Chevette HS or Sunbeam Lotus ?????
Discussion
I think this is my final two !
Mk1 0r Mk2 Escort's are way beyond my budget now. So it's down to the Chevette or Sunbeam. As with all classics, part supply, club membership will all play it's part in ownership.
My preference would be one that's been rebuilt, for peace of mind. My days of spannering are well past. Driving is what it's all about for me, with a bit of sideways action as well.
Your thoughts please good and bad.
Cheers,
Ian.....
Mk1 0r Mk2 Escort's are way beyond my budget now. So it's down to the Chevette or Sunbeam. As with all classics, part supply, club membership will all play it's part in ownership.
My preference would be one that's been rebuilt, for peace of mind. My days of spannering are well past. Driving is what it's all about for me, with a bit of sideways action as well.
Your thoughts please good and bad.
Cheers,
Ian.....
Edited by ian2144 on Tuesday 26th November 14:05
Sunbeam Lotus of course. All alloy engine compared to the iron block in the Chavette 
I would say that though, wouldn't I? I had a Sunbeam Lotus in the late 80s. High comp pistons, ported big valve head and VL104 cams. It made a little over 200bhp and went like a rocket. It would do hooligan stuff at the drop of an LSD but would sit at highly illegal speeds on the Mway for mile after mile in perfect comfort too. I'd have another like a shot, but they seem to be getting very rare and quite pricey and I don't really have the room. It would be one of the first occupants of my "lottery garage" though.
At the time, our performance comparison used to be how fast you were going at the end of a particular uphill sliproad onto the local bypass. Mk2 Golf GTi did 75mph, Pug 205GTI 1.6 79mph, Fiat Uno Turbo with a fish tank valve 81mph and my Sunbeam Lotus made 99mph - so I won that one
. Ah, innocent days! (and hopefully beyond any statute of limitations). Friends still talk about that car in hushed tones.
The beast (that put 9 points on my licence!):
I would say that though, wouldn't I? I had a Sunbeam Lotus in the late 80s. High comp pistons, ported big valve head and VL104 cams. It made a little over 200bhp and went like a rocket. It would do hooligan stuff at the drop of an LSD but would sit at highly illegal speeds on the Mway for mile after mile in perfect comfort too. I'd have another like a shot, but they seem to be getting very rare and quite pricey and I don't really have the room. It would be one of the first occupants of my "lottery garage" though.
At the time, our performance comparison used to be how fast you were going at the end of a particular uphill sliproad onto the local bypass. Mk2 Golf GTi did 75mph, Pug 205GTI 1.6 79mph, Fiat Uno Turbo with a fish tank valve 81mph and my Sunbeam Lotus made 99mph - so I won that one
. Ah, innocent days! (and hopefully beyond any statute of limitations). Friends still talk about that car in hushed tones. The beast (that put 9 points on my licence!):
Tricky one! Not which to choose but actually getting a good one!
I'd go for the Lotus of the two, they look better in my opinion, and the bodyshell is simpler so although they both rot like crazy, the sunbeam has a better chance of having been restored properly!
I would stick my neck out and say that you would be looking at a minimum of £15k to get one of either in genuinely good condition (we've worked on enough that aren't!!)
Just go over them VERY carefully, a restoration isn't cheap!
Engine wise the Lotus is the easier to get parts for and live with, both are expensive to rebuild and both tend to need regular fuss. Converting to throttle body injection and keeping the carbs in the garage to put it back to original would be my choice if I was planning on using one for any sort of mileage.
I'd go for the Lotus of the two, they look better in my opinion, and the bodyshell is simpler so although they both rot like crazy, the sunbeam has a better chance of having been restored properly!
I would stick my neck out and say that you would be looking at a minimum of £15k to get one of either in genuinely good condition (we've worked on enough that aren't!!)
Just go over them VERY carefully, a restoration isn't cheap!
Engine wise the Lotus is the easier to get parts for and live with, both are expensive to rebuild and both tend to need regular fuss. Converting to throttle body injection and keeping the carbs in the garage to put it back to original would be my choice if I was planning on using one for any sort of mileage.
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C398921
This got me drooling.
If this was around next summer and my caterham sold I would be knocking on there door.
This got me drooling.
If this was around next summer and my caterham sold I would be knocking on there door.
ian2144 said:
niagra said:
As a former SL owner, I too would have another Sunbeam like a shot. If you can cope with sub 20mpg on super unleaded then go for it. Having said that, I'd love an HSR!
MPG not a problem, my Caterham only gets about 200 miles from a tank full ! ian2144 said:
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C398921
This got me drooling.
If this was around next summer and my caterham sold I would be knocking on there door.
Nought so queer as folk...what is the appeal of these cars? I assume it is blindingly fast, 'cos it isn't very pretty.This got me drooling.
If this was around next summer and my caterham sold I would be knocking on there door.
