1981 Lotus Eclat 2.2
Discussion
All this reminds me of an apparently mint 1980 Eclat I went to view a few years ago. I phoned the seller and he suggested I head over on the Sunday, as he would be home all day. Naturally I turned up at 7am, aware that I had a lot of things to view and that it would be essential to view the paintwork in different light conditions throughout the day. The owner became increasingly agitated as the morning went on and the reason became apparent as I reached number 437 on my checklist (available on my blog and essential for anyone intending to buy an Eclat). I checked the clock against my watch (set that morning) and realised that it was correct. Now, as most informed buyers know, the factory clock in Hethel ran five minutes fast from 1978 until 1987, when it was repaired by Michlmayer of Norwich. Some misguided soul had adjusted the factory set clock. I pointed this out to the owner and told him that I would have to walk away. I must have embarrassed the poor man, and I won't tell you what he called me.
It's a shame, because I would like to own a Lotus one day.
It's a shame, because I would like to own a Lotus one day.
Breadvan72 said:
Black Gold Add a spoiler warning for current pokey Datsan owners.
I know one or two who'd fit the contemporary role
Lovely colour and groovy panel, but one of these heaps is enough, and anyway with Elites, Eclats and Excels the later the better. Early cars have rot prone chassis, and the five speed gearbox can be a problem. That box was not, contrary to classic car pub myth, the Austin Maxi box. It was a Lotus lash up made from some Maxi bits that actually worked fine with the 1.6 twin cam in the Elan Plus Two, but was discombobulated by the two litre engine's greater torque. Of course, the sensible thing with the whole Elite, Eclat and Excel series is to get the latest Excel you can find, but I do rather like my late Series 2 Eclat (Getrag box and the more torquey 2.2 engine, as well as a galvanised chassis).
At present I am a hapless victim of crappy far Eastern replacement parts, in this case a condenser. It's only been in a month or two and is showing classic signs of failing. The car is fine until the ignition gets hot on a sustained run and then it loses power and even conks out. It restarts and runs fine again after cooling down a bit. I am having the ignition replaced with a slightly more modern system, so no more points and all that b
ks.
At present I am a hapless victim of crappy far Eastern replacement parts, in this case a condenser. It's only been in a month or two and is showing classic signs of failing. The car is fine until the ignition gets hot on a sustained run and then it loses power and even conks out. It restarts and runs fine again after cooling down a bit. I am having the ignition replaced with a slightly more modern system, so no more points and all that b
ks. Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 18th January 13:35
Breadvan72 said:
Poor rear view, exacerbated by steamy rear window. Parking by Braille is so now.
My Wife has now got so used to full perimeter radar and rear cameras on her new car detachment that when she is forced to take the SAAB Shed she invariably returns with another mark on the bumper and a feeble excuse about waiting for the beep and only hearing a small crunch....Thread revival!
I sold the black Eclat in mid 2015. I bought a red Excel at the same time, but sold that in early 2016 and have been Lotus-free since then. A few weeks ago, a friend bought a 1976 Elite 503, and parked it at my house for a while (details of this car are in the thread "Impromptu BL Line up" in the Classics sub forum). That got me to thinking, and then the guy to whom I had sold the Eclat suddenly sent me a Whatsapp asking me if I wanted to buy the car back from him as he has too many cars (I know someone else with that problem ...).
Anyway, the black Eclat is now mine once more. Since I last saw the car, it has had a new clutch and a bottom end refurb, plus some improvements to paintwork and new gold coach stripes. It still has iffy lights. It has a new MoT.
Here it is, at the seller's place (not yet delivered to mine , and I might go and get it and drive it home).
I sold the black Eclat in mid 2015. I bought a red Excel at the same time, but sold that in early 2016 and have been Lotus-free since then. A few weeks ago, a friend bought a 1976 Elite 503, and parked it at my house for a while (details of this car are in the thread "Impromptu BL Line up" in the Classics sub forum). That got me to thinking, and then the guy to whom I had sold the Eclat suddenly sent me a Whatsapp asking me if I wanted to buy the car back from him as he has too many cars (I know someone else with that problem ...).
Anyway, the black Eclat is now mine once more. Since I last saw the car, it has had a new clutch and a bottom end refurb, plus some improvements to paintwork and new gold coach stripes. It still has iffy lights. It has a new MoT.
Here it is, at the seller's place (not yet delivered to mine , and I might go and get it and drive it home).
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