Lotus Carlton

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FocusRS3

Original Poster:

3,411 posts

90 months

Monday 8th January 2018
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Not sure if these cars are discussed on here much ? But I'm after some advice re pricing .

The car is a RHD original matching numbers car, not much in the way of history with just one MOT certificate ( the last one) with 92k miles.

It's a non runner so let's assume the engine is siezed and the front bumper is missing but all other panels are in tack .
The interior I'm told is in very good condition .

Any idea on current value would be hugely

AndStilliRise

2,295 posts

115 months

Monday 8th January 2018
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2p.

Are you seriously considering buying a broken lotus Carlton!

FocusRS3

Original Poster:

3,411 posts

90 months

Monday 8th January 2018
quotequote all
AndStilliRise said:
2p.

Are you seriously considering buying a broken lotus Carlton!
It's not for me , a friend who wants to buy it and sell as a restoration project .

It's not really my bag either

Easternlight

3,424 posts

143 months

Monday 8th January 2018
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I'm no expert but you need to do your homework on these.
A non runner could be very trickyas a lot of parts are impossible to get now. Bumpers being one of them. Very rusty also.

FocusRS3

Original Poster:

3,411 posts

90 months

Monday 8th January 2018
quotequote all
Easternlight said:
I'm no expert but you need to do your homework on these.
A non runner could be very trickyas a lot of parts are impossible to get now. Bumpers being one of them. Very rusty also.
Ok tks will pass it on

AndStilliRise

2,295 posts

115 months

Monday 8th January 2018
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If it looks too good to be true it probably is too good to be true.

FocusRS3

Original Poster:

3,411 posts

90 months

Monday 8th January 2018
quotequote all
AndStilliRise said:
If it looks too good to be true it probably is too good to be true.
Just after a valuation Tks

NotNormal

2,357 posts

213 months

Tuesday 9th January 2018
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FocusRS3 said:
Not sure if these cars are discussed on here much ? But I'm after some advice re pricing .

The car is a RHD original matching numbers car, not much in the way of history with just one MOT certificate ( the last one) with 92k miles.

It's a non runner so let's assume the engine is siezed and the front bumper is missing but all other panels are in tack .
The interior I'm told is in very good condition .

Any idea on current value would be hugely
As with all these things, in order to get a realistic price expectation, exact details of the overall state of the car and what the issues actually are go a long way to being able to provide an answer. Could be worth 8 to 15k but who knows based on the limited info posted here.

Easternlight said:
I'm no expert but you need to do your homework on these.
A non runner could be very trickyas a lot of parts are impossible to get now. Bumpers being one of them. Very rusty also.
You're right, as like any other performance car its wise to do some research, however you are also right that you are no expert as bumpers are probably one of the of the easiest things to get as these are now being remade using the original mounds.

Easternlight

3,424 posts

143 months

Tuesday 9th January 2018
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I stand corrected thumbup

How about head bolts?
Always remember that they were very hard to get.

NotNormal

2,357 posts

213 months

Tuesday 9th January 2018
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Easternlight said:
I stand corrected thumbup

How about head bolts?
Always remember that they were very hard to get.
ARP stud and nut kit readily available if unable to source OEM bolts.

Easternlight

3,424 posts

143 months

Tuesday 9th January 2018
quotequote all
NotNormal said:
Easternlight said:
I stand corrected thumbup

How about head bolts?
Always remember that they were very hard to get.
ARP stud and nut kit readily available if unable to source OEM bolts.
Interesting, sounds as if parts are more availiable now than ever!

Always had the LC close to my heart as I was involed in machining some of the parts for pre production prototypes.
Lotus would occasionaly bring one of the early ones to our works. The bosses would get taken out for rides but sadly never me.
Looked at buying one about 10-15 years ago but the horror stories of rust and parts un availability scared me off.

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 10th January 2018
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I have Lotus Carlton (thread on purchase on here) mine is the only one in Asia, and was a bit run down when bought. Stunning car, I've had no engine, drive chain issue, other than clutch wear, but I've spent around 8,000 pounds on repair upgrade, plus a bit to get the parts to Asia, My experience is everything is available for a price, head bolts etc, Mine was not rusty as it had never seen road salt, but I still went for a back to metal respray as it was the wrong colour. Autobahn stormer's is your friend, great people, a few on her.

General opinion is that good high end cars are 30+, some are asking 100, but no one can actually evidence one selling for that.
None runners are worth a fair bit as they are broken ( I am currently trying to buy one of the 2 Singapore cars, as spare/breaker). Asking pries I've seen, approximately engine 8k gear box 4 K back axil 2.5K I paid 1200 for an interior in Germany, and I sold a numbered glove box for 230 pounds, road wheels 1500, there is steering wheel on ebay for 120.

A breaker in Glasgow broke w wreak a few years back ( bought the radiator cowl) he then bought a non runner, and asked 10 for it, saying 10 or it was broken, I assume he broke it as the rear axil is still for sale on ebay.

