RE: PH Heroes: Lotus Carlton
Discussion
This was at Kimbolton a couple of years back - showroom condition not bad as it had done 188K!!!
As for the tall gear in 6th. I'm pretty sure the Lotus Carlton uses the same ZF box as my ZR1 Vette, as did an AM and that too has a well tall 6th gear. I'm in the process of changing the diff ratio to make the car more driveable in 6th. I will loose a bit of the top end (still in 5th) but TBH it only ever fully stretched its legs in Germany once a year anyway.
As for the tall gear in 6th. I'm pretty sure the Lotus Carlton uses the same ZF box as my ZR1 Vette, as did an AM and that too has a well tall 6th gear. I'm in the process of changing the diff ratio to make the car more driveable in 6th. I will loose a bit of the top end (still in 5th) but TBH it only ever fully stretched its legs in Germany once a year anyway.
I worked at Lotus from 1991 'til 1995.
When I joined the company I blagged a ride in the "Omega" as it was known there, with one of the chassis development guys.
The memory of the ride lasts with me until this day......100 mph "warm up laps" then pedal down and some hot laps.
I can remember going through "Windsock" at 120 mph in a perfect sideways drift, utilising the ffull width of the track, then hard on the throttle, nudging 165mph on the main straight before hauling on the anchors to brake for the hairpin, taken at c60 mph, again sideways.
I can recall that the development cars were silver, but basic GSi3000's, running gear included. They had a few incidents where development cars whent out on the track and returned through the main gate! Apparently the std brakes couldn't cope, so car met cabbage field, through the fence, and back onto the Ketteringham Road.
3rd gear was the only gear you ever needed, 0-130 mph with no changes.
Yep, the Omega used the ZR1 gearbox, 44mph/1000rpm IIRRC.
Not long after I started I was involved in the "Lotus Third Model" which was code-speak for Lotus Cavalier / Vectra, 2.0l V6 twin-turbo, 300 bhp, 155 mph limited top end. It didn't get beyond building a mule in the workshop using a 3.0l V6 for packaging work.
When I joined the company I blagged a ride in the "Omega" as it was known there, with one of the chassis development guys.
The memory of the ride lasts with me until this day......100 mph "warm up laps" then pedal down and some hot laps.
I can remember going through "Windsock" at 120 mph in a perfect sideways drift, utilising the ffull width of the track, then hard on the throttle, nudging 165mph on the main straight before hauling on the anchors to brake for the hairpin, taken at c60 mph, again sideways.
I can recall that the development cars were silver, but basic GSi3000's, running gear included. They had a few incidents where development cars whent out on the track and returned through the main gate! Apparently the std brakes couldn't cope, so car met cabbage field, through the fence, and back onto the Ketteringham Road.
3rd gear was the only gear you ever needed, 0-130 mph with no changes.
Yep, the Omega used the ZR1 gearbox, 44mph/1000rpm IIRRC.
Not long after I started I was involved in the "Lotus Third Model" which was code-speak for Lotus Cavalier / Vectra, 2.0l V6 twin-turbo, 300 bhp, 155 mph limited top end. It didn't get beyond building a mule in the workshop using a 3.0l V6 for packaging work.
Edited by wobert on Thursday 24th January 13:00
Have been lucky enough to test drive a Lotus Omega when I went to Buy the TVR. Why didn't I buy it ? Well, the roof doesn't come off!! and that badge on the steering wheel is the same as my dads family taxi runabout.
Awesome car though. Im lucky enough also to have an original sales brochure and price guide in mint condition too in a frame in the house.
Would love to get one as a third car now but donot have the space
Awesome car though. Im lucky enough also to have an original sales brochure and price guide in mint condition too in a frame in the house.
Would love to get one as a third car now but donot have the space
jvaughan said:
and that badge on the steering wheel is the same as my dads family taxi runabout.
He has a Lotus Carlton as a taxi 
His family business must be doing well as the only badge on a LC steering wheel is one that says Lotus Carlton
Your get out of jail free card must be the badge on the bonnet your talking about
speedster986 said:
hackett said:
Is that the garage just outside of Nairn near Inverness?
Yeah it is Hendersons Garage, The guy who owns the LC is Mark Henderson.As for the microphone no its just my nice fluffy golf jumper and i'm trying to convince anyone viewing that the car is actually mine.
For a kick off they struggled to achieve anything over 160mph and that was revving the nuts off because it couldn't pull top gear.
If you compared one with an E39 M5, the Carlton would feel like a bag of spanners.
Totally over hyped and over rated vehicle in my opinion that couldn't live up to the speel.
Rose tinted glasses.
I think there is one on Autotrader advertised for over 40K, must be bonkers.
Having had an M3 and an FQ-360MR, I'm going back to the M5, best car I ever owned.
If you compared one with an E39 M5, the Carlton would feel like a bag of spanners.
Totally over hyped and over rated vehicle in my opinion that couldn't live up to the speel.
Rose tinted glasses.
I think there is one on Autotrader advertised for over 40K, must be bonkers.
Having had an M3 and an FQ-360MR, I'm going back to the M5, best car I ever owned.
Mmmm sour grapes, don't be shy, you know you really want one. 168mph on the gps and had to back off, with enough of a gap under the right foot for more. A few mags also attained the 170+ so not really sure of your evidence.
damiwi said:
For a kick off they struggled to achieve anything over 160mph and that was revving the nuts off because it couldn't pull top gear.