+ another for the Sunbeam Lotus. I used to rally a couple of the Ti variety, and I know how good they are, so the Lotus should be a lot better indeed. (I used to catch RS2000 Escorts no problem in my 1.6 Sunbeam, so the decision to leave the Fords alone is a good one!!).
The Chevette's are great, but parts will be more of a problem than the Sunbeams in my view.
Do keep us posted on your decision though!
The Chevette's are great, but parts will be more of a problem than the Sunbeams in my view.
Do keep us posted on your decision though!
t funnily enough! Ticks all the boxes for me.Up until 2 weeks ago I'd have gone for a Sunbeam Lotus in moonstone blue please but a couple of Sunday nights back was followed and overtaken by a mint HSR in Fareham (Hants).
Sounded and looked fantastic with great presence on the road, not seen an HS for probably 25 years and never seen an HSR. So for me after this it would be the HS every time if only for the rarity value but with the understanding I'd probably have to crash out the tools more often than Mrs Wal would like.
Sounded and looked fantastic with great presence on the road, not seen an HS for probably 25 years and never seen an HSR. So for me after this it would be the HS every time if only for the rarity value but with the understanding I'd probably have to crash out the tools more often than Mrs Wal would like.
I think that HSR running around Fareham is highly modded, might be running a 2.6 ltr engine.
I say get the Sunbeam, I'm biased,as I have series 1 to go play in.
The sunbeam has a fantastic owners club (SLOC), an active forum with wealth of information available,
and parts shop to hand.
Join the club and get your hands on one quick, prices are on the up!
I say get the Sunbeam, I'm biased,as I have series 1 to go play in.
The sunbeam has a fantastic owners club (SLOC), an active forum with wealth of information available,
and parts shop to hand.
Join the club and get your hands on one quick, prices are on the up!
Your purchase dilemma is one I had approx 26 years ago!
After a string of RS Escorts both Mk1 and Mk2, I was effectively forced to do the unthinkable and buy something other than an RS Ford because the MK3 Escorts (RS Turbos) were basically crap. My choice was between a Chevette HSR (extremely rare; only 50 built)or a Sunbeam lotus. I eventually bought a superb Avon Lotus Sunbeam, one of only 57 produced, which I owned for 9 years, and loved every minute of it. I'd have one again if I had room, probably the most fun car I've ever owned. However, like most Sunbeams it began to suffer from tinworm in the end and spare panels weren't cheap, even back then.
My advice, go for it!
After a string of RS Escorts both Mk1 and Mk2, I was effectively forced to do the unthinkable and buy something other than an RS Ford because the MK3 Escorts (RS Turbos) were basically crap. My choice was between a Chevette HSR (extremely rare; only 50 built)or a Sunbeam lotus. I eventually bought a superb Avon Lotus Sunbeam, one of only 57 produced, which I owned for 9 years, and loved every minute of it. I'd have one again if I had room, probably the most fun car I've ever owned. However, like most Sunbeams it began to suffer from tinworm in the end and spare panels weren't cheap, even back then.
My advice, go for it!
johnfm said:
ian2144 said:
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C398921
This got me drooling.
If this was around next summer and my caterham sold I would be knocking on there door.
Nought so queer as folk...what is the appeal of these cars? I assume it is blindingly fast, 'cos it isn't very pretty.This got me drooling.
If this was around next summer and my caterham sold I would be knocking on there door.
they can be tuned, they handle and go very well for the era (sub7s to 60) and as an extra bonus, are going up in value and are rarer than mk1 and mk2 escorts which are now crazy money. its got an alloy lotus headed lump as opposed to an iron boat anchor pinto which ticks all my boxes lol!
if anyone is serious about buying a Sunbeam Lotus tho, please go through the SLOC club, its excellent, and you can also find out about any previous history of the potential purchase before you buy the wrong car. quite a lot of the better cars for sale never see the open market and are sold via the club members directly without advertising elsewhere. thats how i got mine.
200Plus Club said:
of the era when rallying actually meant something, and was world rally champion. you could buy one and razz about in the high street like your heroes. its rwd, its got an lsd, its a hooligan car if you like that sort of thing, and no one ever bought one for its looks :-)
they can be tuned, they handle and go very well for the era (sub7s to 60) and as an extra bonus, are going up in value and are rarer than mk1 and mk2 escorts which are now crazy money. its got an alloy lotus headed lump as opposed to an iron boat anchor pinto which ticks all my boxes lol!
In standard form they never had an LSD, didn't handle too well and the whole engine was by Lotus not just the head! they can be tuned, they handle and go very well for the era (sub7s to 60) and as an extra bonus, are going up in value and are rarer than mk1 and mk2 escorts which are now crazy money. its got an alloy lotus headed lump as opposed to an iron boat anchor pinto which ticks all my boxes lol!
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