Consequently I'd say a wreck is around 10K a runner more than that.

Do not underestimate cost of bringing one back, or the time to find parts. Almost everything is bespoke, if you look on ebay do not believe it when people say something fits, front wings are not std they are reinforced, brake disks are 200 each, the 30 pund ones don't fit,

If you buy look at the electrics and cooling they are complicated and mine had been butchered because they weren't understood. Taken a long time to get right.

You cant buy clutch slaves, and the repair offered/re-sleeve in the UK is useless, that's the only part I've really struggled with

But great cars well fast in the real world, huge crowd puller. even in Asia I get stoped and asked about it, and it is a huge draw at shows, unknown to kids but 40 year olds love it.

There are specialists around, but of course with only around 60 right hand drive cars known in the UK, the market is small so its not like a MGB.

I've found that my mates who were brought up before auto everything love it, any one under 30 hates it ad a few are terrified of the look of electronics, it is marmite love it or hate it.


phumy

5,671 posts

236 months

Wednesday 10th January 2018
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I own a very good condition LC and have owned it for just over a year now, it came out of a full restoration, all the usual places have been fixed, front chassis rails, sills, rear arches and rear doors, engine/gearbox out and checked, all suspension and rear axle powder coated and cleaned up. I also have mate who bought one at £16k two years ago as a bit of a basket case then spent around £10k doing it up and refurbing the usual places and fresh paint, its now valued at around £35k to £40k.

You either have to know what you`re looking at or get someone who does to go with you if you`re seriously interested in buying it. Once they are running correctly and looking good they are a beautiful car and very special to drive too a real beast out on the road.

Picture of mine:


AndStilliRise

2,295 posts

115 months

Wednesday 10th January 2018
quotequote all
phumy said:
I own a very good condition LC and have owned it for just over a year now, it came out of a full restoration, all the usual places have been fixed, front chassis rails, sills, rear arches and rear doors, engine/gearbox out and checked, all suspension and rear axle powder coated and cleaned up. I also have mate who bought one at £16k two years ago as a bit of a basket case then spent around £10k doing it up and refurbing the usual places and fresh paint, its now valued at around £35k to £40k.

You either have to know what you`re looking at or get someone who does to go with you if you`re seriously interested in buying it. Once they are running correctly and looking good they are a beautiful car and very special to drive too a real beast out on the road.

Picture of mine:

That is lovely!

phumy

5,671 posts

236 months

Thursday 11th January 2018
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When people ask me what its like to drive I always liken it to a sofa on steroids, its really comfortable as a big super saloon should be but by fk does it move rapidly, from any speed, when asked to.

LotusOmega375D

7,580 posts

152 months

Thursday 11th January 2018
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I used to find myself having to brake when joining dual carriageways/motorways! By the time I'd accelerated to the end of the slip-road, I'd be well in to 3 figures!

phumy

5,671 posts

236 months

Thursday 11th January 2018
quotequote all
RS3, let us know what you decide and don't forget to look at the areas mentioned as they are the most susceptible and need to be seen plus all the usual with engine parts, which are still available if you search hard enough. A very good source for parts is by joining the AutobanhStormers the main LC club. Loads of seriously knowledgeable guys on there and loads of parts, many of the defunct parts have been re-manufactured.

NotNormal

2,357 posts

213 months

Thursday 11th January 2018
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RS3 already stated that an LC is not his bag. I get the impression its just a case of his mate seeing if he can make a quick buck and buy and sell with as little imput as possible.

FocusRS3

Original Poster:

3,411 posts

90 months

Thursday 11th January 2018
quotequote all
phumy said:
RS3, let us know what you decide and don't forget to look at the areas mentioned as they are the most susceptible and need to be seen plus all the usual with engine parts, which are still available if you search hard enough. A very good source for parts is by joining the AutobanhStormers the main LC club. Loads of seriously knowledgeable guys on there and loads of parts, many of the defunct parts have been re-manufactured.
Apologies for not responding sooner.

Have managed to grab some info from the SELOC guys (some maybe on here) together with additional details of the car.

Have yet to make a decision on the car especially having since found out that its actually on over 100k miles and not the 92 as originally stated.

Rust clearly is a major concern so i need to try and factor in if i can be bothered getting too involved in a project such as this.

Anyhow, many tks for all the comments so far

phumy

5,671 posts

236 months

Thursday 11th January 2018
quotequote all
If you are still interested and if it has full service history, if the engine is not seized, (never assume), if its rotten in the places where you say then values could be anywhere between £10k for a real basket case that needs a total strip down and up to about £20k for something that might just need a bit of bodywork and some panels sprayed. Given that it has over 100k miles it might have bearing on the value but need to check that it has been serviced regularly and has the necessary paperwork to prove the work done.

Where is this car, which part of the country?