RE: Driven: Lotus Carlton
Discussion
Gutted. I've just rated this as a 5 due to fat fingers on a touchscreen phone 
I remember sitting in one of these at Savilles Vauxhall in Lisburn as a 15 year old lad, giggling as my grandad fired it up and he started giggling. I have no doubt the reaction would be the same from both of us today!!
I remember sitting in one of these at Savilles Vauxhall in Lisburn as a 15 year old lad, giggling as my grandad fired it up and he started giggling. I have no doubt the reaction would be the same from both of us today!!
Saw one at the Thorsby classic car show a week or so back. Was ashamed that people were more eager to see 30 odd jag e-types and dire mgb's with audi TT style roll bars.
The Carlton sat in the shade, un-noticed. Luckily I gave it a long look over and hopefully a few others did.
Saw a gsi3000 as well, which itself is a rare beast.
The Carlton sat in the shade, un-noticed. Luckily I gave it a long look over and hopefully a few others did.
Saw a gsi3000 as well, which itself is a rare beast.
LC926 said:
You might see another one there this Sunday too...in fact it may be seen up and around the Highlands next week 
I have had the priviledge of following the LC in question, i thought i was doing well until the road opened up and it just left me standing as i tried to wring everything out of my car. Every time i see one they make me 
Had a Lotus Carlton for many years and now have a Monaro and a VXR8, The LC was more impressive, by far, when accelerating hard than either of the others. I did not own it at the same time to run them side by side but I am convinced the LC would out accelerate them both, may be not from a stand still as the gearing was much much taller, but certanly once its moving.
Only sold it when I could no longer get spars for it other wise I would still have it.
Only sold it when I could no longer get spars for it other wise I would still have it.
300bhp/ton said:
Why does every Lotus Carlton and every Monaro/VXR8 article always somehow compare the two?
Apart from the badge they have nothing in common, not where they are made, who they are made by, construction, approach or heritage.
Apart from the badge they have nothing in common, not where they are made, who they are made by, construction, approach or heritage.
rich85uk said:
Luca Brasi said:
Nice piece of machinery, rather have one these though 
Ditto, hardly anyone knows about these 
I love the B10, and that itteration of 5 series is one of the best proportioned BM's in my eyes (can't quite believe Alpina are still making that wheel look good on modern BM's though!); for me though the Lotus more than most epitomises everything great about a Q car, that to those who know, commands respect and admiration in equal measures.
300bhp/ton said:
Why does every Lotus Carlton and every Monaro/VXR8 article always somehow compare the two?
Apart from the badge they have nothing in common, not where they are made, who they are made by, construction, approach or heritage.
Actually 300', AFAIK the Monaro and VXR8 are evolutions of the Holden Conmmodore lineage which in turn are very similar to the Carltons/Senators/Monzas/Omegas that we all know and love.Apart from the badge they have nothing in common, not where they are made, who they are made by, construction, approach or heritage.
Big Rod said:
300bhp/ton said:
Why does every Lotus Carlton and every Monaro/VXR8 article always somehow compare the two?
Apart from the badge they have nothing in common, not where they are made, who they are made by, construction, approach or heritage.
Actually 300', AFAIK the Monaro and VXR8 are evolutions of the Holden Conmmodore lineage which in turn are very similar to the Carltons/Senators/Monzas/Omegas that we all know and love.Apart from the badge they have nothing in common, not where they are made, who they are made by, construction, approach or heritage.
Here's the late 80s Commodore that corresponded to the Carlton:
I remember when the LC first came out, I was at school and someone had a copy of their Dad's AutoExpress (IIRC) with the LC on the front cover- 3ft off the ground over a mini roundabout :-)
I sat in it at the following Birmingham motor show (as it was) and put it on my fantasy garage list... sadly now I could afford a cheap one they are either knackered or very expensive, I believe Vauxhalls reluctance to make parts is a major PITA, head bolts in particular?
I don't recall the figures but remember marvelling at the journo's of the day extolling the mid-range acceleration that was faster than anything on the road at the time.
Eventually I owned 4 "normal" Carltons from Uni through my first job ending with a Diplomat special edition, by the far the fastest and most comfortable long distance car I've ever driven.
Thanks for the article PH, epic stuff.
I sat in it at the following Birmingham motor show (as it was) and put it on my fantasy garage list... sadly now I could afford a cheap one they are either knackered or very expensive, I believe Vauxhalls reluctance to make parts is a major PITA, head bolts in particular?
I don't recall the figures but remember marvelling at the journo's of the day extolling the mid-range acceleration that was faster than anything on the road at the time.
Eventually I owned 4 "normal" Carltons from Uni through my first job ending with a Diplomat special edition, by the far the fastest and most comfortable long distance car I've ever driven.
Thanks for the article PH, epic stuff.
Ex Boy Racer said:
Back in the nineties I had a Sierra Sapphire Cosworth as my company car. I thought it looked a real mean machine until the day a Lotus Carlton parked next to it outside a Little Chef. Made my car look like a toy...
Not Normal will be along in a min to show you a picture (or 2) of a Vauxhall Insignia next to an LC/LO - quite astounding picturesThat's all I have to add apart from I did expect to see all the rubbish about red white silver and blue ones - just the red so far
Good friend of mine owns a LC it was the development car Lotus used, still has all the ticker tape on the switch gear and on the clocks. I drove it a couple of years back, jesus it was fast, iv driven some pretty fast cars, but this was just something different. My mate was in the passenger seat gripping the door for dear life, he never said a word the whole trip, 
except to let out a little whimper when the back steped out on a duel carrigway at 80 due to wheelspin. 
i just loved it, definatly a true PH motor.
except to let out a little whimper when the back steped out on a duel carrigway at 80 due to wheelspin. i just loved it, definatly a true PH motor.How expensive would a LC be as a daily driver? £3-4K pa on maintenance, parts and servicing? Services seem to be fairly cheap, but I noticed that brakes, pads and clutches are eye-wateringly expensive! Which parts are difficult to get hold of? Are they astronomically expensive as a result?
rhinochopig said:
ukzz4iroc said:
Awesome write up. My bro worked for Lotus in circa '91 and took me out in one of these. What a stonking car.
The fact that I loved was that the Lotus engine would develop the same torque at tick-over as the 3ltr 24 valve engine it was based on could at peak rpm.
I guess if you were told that by Lotus then it must be true, but I find it very hard to believe as the engine will be way below the boost threshold and will probably be fitted with lower compression pistons than the standard engine.The fact that I loved was that the Lotus engine would develop the same torque at tick-over as the 3ltr 24 valve engine it was based on could at peak rpm.
Interesting if true though - I wonder how it manages it?
Edited by rhinochopig on Wednesday 11th May 11:52
Dagnut said:
rhinochopig said:
ukzz4iroc said:
Awesome write up. My bro worked for Lotus in circa '91 and took me out in one of these. What a stonking car.
The fact that I loved was that the Lotus engine would develop the same torque at tick-over as the 3ltr 24 valve engine it was based on could at peak rpm.
I guess if you were told that by Lotus then it must be true, but I find it very hard to believe as the engine will be way below the boost threshold and will probably be fitted with lower compression pistons than the standard engine.The fact that I loved was that the Lotus engine would develop the same torque at tick-over as the 3ltr 24 valve engine it was based on could at peak rpm.
Interesting if true though - I wonder how it manages it?
Edited by rhinochopig on Wednesday 11th May 11:52
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