RE: Lotus Carlton: PH Heroes
Discussion
Amazing how 380 ish bhp is middling, non AMG Merc, E Class territory now.
I remember back then, for mere mortals, "fast" was 100 - 150 bhp, usually nearer 100 with a gulf between 150 and the 204 bhp Sierra Cosworth, 380 bhp was practically unheard of, even supercars didnt generally have any more than that.
I remember back then, for mere mortals, "fast" was 100 - 150 bhp, usually nearer 100 with a gulf between 150 and the 204 bhp Sierra Cosworth, 380 bhp was practically unheard of, even supercars didnt generally have any more than that.
I wonder if we'll get another PH Heroes article about this in 2020?
On the car front though, one of these has been in every lottery win garage I've ever done, and on more than one occasion have I been tempted to put a call in to the bank to see what sort of interest rate I'd get on a loan for one...
On the car front though, one of these has been in every lottery win garage I've ever done, and on more than one occasion have I been tempted to put a call in to the bank to see what sort of interest rate I'd get on a loan for one...
Handling and feedback overstated in the article, which is a bit misleading if considering one... a sharp tool like an E30 M3 they are not, but an effective blunt weapon in the right hands. And the perils of timing chains, flywheels, other parts supply issues are there to trap the unwary punter. A great car and even a legendary one. But not a sensible purchase and possibly a painful one.
I remember driving my mates many years ago, it was an ex Lotus development car, still had all the ticker tape on the dashboard and switches. accelerating up the bypass about 80mph when the wheels broke traction and started to spin up 
I absolutely loved that car, the power in it's time was staggering. I would have one now in a heartbeat if I could afford one. 
I absolutely loved that car, the power in it's time was staggering. I would have one now in a heartbeat if I could afford one. 
What we forget is the lack of modern traction control, ESP etc. No wonder so many Sierra Cosworths et al were written off in the wet!
I bought the coffee table Lotus Carlton book in the early 90s as it was going cheap at £16.95, so I thought I'd grab a copy. Sold it a couple of years ago in eBay for £100...
I bought the coffee table Lotus Carlton book in the early 90s as it was going cheap at £16.95, so I thought I'd grab a copy. Sold it a couple of years ago in eBay for £100...
Ah memories....
I had a Vauxhall Carlton 3000 GSI manual, fire engine red, black interior, analogue dash, as a company car in the 1990s. It was so good that after three years when the deal ran out I persuaded the company to let me keep it on as a company car for another two years. Only ever needed scheduled servicing and never had any other things go wrong. Did around 130,000 miles in those 5 years, including in 1996 my very first trip to Le Mans with my son; luckily, I have one pick of us in the car boarding the ferry on the way out.
I have many fond memories of J181 SPC...where are you now, I wonder?
My son loved this car and he got behind the wheel as often as he could!
R.
I had a Vauxhall Carlton 3000 GSI manual, fire engine red, black interior, analogue dash, as a company car in the 1990s. It was so good that after three years when the deal ran out I persuaded the company to let me keep it on as a company car for another two years. Only ever needed scheduled servicing and never had any other things go wrong. Did around 130,000 miles in those 5 years, including in 1996 my very first trip to Le Mans with my son; luckily, I have one pick of us in the car boarding the ferry on the way out.
I have many fond memories of J181 SPC...where are you now, I wonder?
My son loved this car and he got behind the wheel as often as he could!
R.
hwajones said:
I can see why a solid one of these would be worth £10k... But £20k???
That would buy a Mint E60 M5!
I love M cars. I want one more than anything else.That would buy a Mint E60 M5!
But it's chalk and cheese.
The reason an M5 can be obtained at that price is, compared to the Carlton, they're ten a penny.
They're also frighteningly expensive to run. Tax and perishable parts are insane.
s m said:
Ozzie Osmond said:
llyrowenjones said:
Oooooh what a machine! £48k in 1990! Thats around £92k today!! Love these cars.
Yes, an expensive beast. But bear in mind M3 and M5 cars hadn't yet been invented M3 and M5 both existed prior to LC
jof said:
If the BBC ever resurrect Gene Hunt for an early '90s version of Life on Mars/Ashes to Ashes, I want him in one of these.
These were not the preserve of the early nineties copper, nor was the quatro they put him in, the Carlton cost probably four or five times what a DCi earnt then, I worked there not long after and there were a few nice cars in the car park, mainly from overtime from the Strangeways riots, but a Lotus Carton would be company director or Jasper Carott.Still, appreciate it is fiction, but they got it so right in Life on Mars with his Cortina,
I do like these but I think that they're too precious now to be able to use properly.
Getting engine parts for one of these will be difficult and just racking up the miles can knock thousands off the value.
Arguan;y better off, from a driving perspective, getting an E34 M5 as parts are more readily available and values are lower.
Getting engine parts for one of these will be difficult and just racking up the miles can knock thousands off the value.
Arguan;y better off, from a driving perspective, getting an E34 M5 as parts are more readily available and values are lower.
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