FFS, you DIDN'T talk me out of a Lotus Carlton
Discussion
HybridAero said:
I don't understand why you had to buy the service history. Was it previously sold to another owner who fobbed it off as theirs?
All is explained earlier in the thread. He got a good deal, man who possessed SH got back his losses, new owner got a deal that returned on his investment. Win win, and a good effort. 
Hi been reading your thread with great interest, I too have just bought a refurbed LC from a guy in Lincolnshire who was also building another one back to "better than new", is that yours?
Mine is 808 and it gets used every weekend, as intended, and must say it's an impressive car to drive, a bit like a three seater sofa on steroids. Looking forward to see your pictures of the finished article.
Mine is 808 and it gets used every weekend, as intended, and must say it's an impressive car to drive, a bit like a three seater sofa on steroids. Looking forward to see your pictures of the finished article.
fesuvious said:
PurpleAki said:
I don't see the value of it but I'm glad you're doing it.
Are you staying with stock power?
You're missing the point.Are you staying with stock power?
The value is in keeping this utterly legendary car not only alive but, dare I use the word on this day, resurrected in beautiful form.
It isn't about monetary value.
Yes, power is stock, because the car is deliberately standard. That isn't what it's about.
When finished the car would be worth 60% of the build cost, and he could have picked up a fully restored one fairly easily.
He explained that he could (and has) bought an expensive luxury barge for the same money and in a couple of years it would be worth 60% of the purchase cost. He always bought new cars, and always lost a packet. This was nearest thing he could get to buying a new dino. He could spec everything about it, and pick it up like a new car. It would give him more joy that the last 10 cars he had owned, and he may never sell it.
I joined Lotus Engineering in 1991, just at the LC/LO was in production.
A common sight around that part of Norfolk at the time as development was ongoing during the production run.
I asked my boss if I could have a ride around the track in one, so he asked the Chief Chassis Development engineer to take me out early one morning.
The performance was mind-blowing, 120mph sideways through Windsock and maxing at 165mph on the main straight (this was prior to them putting the chicane in).
The thing that sits in the memory wasn't the outright power, but the torque in the mid-range and rate at which the car accelerated.
As a comparison the Corvette ZR1 (another Lotus development) wasn't quite as quick as the LC, despite having marginally more power and less weight.
My favourite Lotus.....
A common sight around that part of Norfolk at the time as development was ongoing during the production run.
I asked my boss if I could have a ride around the track in one, so he asked the Chief Chassis Development engineer to take me out early one morning.
The performance was mind-blowing, 120mph sideways through Windsock and maxing at 165mph on the main straight (this was prior to them putting the chicane in).
The thing that sits in the memory wasn't the outright power, but the torque in the mid-range and rate at which the car accelerated.
As a comparison the Corvette ZR1 (another Lotus development) wasn't quite as quick as the LC, despite having marginally more power and less weight.
My favourite Lotus.....
I read the "£100,000" element and found myself laughing nervously then read it again.
Absolute balls of steel and utterly heroic effort, if borderline insane but this will be incredible to see how it pans out.
All time favourite car of mine and a car that used up my entire quote of luck for this lifetime as a few years back we (as in a previous job role) had the opportunity to use Vauxhall's car for a few days. My task was to deliver it (very carefully) back to Luton by way of the A303, M25 and M1 and it was just mind blowing. I had to stop 10 mile sin just to settle myself and take in what was actually happening.
Quite simply the most incredible car I've ever had the pleasure of driving - totally destoys all sense of normality as you sit in what is in effect an old Carlton, sat on seats that remind you of a Cavalier Diplomat and yet it's powered by an atomic bomb of an engine. The fact is feels so heavy, so manly and so 90's in it's power delivery is just incredible. The first few miles were basically "laugh nervously, crap your pants, laugh again, get sweaty and then laugh again" but once settled in, it was just sublime. It parted traffic on the M1 like bloody Moses parting the Red Sea,
I very much doubt I'll ever get the chance to pilot such a thing again but by God am I extremely thankfully that I did.
You are a lucky lucky man... if my numbers ever come up, expect a PM to follow!
Regards r
Absolute balls of steel and utterly heroic effort, if borderline insane but this will be incredible to see how it pans out.
All time favourite car of mine and a car that used up my entire quote of luck for this lifetime as a few years back we (as in a previous job role) had the opportunity to use Vauxhall's car for a few days. My task was to deliver it (very carefully) back to Luton by way of the A303, M25 and M1 and it was just mind blowing. I had to stop 10 mile sin just to settle myself and take in what was actually happening.
Quite simply the most incredible car I've ever had the pleasure of driving - totally destoys all sense of normality as you sit in what is in effect an old Carlton, sat on seats that remind you of a Cavalier Diplomat and yet it's powered by an atomic bomb of an engine. The fact is feels so heavy, so manly and so 90's in it's power delivery is just incredible. The first few miles were basically "laugh nervously, crap your pants, laugh again, get sweaty and then laugh again" but once settled in, it was just sublime. It parted traffic on the M1 like bloody Moses parting the Red Sea,
I very much doubt I'll ever get the chance to pilot such a thing again but by God am I extremely thankfully that I did.
You are a lucky lucky man... if my numbers ever come up, expect a PM to follow!
Regards r
Always loved the Lotus Carlton, friend has a GSi3000 which was awesome and was lucky enough to get a run out in a friend of a friends in the 90's, what a piece of kit.
Look forward to some pics of the rebuilt. Little things, and not forgetting the power, but where the front doors open through the huge bodykit was just so lovely, the arches, subtle but impressive, ( if you like that sort of thing!) and the torque on the move, just wow.
Look forward to some pics of the rebuilt. Little things, and not forgetting the power, but where the front doors open through the huge bodykit was just so lovely, the arches, subtle but impressive, ( if you like that sort of thing!) and the torque on the move, just wow.
Edited by piers1 on Monday 17th April 11:09
Pommygranite said:
Bit of reminder needed if any can help - what are the performance stats on these and what car today compares most similarly to these stats?
I did some googling but got a number of different/incomplete responses.
From when Performance Car magazine timed itI did some googling but got a number of different/incomplete responses.
Edited by s m on Monday 17th April 11:39
I saw one of these last year while touring Norway on my motorbike. I recognised the colour from a distance and slowed to give the guy a thumbs up (yes folks, I'm that cool). Then watched in the mirrors as it exploded out of the junction behind me!
Sadly I had to turn off after a little playtime.
It's still an utterly epic car. Good to see them being restored.
Sadly I had to turn off after a little playtime.
It's still an utterly epic car. Good to see them being restored.
In a world where virtually every 'old' car is viewed as an investment and not as a car to be used this is a great story. The Lotus Carlton was an almost mythical beast when I was growing up. Every time I saw it's little brother - was it the GSI 3000? - I did a double take to check it wasn't the LC. Those tyres were mental back in the day.
Loads and loads of pictures please.
Loads and loads of pictures please.
I would keep the mileage as it is. It is part of the car's history and in no way detracts from the outstanding work done. Cannot wait to see the final result.
As an aside, back in the early to mid nineties I had a job which required several visits to Monorep in Southall. The number of Lotus Carltons there being worked on was amazing. For some reason seeing a few spare front bumpers around has stuck in my mind.
As an aside, back in the early to mid nineties I had a job which required several visits to Monorep in Southall. The number of Lotus Carltons there being worked on was amazing. For some reason seeing a few spare front bumpers around has stuck in my mind.
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