Discussion
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My new baby. 500m on it since a full rebuild by previous owner. full acid dip, bare metal respray, engine rebuild, gearbox rebuild by Brian Wildman who used to do the works boxes. full rewire, replacement of every bush on the car, all suspension arms blasted and sprayed, new dics/bearings/calipers. full leather re-trim, new headlining and excellent carpets fitted, modified crossmember and axle location/strengthening kit, salisbury diff.
rebuilt carbs, new fuel pump, regulator, leads etc etc. i've fitted an msd igntiion kit and new engine mounts thats all. it was mot'd this month and flew through the test, and i had a rolling road tune and setup last weekend, where it made 150bhp and nearly 150ft/lb at about 5600rpm, bang on the money for what they made when new.
it handles superbly, although i am being wary to a certain extent if its damp or wet as they do have a reputation for being twitchy in the wet.
performance is very strong, for a 930kg approx car with 150bhp and 150ft/lb, and you can relive your youth with the carbs on full song!
:-)
C2james said:
That's great, I'd love to buy one of these next year.
i would highly recommend one. although increasing in value they havent gone mental yet, and with mk1 and mk2 escorts being priced out of the market i couldnt see anything comparable with the rally history and rwd handling within my budget. £170 fully comp with agreed value altho road tax is still £230- robbing gits. the only thing is that if you arent any good at bodywork then try and get a restored one, they were very rusty cars in the day in certain spots, and need a lot of work to get them mint, but most parts are reasonably available still by the look of it, some metalwork is needed for arch lips/doors etc
Terminator X said:
150 horses must have gone well back then.
in a good way!
TX.
exactly, 150bhp used to be unheard of, people had to tune the balls off their pinto etc to get that! in a good way!TX.
6.8s to 60 back in the day, still not bad, even though every man and his dog has 200bhp in the diesel runaround at least these days!
bungle said:
Absolutely fantastic!!!
Been on and off looking at these for years, and I either never see one I'd fancied, or it wasn't the right time to buy, but that looks a peach.
Really really like that. Excellent buy. Very jealous.
there is a very tidy black s1 for sale at the mo via the owners club for 8.5k that has had a lot of work done, just needs the interior seat trim sorting (the original material isnt available anymore)Been on and off looking at these for years, and I either never see one I'd fancied, or it wasn't the right time to buy, but that looks a peach.
Really really like that. Excellent buy. Very jealous.
New POD said:
I'd be buying some industrial boat coating to cover that. Unless you intend to take it to shows and get the mirrors out, so people can see.
I'm obviously GREEN with envy.
have tried the bilt hamber stuff as its clear and it sets like a candle wax if you dont layer it on too thick, will see how it bears up. car wont go out generally in wet/damp and it wont be seeing any road salt obviously, but summer runs and the odd thrash out and about is what i got it for, not for show and shines as such. I'm obviously GREEN with envy.
bungle said:
Interesting... 
Got a link?
http://www.sunbeamlotus.com/the-club/cars-for-saleGot a link?
2 x replacement wings fitted + new o/s and n/s inner and outer door sills fitted (all at end of 2011)
Replacement o/s driver’s door fitted.
Both rear wheel arches replaced. (all wheel arches have been rolled)
Various vehicle panels resprayed.
New Triple core radiator and a FACET cooling fan fitted.
Door rubbers replaced.
Rear wheel cylinders and handbrake cable renewed.
New copper brake lines fitted as well as stainless steel braided front brake hoses.
Both front brake discs/pads renewed.
Brake calipers checked by mechanic.
All suspension rubbers have been polybushed throughout.
Believed to be new Bilstein front shock absorbers and Spax rear shock absorbers fitted.
New clutch plate and bearings fitted.
Fuel tank replaced.
Propshaft balanced and new gearbox seals fitted.
New fuel pump fitted, distributor reconditioned, carburettors serviced, new engine module, plugs, distributor cap, coil and rotor arm, ignition leads, cam cover gaskets replaced. (all work carried out in April 2011)
Car also fitted with quick release spot lamp brackets and 4 x Cibie Oscar Spot lamps + a Talbot strut brace.
New heater matrix and new blower fan (September 2011)
Steering rack rubbers and track rod end rubbers renewed.
Some new radiator hoses/clips fitted. (Sept 2011)
Some window/door seals renewed.
Twin battery system fitted (2nd battery fitted in boot)
5 x Amil wheels professionally refurbished.
Oil cooler fitted.
Engine believed to have been reconditioned some 15k or so miles ago but little evidence to support this. However it has excellent oil pressure and appears to be in very good health.
Currently taxed to the end of May & MOT’d to mid June.
Dave Hedgehog said:
just needs a cage and a 350bhp cossie lump 
as for the car
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!as for the car
Edited by Dave Hedgehog on Friday 25th May 11:22
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
anyone genuinely looking to but would be well advised to join the SL club as they have a register of almost all the UK cars remaining, and history on lots of them with regard to previous owners, miles, prices etc. beware there have been "forgeries" that are not what they seem come up, so dont get caught out. most of the better cars that come up for sale go through the club website first and members first before anyone else gets to see them, just like mine.
northandy said:
That looks bloody lovely!.
Dare i ask roughly how much it set you back?
5 figures! but in a good way! Dare i ask roughly how much it set you back?
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
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.( as would the related Jensen Healey )
IIRC 300 BHP was available in the last stock Esprits
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