If you compared one with an E39 M5, the Carlton would feel like a bag of spanners.
Totally over hyped and over rated vehicle in my opinion that couldn't live up to the speel.
Rose tinted glasses.
I think there is one on Autotrader advertised for over 40K, must be bonkers.
Having had an M3 and an FQ-360MR, I'm going back to the M5, best car I ever owned.
If you compared one with an E39 M5, the Carlton would feel like a bag of spanners.
Totally over hyped and over rated vehicle in my opinion that couldn't live up to the speel.
Rose tinted glasses.
I think there is one on Autotrader advertised for over 40K, must be bonkers.
Having had an M3 and an FQ-360MR, I'm going back to the M5, best car I ever owned.
sprinter885 said:
^^^^^ What he said. I used to see one around Doncaster about 16-17 years ago with Reg. J10TUS wonder where that is now??
As far as I know they were all Imperial green. I think I saw the Silver ? one in PH classifieds a while back. It seemed wrong to me too.
J10TUS was on a catheram from day one , however H10TUS is a Lotus CarltonAs far as I know they were all Imperial green. I think I saw the Silver ? one in PH classifieds a while back. It seemed wrong to me too.
Edited by sprinter885 on Wednesday 23 January 09:40
tali1 said:
sprinter885 said:
^^^^^ What he said. I used to see one around Doncaster about 16-17 years ago with Reg. J10TUS wonder where that is now??
As far as I know they were all Imperial green. I think I saw the Silver ? one in PH classifieds a while back. It seemed wrong to me too.
J10TUS was on a catheram from day one , however H10TUS is a Lotus CarltonAs far as I know they were all Imperial green. I think I saw the Silver ? one in PH classifieds a while back. It seemed wrong to me too.
Edited by sprinter885 on Wednesday 23 January 09:40
Tiff test driving one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0NFqQ5ubz8
A video of the police failing to pull one over...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaeW78cbvNg
I'd love one. There's something about cars that look normal to 90% of the population that like hell.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0NFqQ5ubz8
A video of the police failing to pull one over...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaeW78cbvNg
I'd love one. There's something about cars that look normal to 90% of the population that like hell.
damiwi said:
For a kick off they struggled to achieve anything over 160mph and that was revving the nuts off because it couldn't pull top gear.
Most magazines easily achieved 170 mph on a mean two way test - hardly in their interests to tell porkies is it?160 mph is just under 5700 rpm (hardly reving the nuts off it is it?)
They are geared for 183mph at 6500 rpm and I have seen mine go off the clock whilst driving down thro Germany to Italy (you need a long clear road mind - things happen very quickly when travelling at 3 miles per minute
damiwi said:
If you compared one with an E39 M5, the Carlton would feel like a bag of spanners.
As for comparisons with an E39 M5 - hardly fair as far as age goes as the E39 M5 didn't come out till 1999 and the LC was conceived in the late 80's and launched in 90/91 and based on a car launched in 1986 in terms of wind noise and ride comfort they are well behind what you expect from a more modern car but is that really the pointdamiwi said:
Totally over hyped and over rated vehicle in my opinion that couldn't live up to the speel.
Rose tinted glasses.
I must be still wearing mine then Rose tinted glasses.
damiwi said:
I think there is one on Autotrader advertised for over 40K, must be bonkers.
Always someone who expects to get a high price for a car and I agree he'll be advertising it for a long whiledamiwi said:
Having had an M3 and an FQ-360MR, I'm going back to the M5, best car I ever owned.
Do that chap - I run a 740 as a daily and it's nice car like most BMW'shairykrishna said:
Already posted earlier - it's mine I remember in 2002 when I was a VW salesman a bloke came in looking at the R32 when it was first launched looking to PX his Lotus Carlton. As part of the PX appraisal the salesmen always drove the prospective PX to do a report on it for the sales manger to give a valuation.
When I said I'll have to drive your car he put his hand on my shoulder and said into my ear "I don't think so son", and promptly walked out!
Awesome!!!
When I said I'll have to drive your car he put his hand on my shoulder and said into my ear "I don't think so son", and promptly walked out!
Awesome!!!
I remember speaking to guy from Lotus some years back who was involved with the design and production of the LC, who said that Lotus originally wanted to make it 4WD but couldn't find a suitable transmission strong enough to cope with the torque. Awesome bit of kit - saw one at the motorshow first year it came out when I was a yoof, they had one on the second floor advertising a security firm with no one around - got to sit in it too!
Mad and bad - just the way I like my cars - actually saw one on track at Cadwell a couple of months back - nice.
I do however feel that GM missed a trick with this car though, they could have just used the V8 from the ZR-1 along with the transmission and sold them for a lot less than £48k - not quite sure how ze Germanz would have reacted to that!
Mad and bad - just the way I like my cars - actually saw one on track at Cadwell a couple of months back - nice.
I do however feel that GM missed a trick with this car though, they could have just used the V8 from the ZR-1 along with the transmission and sold them for a lot less than £48k - not quite sure how ze Germanz would have reacted to that!
TEKNOPUG said:
I do however feel that GM missed a trick with this car though, they could have just used the V8 from the ZR-1 along with the transmission and sold them for a lot less than £48k - not quite sure how ze Germanz would have reacted to that!
They could have used the (Lotus developed) engine from the ZR1 and it was certainly thought of at the time. But they went for a more powerful motor in the end!Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff