Thursday 20th February 2014

Under the hammer: Vauxhall Lotus Carlton

It's potentially ruinous but a £15K Lotus Carlton remains massively alluring

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Forgive me for mentioning the dismal Vauxhall Adam on PistonHeads (it won't happen again, I promise), but the arrival of the turbocharged versions got me thinking. The talk is of cleanliness and 60mpg-plus - but what I want from a Vauxhall turbo is yobbish performance and wet-road white knuckles. Twenty-five years ago, this was reality - they bolted a pair of blowers onto a car wearing a griffin, and blessed the world with the sinister 377hp Lotus Carlton, not a lukewarm hatch with rubbish steering.

This particular car has some PH previous...

The Lotus Carlton is a legend. It was one the moment it was launched, scaring small children at 40 paces, and having a claimed maximum so obscene it made tabloid news. Back then it was okay to lust after a fast Vauxhall. How long ago it all seems now.

It was the end of 1989, we'd just endured the second summer of love, and little did we know at the time, but cars would increasingly be tethered by safety systems and styled by legislators. The 1990s were coming, and the Lotus Carlton seemed like one last fling with excess by GM management before throwing in the towel and giving us the Corsa and Vectra. And thank goodness they did.

You love the Lotus Carlton, and it's understandable, given the sheer ludicrousness of an executive saloon transformed by Lotus into a M5-destroyer with a 176mph maximum speed and 0-100mph time of 10.6 seconds. It could happily blow away all but the very fastest supercars, and looked pretty cool in the process. It's already been declared a PH Hero and who am I to argue?

If the outside didn't date it...

Strangely, I've mixed memories of the Lotus Carlton - my opening experience was driving Vauxhall Heritage's example through Kensington in a supercar parade. I was almost brought to tears in the west end by the concrete clutch, and monster gearchange, and wondered why I wasn't getting a second look from the thousands cheering us on. Perhaps it was the XJ220 in front and the EB110 behind. With the formality of the London grind behind, and a lengthy few days' foray up north to follow, it changed when I let loose the Lotus Carlton on proper roads. Then I fell in love.

The combination of low speed docility, interstellar gearing on the motorway, killer A-road punch (in the first four of the six gears), and surprising agility made this great every day supercar. I loved the knowing nods I'd get from the few people who recognised it; I loved the whoosh from the twin Garrett T25s; and most of all, I loved the fact I could share the experience with three mates. The idea of taking one to Germany still bewitches me, and as time moves on, I really should do something about it.

Engine still mighty two decades later

There are usually a few for sale in the PH classifieds - right now, there are three spanning £14,995-30,000. They range from well-used to cherished low-mileage, and the wide spread tells you all you need to know about the difference between an average and good Lotus Carlton. Get one that needs work, and it's a world of financial pain.

H&H Auctions has one at the lower end of the scale in its upcoming sale on 26 February, too. But look closely and you'll see it's one of the trio in the PH classifieds, originally advertised for £17,000. The auction house has placed a £14,000-16,000 estimate on it - and with inconsistent demand for these cars, it's difficult to predict where it's going to land when the hammer falls. If it's near the lower end of that estimate, this Lotus Carlton could be a legend at a realistic price.

This one has a £14-16K estimate. Fancy it?

H&H describes this Lotus Carlton as being in excellent condition, with the kitsch ruched leather seats and slab like dashboard as being 'very good for the age and mileage'. With 114K miles on the clock, it could be a gamble, especially as the previous owner commuted into London in it (was he mad?), but it's described as having a full service history, so you've plenty of reading matter on those long wet days you're too scared to drive it.

It's an ageing legend, for sure - but still capable of bloodying a few noses. And isn't that what owning a car like this is all about? If you go for it, let me know if it brings you more happiness than a Vauxhall Adam turbo. I'm pretty sure I already know the answer.

[cerb4.5lee]

I have always fancied one of these & it was such a beast when it was launched.

[Madkat]

I saw one in the classifieds for under £11k the other day now where was it. I'm pretty sure i've seen one going for a little over £9K somewhere too.

Anyway this is the automotive definition of a hairy chest wig and gold necklace. A 'Geezer's' car if there ever was one. I'd love one.

[TheTurbonator]

So much want, but £20,000 for a toy is just too much for me and I suspect it will be for a long time.

Epic car though, something Vauxhall and Lotus should always be proud of.

[AngryPartsBloke]

If it wasn't for the prospect of acute Financial pain I'd love one.

[ode]

Want.

[NotNormal]

PH Article said:

I was almost brought to tears in the west end by the concrete clutch, and monster gearchange, and wondered why I wasn't getting a second look from the thousands cheering us on.

Clutch can be made lighter in its action by a slightly longer pivot pin. But yes gearbox is certainly "agricultural" shall we say.

With only 284 cars sold in the UK I can confirm that these cars are well outside of 'joe publics' radar so the supercar chasers with camera phones certainly wouldn't look twice. Only true petrolheads are aware of an LC when seen out an about and can go pretty crazy at times to get a better look or take pics.

Stonking cars, shame there's quite a few tatty cars out there these days which makes finding a good one a very hard prospect. With prices moving upwards (like most classics at the moment) people looking for a bargain might be disappointed.

