Sunbeam Lotus

Author
Discussion

Rallysunbeam

10 posts

137 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all




For some reason it would not let me post a picture with the last message.

Kev

stuttgartmetal

8,108 posts

215 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
as long as itsgot a pair of twins bolted to it it will make the right noise

Rallysunbeam

10 posts

137 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
Those are the 45 Delloto's from the Lotus engine. It was dry sumped had a fantasitic custom exhaust manifold and system. On the rollers it had 185BHP at the wheels. I know the new owner has put a lotus engine back in it and sold on the XE set-up. I wish I had known he was selling it as I would have made him an offer, mainly for the exhaust manifold. If anyone knows who has it I would be gratefull for the tip.

Kev

Rallysunbeam

10 posts

137 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all

200Plus Club

10,668 posts

277 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
they look nice clean cars. mine has an ashley competition manifold which frankly looks like a blind man welded it up. seems to work but looks ste.
got to admit though that the sound of twin carbs barking is still one of the best noises to hear, modern cars just dont do it on sound anymore no matter how fast they are!

iggysport

463 posts

146 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
Just looked up the stats, didn't realize how quick these things were!

200Plus Club

10,668 posts

277 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
iggysport said:
Just looked up the stats, didn't realize how quick these things were!
very quick for the day, when you consider what other cars were doing, like the sporty mk2 escorts which were only circa 110bhp out of the box.
like most cars of the era though they rusted like mad in the day if not looked after!

theshrew

6,008 posts

183 months

Friday 12th October 2012
quotequote all
Very nearly bought one of these in the late 90's. Decided against it as it needed to much work done on it and it would be used as a daily driver wasn't really ideal.

Thanks Dad for talking me out of that grrrrrrrrrrr

200Plus Club

10,668 posts

277 months

Friday 12th October 2012
quotequote all
theshrew said:
Very nearly bought one of these in the late 90's. Decided against it as it needed to much work done on it and it would be used as a daily driver wasn't really ideal.

Thanks Dad for talking me out of that grrrrrrrrrrr
the SL club have just done a recent quick straw poll of members on email and there appears to be less than 60 cars currently taxed and on the road and 45 SORN currently. no wonder you dont see many others about !

MADRod

448 posts

233 months

Friday 12th October 2012
quotequote all
Sold a Lotus Eclat sprint to buy one of these many years ago Black/Silver it was a big error. Tuned by 'Performance Unlimited' it went OK. However compared to my previous Lotus it didnt handle, brake or do anything very well. They must feel appalling today against a modern performance car.

200Plus Club

10,668 posts

277 months

Friday 12th October 2012
quotequote all
MADRod said:
Sold a Lotus Eclat sprint to buy one of these many years ago Black/Silver it was a big error. Tuned by 'Performance Unlimited' it went OK. However compared to my previous Lotus it didnt handle, brake or do anything very well. They must feel appalling today against a modern performance car.
that sums up someone who doesnt know anything about them. how /why would you compare a 1980s rwd hatch with a modern performance car? pointless.
0-60 in 6.8s was very very quick for 1980, and the car won the world rally championship, and many tarmac sprints/rallies. a well set up sunbeam will be a match for any mk1 or mk2 escort of the era.

google joss ronchetti and his sunbeam lotus

200Plus Club

10,668 posts

277 months

Sunday 14th October 2012
quotequote all

mikehew1967

1 posts

67 months

Sunday 5th August 2018
quotequote all
hi All just to let Rallybeam know LDH594V is now in Somerset and getting ready for it first rally after a few years rest.

Julian Thompson

2,489 posts

237 months

Sunday 5th August 2018
quotequote all
Sounds great - let’s see some pictures of the old girl.

There is simply no better noise from a four banger than a sunbeam flat out!

Have some pics of mine for fun:






J.C...

156 posts

104 months

Sunday 5th August 2018
quotequote all
Fantastic cars. One of my parents neighbours when I was younger had one as well as a DeTomaso Pantera. I was probably the only person on the whole estate that didn’t mind him waking me up playing with his toys at the crack of dawn on a Sunday morning