RE: Lotus Carlton | Spotted
Discussion
sidesauce said:
B'stard Child said:
sidesauce said:
If we take into account inflation, each of the 285 Lotus Carltons (legend has it that 286 were actually built when Lotus made use of a leftover bodyshell).
Legend gets it wrong all the time 
Anyway the legend of an extra car built by Lotus is true - the just didn't build it from a leftover shell - I know this because I own that car
Usually the first thing people asked when I had mine was” is it a real one “😁. Had a ride in my bosses brand new lc in 1991 and got my hands on a slightly scruffy finance repossessed car in 2001 . Did find an eye watering bill for a broken chain plus head re build from 1996 for just under 5k including sending a tech from London to jersey to do the work . Sold it in 2003 for 14k which was about right for a 50k decent example
B'stard Child said:
Should have been "PH Article" said..... I pinched your quote as I was doing on a phone - corrected now - sorry
Anyway the legend of an extra car built by Lotus is true - the just didn't build it from a leftover shell - I know this because I own that car
I love Pistonheads - brilliant!Anyway the legend of an extra car built by Lotus is true - the just didn't build it from a leftover shell - I know this because I own that car
If I had the means, I'd also be all over it.
Few years ago, thanks to work and utter luck, I had access to Vauxhall's own Lotus Carlton fir a couple of days and was tasked with returning it to them once the job was done.
Took it from Somerset back to Luton and spent the first hour sweating, laughing nervously and being very very careful and that was pretty much the whole journey too but what a thing... they sat never meet your hero but absolutely not the case. Yes there's better, faster, cheaper... whatever but there's just something about them that you either get or you don't and I get it. Not that nice to drive, not fast by today's standards and not at all well appointed but if any if that matters, you simply don't get the Lotus Carlton.
A fabulous thing, bar far the best driving experience I've had and one I very much doubt I'll ever get to experience again sadly and looking back, I wish I wasn't so much of a sweaty, nervous mess and I wish I didn't have to give the keys back. The word "Legend" is very fitting and was the backbone of how I was privileged enough to be handed the keys.
What a thing!
Few years ago, thanks to work and utter luck, I had access to Vauxhall's own Lotus Carlton fir a couple of days and was tasked with returning it to them once the job was done.
Took it from Somerset back to Luton and spent the first hour sweating, laughing nervously and being very very careful and that was pretty much the whole journey too but what a thing... they sat never meet your hero but absolutely not the case. Yes there's better, faster, cheaper... whatever but there's just something about them that you either get or you don't and I get it. Not that nice to drive, not fast by today's standards and not at all well appointed but if any if that matters, you simply don't get the Lotus Carlton.
A fabulous thing, bar far the best driving experience I've had and one I very much doubt I'll ever get to experience again sadly and looking back, I wish I wasn't so much of a sweaty, nervous mess and I wish I didn't have to give the keys back. The word "Legend" is very fitting and was the backbone of how I was privileged enough to be handed the keys.
What a thing!
Davie said:
If I had the means, I'd also be all over it.
Few years ago, thanks to work and utter luck, I had access to Vauxhall's own Lotus Carlton fir a couple of days and was tasked with returning it to them once the job was done.
Took it from Somerset back to Luton and spent the first hour sweating, laughing nervously and being very very careful and that was pretty much the whole journey too but what a thing... they sat never meet your hero but absolutely not the case. Yes there's better, faster, cheaper... whatever but there's just something about them that you either get or you don't and I get it. Not that nice to drive, not fast by today's standards and not at all well appointed but if any if that matters, you simply don't get the Lotus Carlton.
A fabulous thing, bar far the best driving experience I've had and one I very much doubt I'll ever get to experience again sadly and looking back, I wish I wasn't so much of a sweaty, nervous mess and I wish I didn't have to give the keys back. The word "Legend" is very fitting and was the backbone of how I was privileged enough to be handed the keys.
What a thing!
Lol Few years ago, thanks to work and utter luck, I had access to Vauxhall's own Lotus Carlton fir a couple of days and was tasked with returning it to them once the job was done.
Took it from Somerset back to Luton and spent the first hour sweating, laughing nervously and being very very careful and that was pretty much the whole journey too but what a thing... they sat never meet your hero but absolutely not the case. Yes there's better, faster, cheaper... whatever but there's just something about them that you either get or you don't and I get it. Not that nice to drive, not fast by today's standards and not at all well appointed but if any if that matters, you simply don't get the Lotus Carlton.
