's , 1 Black and 1 Red, 1 V8 in Silver with an engine in bits in box's. Worthwhile projects !!!!

 

 

[johnpwalsh]

So an update on the X180's.

The Red one was taken off the road due to blown head gasket and has been sitting with the cylinders full of water, hence the engine is now frozen.

The Black one is a running, rolling restoration.

The Silver V8 had an issue wit the turbo's and the owner decided to have the engine rebuilt, then the project stalled.

He has decided he is now keeping the V8 and is going to have it rebuilt.

The 180's can be bought as a pair at a sensible price. PM me for details.

 

[johnpwalsh]

Well some progress on the imported S1 at long last. With one delay after another, finally getting some real work done on her. Removed American tubular manifold and exhaust and replaced with the correct S1 manifold and exhaust. Bloody forgot just how difficult it is to remove and replace those manifolds with the engine in place. Takes bloody hours. So another couple of job's done. Fuel lines also replaced from tanks to carbs and vent lines, nothing really wrong with the originals that could be seen, but better to be safe than sorry. Front brakes are all overhauled, cleaned and painted. Wheels away to be chemically cleaned to remove the White paint. Don't want them blasted and lose the original profile and stamps. All the aftermarket silly looking spoilers have been removed and everything body wise is back to original speck and I must say she is looking good. Not just to try and work out how all those wire clips, window runners and guides go back together in the door's. Must find a drawing.

 

Excuse the temporary clamps holding the silencer on pic 2. SJ sent the wrong ones.

 

[johnpwalsh]

P.S. Photo's taken inside LotusRescue's new workshop. Not enough height for a ramp, but has a nice pit instead. Nice and warm, dry and loads of lights. ☺️

[silverfrost]

Great work John, nice to see some pics of the S1 getting put back to standardo former.  

Glad you now have a nice warm workshop to graft in. 

[johnpwalsh]

Cheers Dan. rented from another Lotus owner. Just a pity the doors open inwards or I could easily get two cars inside at a time. Might do something abut that soon though with owners permission. Save me a lot of space at home.

[silverfrost]

Mixture of project cars and storage of used parts is always the Lotus nuts drama lol. 

Hope they concent to the door change, cant see why they would not authorise it. 

Be nice for you to be able to get two cars in.  

Has lotusrescue managed to find the two elites you acuired new homes yet ?

[johnpwalsh]

Hi Dan. Possibly one going to Derby once up and running properly. Been doing some work on her over last weekend and just waiting for a new fuel lock valve and ignition parts. The second one wont be coming home for a while though as space is still limited. Spent this week sorting out the new workshop and getting some work done on the S1 but its been a begger of a week. We sadly lost our old dog to the big C the other week so decided to get another rescue and that didn't work out to well, he bit our grandson so immediately dispatched back to the rescue center. We then had to run down to Co Durham to pick up another dog, this time a pedigree pup. Idea being he grandson can help raise him so he can get over the fear of the first dog. Now to crack on with the S1 again.

[silverfrost]

Glad all good on the car side John, 

Gutted to hear about the dog, Sadly the big C gets most of old dogs in the end sadly. 

I hope the old rescue dog finds a home on a farm or something. Not sure what they do with dogs that go back after biting someone. 

Hope the bite was not to bad.

The new pup will be much better for your grandson and they will former a much better bond growing up together imo.