Lotus Elite 1974 at auction

[Fessia fancier]

Just in case of interest, no connection

https://www.bidspotter.co.uk/en-gb/auction-catalog...

[texaxile]

That is a lovely colour, but I can't work out why an expensive Resto just to put "Royal Black" and "Royal passenger" tyres on it. Could have stuck a decent set of boots on it at least.

[Lotobear]

So of it's time. I'm a Lotus nut but never liked the wedge era, however this has something stirring in me!

The steering wheel is so wrong though, it would have to go

[Equus]

texaxile said:

That is a lovely colour, but I can't work out why an expensive Resto just to put "Royal Black" and "Royal passenger" tyres on it. Could have stuck a decent set of boots on it at least.

The 'expensive resto' was 14 years ago.

It has done negligible mileage at least since 2012 - 528 miles in 8 years - and probably since the 2006 restoration, otherwise, being an old Lotus, it would be in need of another by now. The last MOT, 3 years ago, had an advisory on all four tyres being perished, so they've clearly bought the cheapest set they can find to make it at least presentable for sale.

It is cars like the 501 Elite that make the idea of MOT exemption very scary indeed. I'd want to go through the whole thing again from scratch before committing my life to it on public roads.

[Yertis]

I've become a bit of a fan of this Lotus Elite/Eclat/Excel family. Alas! No space for one just at the moment, or time. I've instead bought the Lotus workshop manual, so I can at least study the inner workings and read about taking one apart and putting it together again.

[dontlookdown]

Lovely exterior, gopping where-the-80s-went-wrong interior. Shame because it looks like a quality retrim but a quintessetially 70s car like that should be 70s all the way through.

Could be a good buy at a sensible price though. There cant be many of these that have been properly restored - even if it was a while ago - because the economics are even more unfavourable than usual.

I would love one, in theory. In practice, not so sure.

[anonymous-user]

I shall be interested to see how much this sells for. A friend has a scruffy but good earlyish Elite and it is great fun. It has an OK interior and it has its correct steering wheel. My rather shonky and currently barn-bound maybe project maybe sell Series 2 Eclat has a shonky panel, but the correct steering wheel, and it has decent tyres, although I will change these if I do it up, because it has been sitting on them flat. Putting rubbish tyres on interesting old cars is such a naff thing to do.

I agree re the daftness of the MOT exemption for cars like these.

[Nyloc20]

I have to say having owned Lotuses on and off since 1975 I never took to the Elite/Eclat/Excel family but like some others I'm warming to them. A couple of friends have owned Excels over the years and they were pretty reliable. I've got a fancy for an Eclat now, must resist!

[anonymous-user]

The Excel is perhaps one of the best cars that Lotus ever made, and a well sorted one can be very usable. Eclats and Elites are less robust than Excels, but the two earlier cars have a certain mad funkiness about them. Many of those that are left tend to be a bit tatty, however, and it's always a toss up whether it's worth the hassle and cost of doing them up. I am dithering about that issue at the moment.