1984 Lotus Excel

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anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Sunday 5th July 2015
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I bought this from a dude near Stafford the other day. This is only the 160 BHP version, not the 180 BHP one, but it is still mucho quicko (Lotus 912 engine with two Dellorto 45s, Toyota five speed gearbox). The exterior is quite excellent - almost unmarked and shinaaaaaay. The interior is a bit shabby around the edges (worse than it looks in the photo below). There are decent tyres all round, two brand new. The wheels are the Toyota Supra ones. The car runs well and sounds good, and handles like, well .... like a Lotus. It has a 1990s electric immobiliser of the usual weird design and an uber rubbish 1980s cassette player. The lights pop up OK (one after another, in correct Excel styleee) and the other electric bits are working (the passenger side window only works if you swear at it).

I could have got another 1984 red one (with the lovely Eclat style wheels) for a bit more wong from a dealer up the road from me, but for some reason I liked this one better. I considered going to Belfast to buy the green SE Celebration that has been on sale there for ages, but... it's been on sale for ages, which can be a worrying sign.

I shall get the oil changed and the radiator flushed, do the cambelt, refit the rubbing strips that are missing from the rear flanks, and maybe splurge a few quid on new carpets. Anyway, me likee!

PS: Some of the photos below are from the sale ad. I haven't got round to taking many of my own pics yet.










minky monkey

1,524 posts

165 months

Sunday 5th July 2015
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Nice to see. My brother in law had one, unfortunately it set fire on the A3 at cobham and ended up being quite a mess.

He was so fond of that car, I keep seeing him looking at the classifieds.

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Sunday 5th July 2015
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Fuel fires can occur because of a dodgy linkage at the carbs, IIRC. I think there may be a mod to help avoid this.

Talking of cars on fire, I saw a Panamera burned out on the A14 a couple of weeks ago, although whether this was the consequence of a mishap or sme TWOCers I do not know.

Tickle

4,879 posts

203 months

Sunday 5th July 2015
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Very nice!

What's the the story with the Toyota wheels?

Any plans for it?

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Sunday 5th July 2015
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In the early 1980s, Lotus had a link up with Toyota, which bought some Lotus shares. Lotus gave Toyota some handling advice for its sporty cars (Lotus have often had a sideline in selling suspension and chassis expertise to other companies). Toyota supplied Lotus with gearboxes and driveline components and other bits. The Supra wheels were an option, AFAIK. You could also have the same wheels that the Eclat had, which are prettier, but the Supra wheels still look OK. Some say that the Excel is a Supra in drag, but this is not really true, as it has a Lotus chassis, engine, and bodyshell, with various Toyota components such as gearbox and brakes. It is arguably one of the best cars that Lotus have ever made, at least in terms of every day usability, even if it is not the fastest or the most grippy Lotus ever (not that any Lotus is slow or ungrippy).

Plans: A general engine service plus cambelt, and tart up the interior a bit, as it is tired. Probably leave the engine standard. Get some bangin' choonze (AKA a better stereo to listen to Radio Three). This car actually feels quicker than the 180 BHP Excel that I had a few years ago, but that one had a high mileage engine. Maybe this one just feels quicker because it is red.

This is to be one of a three classic car squadron that will be collectively used as daily transport (unless all broken down simultaneously!). This might even be the one that stays out most in the winter, as apart from rust in the door beams, corrosion is not a huge issue for these jalopes. The other two components of the squadron are a Dolomite Sprint, that has its own thread, and a mystery car that may be unveiled in a week or so (nothing very exotic, but another 70s/80s Britheap).




Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 5th July 19:19

S10GTA

12,645 posts

166 months

Sunday 5th July 2015
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Awesomeness. Red makes it even better. Much like.

skeggysteve

5,724 posts

216 months

Sunday 5th July 2015
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Very nice BV, the Excel is a very usable everyday car.

I know you don't fix cars yourself but if your tame spanner person wants a 'how to' point him/her here.

Once you have had the cambelt done get the carbs set up properly, it makes a big difference to how the car performs. Then take it to the top of the rev range and really enjoy!

Useless fact of the day - you can get two sets of golf clubs in the boot of an Excel!

Really wish I'd fought harder to keep mine.

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Monday 6th July 2015
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Cheerze.

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Monday 6th July 2015
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My wife always says that men who do not have hobbies have mistresses, and chasing dodgy cars is better than chasing dodgy women ...



GC8

19,910 posts

189 months

Monday 6th July 2015
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Surely having mistresses is a hobby in itself?

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Monday 6th July 2015
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FPWM, but the sensible wife's plan may be to divide loyalties and ensure that the hobby cash is drained by cars, as mistresses vanish quickly if the shoes, lingerie and hotel Martinis fund runs dry. Er, allegedly.

Hooli

32,278 posts

199 months

Monday 6th July 2015
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Lovely old shed BV, me likely.

Usget

5,426 posts

210 months

Monday 6th July 2015
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I like that. The interior looks like a great place to be, and almost sensible by Lotus standards.

carinaman

21,221 posts

171 months

Monday 6th July 2015
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Breadvan72 said:
My wife always says that men who do not have hobbies have mistresses, and chasing dodgy cars is better than chasing dodgy women ...
Jay Leno says that too. Well the cars instead of mistresses line, not the dodginess.

You could repatriate that white Manual XJC from Sweden.

Nice car and snigger inducing text, a bit SoTW like.

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Tuesday 7th July 2015
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Cheers! Here is the car practising for being covered in foam by the fire brigade when it goes WOOMF on the motorway. Actually, it's at the local Romanian car wash. They are short staffed at present. The bloke in charge says that he may have to hire some Greek dudes as his fellow Romanians are now too posh to wash cars (oof, bit of current affairs controversy, think I got away with it).

Note amazing details like the red lights on the doors actually working. Note also the slightly shonky and not entirely well matched interior trim, as original.

Temp needle still a bit high, so car in local garage tomorrow being prodded by blokes with spanners.






SimonTheSailor

12,543 posts

227 months

Tuesday 7th July 2015
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Always liked these, very attractive cars. Whats it like to drive ? Does it feel like an 80's car, does it handle well ?

benters

1,459 posts

133 months

Tuesday 7th July 2015
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I like your ride Sir, personally I prefer the other wheels, but its good to see a Lotus go to a man who will appreciate and love it. Bring on the love affair !

jr6yam

1,303 posts

182 months

Tuesday 7th July 2015
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Breadvan72 said:
and a mystery car that may be unveiled in a week or so (nothing very exotic, but another 70s/80s Britheap).
Rover SD1?

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Tuesday 7th July 2015
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It is ace to drive. Quick, nimble, grippy, rorty. Eightiestastic with some residual seventiestabulousness. I also prefer the other wheels, which I had on my Eclat, but the Supra ones have a certain muscular butchness about them.

SD1? On the advice of Counsel, I assert my Constitutional privilege.

Oi_Oi_Savaloy

2,313 posts

259 months

Tuesday 7th July 2015
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Morris Ital surely. In blue or putrid mustard yellow?!