Sunbeam Lotus

[Dave Hedgehog]

200Plus Club said:

Dave Hedgehog said:

just needs a cage and a 350bhp cossie lump


as for the car

Edited by Dave Hedgehog on Friday 25th May 11:22

no way! less than 100 cars left (think it was 78 registered left!) and original engines in an original chassis will always be worth more than one with an engine swap!
tempting as it is to have more power there is no way its having anything other than its original lotus na lump in it. some of the club cars are circa 200-220bhp na with mods, one is around 280bhp, so anything is possible while keeping it fairly original. should the engine ever need work then i might consider cams etc but i cant see me wanting to do much.

Edited by 200Plus Club on Friday 25th May 21:00

pfft

it would be funnnnnn

[rudecherub]

200Plus Club said:

rudecherub said:

or the turbo as used in the esprit, it's essentially the same engine

it is indeed, lower comp in the turbo lump thats all. works rally cars went upto 2.6L na to make big power at high revs, fantastic sounds.

Of course one as correct as this is perfect as is - but a rescue car which will never be all that, with the a rebuilt turbo engine would be interesting.

( as would the related Jensen Healey )

IIRC 300 BHP was available in the last stock Esprits

[harryowl]

rudecherub said:

Of course one as correct as this is perfect as is - but a rescue car which will never be all that, with the a rebuilt turbo engine would be interesting.

( as would the related Jensen Healey )

IIRC 300 BHP was available in the last stock Esprits

yep, sport 300 was 300bhp and 290 lb/ft

[DocJock]

One of the few cars I regret selling.

DWK 81T, sold it in '82 and it was wrecked in 86/87

[JBL930]

Epic car, absolutely love it!!!!

[FreeLitres]

Very nice! Only PH'ers will know what it is though.

Expect a few BMW 320d to race you off the lights!

[JBL930]

Another cool car from the same era is the Fiat 130TC, i'd prefer the sunbeam, but with unlimited garage space I'd have both

[northandy]

That looks bloody lovely!.

Dare i ask roughly how much it set you back?

[PaulG40]

I think its a case of 'if you have to ask...' lol.


Lovely Sunbeam! A real pristine example!

[200Plus Club]

northandy said:

That looks bloody lovely!.

Dare i ask roughly how much it set you back?

5 figures! but in a good way!

re the 320d comment, thats so funny, as it happens the first proper run out i had in it some dick in a 320d followed me on a dual carriageway and had to (just) push in front before the road narrows into one lane, cut me up by about 5 foot, i wasnt even racing him, just pushed it hard off a roundabout and then upto 80 and lifted off. i havent had a nice sporty road car for a few years and i'd forgotten people see them as a target

[200Plus Club]

rudecherub said:

Of course one as correct as this is perfect as is - but a rescue car which will never be all that, with the a rebuilt turbo engine would be interesting.

( as would the related Jensen Healey )

IIRC 300 BHP was available in the last stock Esprits

to be fair 300bhp in one might be a bit much, i could see 230-250bhp na being interesting though if reliable. trouble is thats a lot of work to get there, i suppose a esprit turbo lump in one would be different in a rough and ready car! not aware as yet of anyone having done that, i have recently seen a honda engined sunbeam ( i think) for sale which caused a stir in the club as it was being described as a sunbeam lotus ti etc. was also a recent vauxhal engined car for sale at 8.5k.

[rudecherub]

200Plus Club said:

rudecherub said:

Of course one as correct as this is perfect as is - but a rescue car which will never be all that, with the a rebuilt turbo engine would be interesting.

( as would the related Jensen Healey )

IIRC 300 BHP was available in the last stock Esprits

to be fair 300bhp in one might be a bit much, i could see 230-250bhp na being interesting though if reliable. trouble is thats a lot of work to get there, i suppose a esprit turbo lump in one would be different in a rough and ready car! not aware as yet of anyone having done that, i have recently seen a honda engined sunbeam ( i think) for sale which caused a stir in the club as it was being described as a sunbeam lotus ti etc. was also a recent vauxhal engined car for sale at 8.5k.

Probably! The point was more to note how far the Lotus engine was developed, especially given the Cosworth dig - again 400 BHP was seen in Esprit race versions. To rebuild an engine, lower compression and a blower, ie to turbo specs would be almost a period mod, and way more sympathetic than swapping for a more modern honda lump

[200Plus Club]

i still havent seen another sunbeam on the road since i bought mine despite attending the donnington classic, thats one thing to get used to and quite a lot of people staring as they recognise it and think "i havent seen one of them in years"

[Sunbeam Guy]

Superb car , nice job , be very proud .
great job on the seats as well
Guy

[200Plus Club]

as mentioned none of the resto work is my own, all done by the previous owner over the last few yrs. its my job to keep it sweet now and cherish it! :-)

[YorkshirePudding]

Fantastic bit of kit,

[Repent]

That is genuinely the coolest car Ive seen in ages. What it must be like to drive, top marks to ya rest assured theres another very jealous man behind a screen now!

[Ferg]

That's gorgeous. My mate Kevin rallied one in the late '80s. It wasn't as smart as that one though...



Me in the co-drivers seat.