A fabulous thing, bar far the best driving experience I've had and one I very much doubt I'll ever get to experience again sadly and looking back, I wish I wasn't so much of a sweaty, nervous mess and I wish I didn't have to give the keys back. The word "Legend" is very fitting and was the backbone of how I was privileged enough to be handed the keys.
What a thing!
I’d say it was still pretty fast by today’s standards
Bearing in mind it’s a 30 year old saloon
You lucky guy
Definitely a hero I’d like to meet too
Tydeides said:
B'stard Child said:
Should have been "PH Article" said..... I pinched your quote as I was doing on a phone - corrected now - sorry
Anyway the legend of an extra car built by Lotus is true - the just didn't build it from a leftover shell - I know this because I own that car
I love Pistonheads - brilliant!Anyway the legend of an extra car built by Lotus is true - the just didn't build it from a leftover shell - I know this because I own that car
markcoznottz said:
My old man was service manager at the biggest vauxhall dealer in the country looked after loads. Normal thing was customer bringing car in saying gearbox was 'noisy'. New box ordered from ZF under warranty arrived on pallet, put in car. New box noisier than old one.
Hence why they stopped replacing them Anyway they aren't that bad - a little agricultural sure but that's in their DNA
I have a BMW K1200 RS and that gearbox at tick over sounds like a bunch of rocks in a spin driver
B'stard Child said:
markcoznottz said:
My old man was service manager at the biggest vauxhall dealer in the country looked after loads. Normal thing was customer bringing car in saying gearbox was 'noisy'. New box ordered from ZF under warranty arrived on pallet, put in car. New box noisier than old one.
Hence why they stopped replacing them Anyway they aren't that bad - a little agricultural sure but that's in their DNA
I have a BMW K1200 RS and that gearbox at tick over sounds like a bunch of rocks in a spin driver
Davie said:
If I had the means, I'd also be all over it.
not fast by today's standards and not at all well appointed but if any if that matters, you simply don't get the Lotus Carlton.
Not sure what you mean, it has a 6 speed gearbox, heated seats, electric windows all round, electric mirrors, sunroof, 4 headrests, full leather and so on. What do you mean when you say "not at all well appointed".not fast by today's standards and not at all well appointed but if any if that matters, you simply don't get the Lotus Carlton.
And not fast by todays standards? What standard are you comparing it to, I drive one almost every day to work and back and can assure you it is still a fast car.
skeeterm5 said:
Not sure what you mean, it has a 6 speed gearbox, heated seats, electric windows all round, electric mirrors, sunroof, 4 headrests, full leather and so on. What do you mean when you say "not at all well appointed".
And not fast by todays standards? What standard are you comparing it to, I drive one almost every day to work and back and can assure you it is still a fast car.
MX5 and / or remapped 330D... And not fast by todays standards? What standard are you comparing it to, I drive one almost every day to work and back and can assure you it is still a fast car.
B'stard Child said:
markcoznottz said:
My old man was service manager at the biggest vauxhall dealer in the country looked after loads. Normal thing was customer bringing car in saying gearbox was 'noisy'. New box ordered from ZF under warranty arrived on pallet, put in car. New box noisier than old one.
Hence why they stopped replacing them Anyway they aren't that bad - a little agricultural sure but that's in their DNA
I have a BMW K1200 RS and that gearbox at tick over sounds like a bunch of rocks in a spin driver
https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?...
I've been lucky enough to have owned an example of both the BMW's in the above article, at the same time.
Despite being slightly slower accelerating car i would still have the Alpina over the LC as its a better build car and you can still get most parts for it. Higher top speed too!
They both came out around the same time but in the UK the Alpina was pretty much unheard of as not officially offered for sale here although there was one example sold here new via Sytner.
The LC is still a cool car though for its cult status alone.
I've been lucky enough to have owned an example of both the BMW's in the above article, at the same time.
Despite being slightly slower accelerating car i would still have the Alpina over the LC as its a better build car and you can still get most parts for it. Higher top speed too!
They both came out around the same time but in the UK the Alpina was pretty much unheard of as not officially offered for sale here although there was one example sold here new via Sytner.
The LC is still a cool car though for its cult status alone.
I came across an LC on the M25 a year or so ago in my Sunbeam and we drove together in convoy to Bicester for one of the Sunday Scrambles. What a sight to see it looming large in my rear view mirror and it certainly was something to remember. We both drove fairly briskly but I'm sure if he wanted to, he could have shown me a clean pair of heels.
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