[Impasse]

Been there, done that, loved it. This was a long time ago, mind, but it was probably the most reliable and definitely one of the more useable cars I've ever owned.

Highly recommended, but nowadays it might be worth buying a Mig welder too.

[Ex Boy Racer]

It was 1990 and I was on my way to a meeting in my Sierra Cosworth 4x4. A car that most people thought looked a beast.
I stopped for a coffee at a Little Chef and parked next to a Lotus Carlton. First one I'd seen in the flesh.
Made my car look like a toy. Epic presence.

[Ozzie Osmond]

At the end of the day, how fast do you want to go in an old Vauxhall? Bit of a legend though.

It will be fascinating to see how it fares at auction. Hope the thread sticks around to let us know the outcome.

[Monaro5.7]

So want one of these but the pitfall are bit and getting bit could be a bit of a problem and I work in the parts trade.

but 2 have one my life would have to change like a house with a garage

[Steamer]

There was a very cheap one floating about a couple of years ago - it had buckled wheels... which gives you a pretty good indication of how well frapped the rest of it was!

Anyone remember 'project thunder'? that was shocking too.

[KMB]

Been at RAF Marham a few times on track with these beasts (usually seeing them from within an Accord Type R), straight line speed is startling, if rather wallowy on the bends.

Always fancied one but it's not an itch I'll scratch now

[Du1point8]

Steamer said:

There was a very cheap one floating about a couple of years ago - it had buckled wheels... which gives you a pretty good indication of how well frapped the rest of it was!

Anyone remember 'project thunder'? that was shocking too.

Thought the base of that was a normal Carlton GSI 3000 and not a Lotus.

[Monkey boy 1]

Du1point8 said:

Thought the base of that was a normal Carlton GSI 3000 and not a Lotus.

Yes it was, but Lotus breathed it's magic over it (as it did with the Lotus Cortina in the 1960's)to produce the worlds fasted saloon car.
There is pleanty written about the Lotus Carlton

One of my mates has the Lotus Omega. (LHD Opel version) and considering the car is getting on for nearly 25 years old, it is still brutally fast.

[Jay101]

Du1point8 said:

Thought the base of that was a normal Carlton GSI 3000 and not a Lotus.

The yellow Max Power "Project Thunder"...??? I think you're right. Speaking of Max Power, the show they did at Doncaster Race course, i'm sure someone attempted a burnout in a proper Lotus Calton and the gearbox and clutch went up in smoke! Well done that man!

[Davie]

Without a shadow of doubt, the Lotus Carlton is my car of the millenium. Ever since they barged their way into the public eye I've thought they were just brilliant. I love the styling, the sheer insanity and the total disregard for pretty much everything society expected back in the 90's. "Here, get it up you world... have a 180mph Carlton" Job done!

Couple of years back I was fortunate enough to drive the Vauxhall Heritage Centre car and it whilst that could have been a "Don't meet your hero" moment it was anything but. It was utterly utterly fabulous. The granite clutch and clunky gearbox just added to the experience - it's a man's car, none of this finger tip controls and dynamic handling. Stupid power, barn door engineering and zero finesse and by God does it work!

I covered a couple of hundred miles over mixed roads and by the time I'd got to Luton, I'd have happily hacked off bits of my body to keep it. The presence it has is simply unreal. It just clears the roads as it powers along and those who know, they know! I ambled up alongside a chap in an Sierra Cosworth at the lights in some sleepy Surrey town and he almost got whiplash he turned round so fast. And suddenly stopped revving his car and sat where he was when the lights went green.

I wonder if I sold the kids, the cat, her, my left testicle....

[rtz62]

Talked to the guys on the AutoBahnStormers stand set the Classic Car Show at the NEC, the problems they highlighted was rust, which surprisingly can get the car in many places including the reararches, inner wings, spare wheel well, sunroof, front and rear screens etc, (mostly caused by Lotus altering panels, drilling through them etc but not methodically applying anti-rust treatment afterwards) the bell housing can be damaged, usually because of the clutch pivot pin failing, although the gearbox itself is from the Corvette ZR1 and is bulletproof.
Before buying go onto Glen Waddingtons site, or the Autobahnstormers, they are the oracle with regards to the Lotus Carlton, and the are many pitfalls to avoid.
I think the other thing is never go near one that has been 'chipped', it generally ends badly according to common consensus.
Still want one so desperately despite all of the above, and definitely on my 'wish list' when my inheritance lands.....

[mighty kitten]

I had no232 for a while and it's the only car that returned every penny I spent on it . Mine had 46k on it when I bought it from jersey where it had spent most of its life so had very little rust when I pulled the body kit off to sort all the stone chips etc. I had a receipt for a head rebuild and chain set done in1996 at 34k and a load of new valves at £90 each total bill £4800 from a lotus approved vauxhall place in London . Only issue I had was the ally casting that held the little hydraulic engine damper struts snapped so made steel versions . Lovely car

[jwigglesworth]

Simply want one.....nuff said

[Jim AK]

[quote=jwigglesworth]Simply want one.....nuff said [/quote)

^^^This^^^