1981 Lotus Eclat 2.2

[Horsetan]

Breadvan72 said:

Does the CX have a Thread? Come and laugh at the Lotus or whichever heap is in use at any given moment.

Good God no. Haven't enough time to write a thread that people can laugh at!

[BigMon]

I love the steering wheel (odd thing to say, but there you go) embossed with the Lotus logo.

Are the electrics 'Lucas prince of darkness' or have they been refettled?

[Horsetan]

BigMon said:

I love the steering wheel ....

One of the things I like is that the wheels appear slightly too small for the car, but back then they all did.

[anonymous-user]

Fourteen or fifteen inch wheels were bigass in those days.

This car has been neglected and bodged over several years, and my mech is gradually discovering and unravelling the bodges, but the electrics are a bit wahey. At present most things are working.

[Horsetan]

Breadvan72 said:

..... the electrics are a bit wahey.....

Isn't that traditionally a problem with fibreglass/GRP cars?

Further to the earlier joke, I was astounded to find that Lotus did produce an Eclair!

[anonymous-user]

Earthing is a pain with plastic cars. On this one there was lots of back to front wiring. For example the pop up lights had been wired backwards. My Dolomite also had lots of rubbish wiring, now sorted by mech.

I had no clue that there were Lotus pushbikes. I see that it was an American company from the 80s. I assume that Lotus Cars had not protected the name Lotus in relation to wheeled transport devices in the US.

Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 9th November 15:47

[Biker's Nemesis]

I had this set when I was a youngster in the mid 1970's

[wobert]

Breadvan72 said:

After all that faff the car is now running rather well, and I did a few local trips and then filled up with V Power and took the heap from Oxfordshire to London this morning, driving through heavy ish traffic . All good, and the car is now parked near my London pad. Oil pressure and volts fine, and the temperature needle never went past the middle of the dial. The fan fail light flashed twice, but the fans are both working. Even the horrid radio (which creates an unwanted HUD on the screen) and the rear demister are now working. Nearside tyres still losing air but I do the pumpy uppy. The heater works but is a bit crap so I wore two pairs of socks (it was 6AM). I also wore my so naff it's cool but actually naff 1977 Team Lotus pit lane jacket, that is black with gold stripes. I was wearing it in inverted commas but had an irony fail because my watch is not mahoosive enough. I did however add some very groovy driving gloves that were a present from some blonde from my sordid past, to add to the dhead style. Also TINY shoes, because pedals.

Next trip: Norfolk at the weekend, where all old Lotuses go (before they die?). I shall pass within a few miles of Hethel.





Ex-Lotus Engineering chap here....

Make sure you drive from the A11 to Potash Lane along Wymondham Road.

It’s been slightly realigned since they upgraded the A11, but during my time at Hethel it was used as the primary road for Ride and Handling development.....

Nice Eclat BTW... :-)

Edited by Breadvan72 on Thursday 9th November 07:27

[anonymous-user]

Biker's Nemesis said:

I had this set when I was a youngster in the mid 1970's

Now expensive on eBay!

[anonymous-user]

wobert said:

Ex-Lotus Engineering chap here....

Make sure you drive from the A11 to Potash Lane along Wymondham Road.

It’s been slightly realigned since they upgraded the A11, but during my time at Hethel it was used as the primary road for Ride and Handling development.....

Nice Eclat BTW... :-)

Thanks! I shall aim to do that. Please tell us Lotus tales.

[wobert]

I was there a couple of eras after your Eclat....

1991 to 1995.

My main claim is the induction system on this....

[anonymous-user]

Wowza!

[anonymous-user]

Here's a Series 1 Eclat with a JPS scheme and an, er, ambitious price tag -

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C860004

[Horsetan]

Breadvan72 said:

Here's a Series 1 Eclat with a JPS scheme and an, er, ambitious price tag -

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C860004

Wha'...ha...HOW much?!????

[anonymous-user]

He smokee good spliffee.

[road_rager]

Breadvan72 said:

Here's a Series 1 Eclat with a JPS scheme and an, er, ambitious price tag -

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C860004

It's quite a bit of money but what a nice looking car that is!

[anonymous-user]

Or try an expensive Series 2 Elite -

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C925456

[Horsetan]

Are Eclats really worth that much nowadays? I always saw them as not quite having the "halo effect" that Europas, Elans and Esprits seem to have

[anonymous-user]

I reckon more like 5K to 8K.

[anonymous-user]

The Eclat is enjoying Norfolk, and has hooned much. I overtook an M3 yesterday and, as is not uncommon when you overtake a modern hot car in an old wreck, the driver was miffed by this, tailgated and re overtook a bit later. Ho ho ho.

The lights have not been upgraded - they are quite meh, so this precludes driving like a wazzock after dark. Sadly I failed to see a smsll owl in the road in time and squished it, which made me sad.