Thursday 21st November 2019

Lotus Carlton | Spotted

£95k for an old Vauxhall seem absurd? Not when you factor in the Lotus badge - and inflation

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So there is a Lotus Carlton advertised on PH's classifieds for a fiver short of £95k. That's brand-new BMW M5 money for a car based on a 28-year-old Vauxhall family saloon. Sure, it's fine-tuned by the engineering boffins at Lotus and according to How Many Left, just 68 of these yellow-badged four-doors remain on UK roads. But ninety-five grand is ninety-five grand. You'd have to be a real die-hard fan to justify forking out such a large sum on a five-seat smoker.

Or would you? If we take into account inflation, each of the 285 Lotus Carltons produced for Britain (legend has it that 286 were actually built when Lotus made use of a leftover bodyshell) retailed at £48,000 in 1991, which equates to about £102k today. This car, with its 17,600 miles, one former owner and all the kudos of being one of the world's most revered sports saloons in such fine condition, has still not appreciated past its original value.

Unlike other cars from yesteryear, this one's performance has genuinely stood the test of time, too. 382hp from a twin-turbocharged straight-six would not look amiss on a modern specification sheet, nor would a 5.4 second 0-62mph time or 176mph top speed. The Carlton was quicker off the mark and faster flat out than the Ferrari 348; famously causing such a stir that Parliament even debated whether new measures were required to prevent it falling into inexperienced hands.

Not that the Carlton is a rear-wheel drive ticket to the hedgerows, it is - as it was in the early nineties - a brilliant example of Lotus chassis know-how. Early reports that the car was too fast for the road are redundant now in a world where modern turbocharging provides peak torque barely over tickover. A 3.6-litre motor that needs to be spinning at 3,500rpm before its blowers supply their maximum boost is likely to feel tame in comparison - but Lotus's saloon remained a low volume benchmark for decades.

This particular car and its barely used status mean you're getting about the closest thing to a time capsule back to 1991. There's no explanation as to why the owner - the original purchaser - is finally letting go of their Carlton, but there's no doubting they were a careful and considerate custodian. All original paperwork and booklets are included in the sale. If it was this or a new M5, we know where our heart would send us.

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SPECIFICATION - LOTUS CARLTON

Engine: 3,615cc, 6-cyl twin-turbo
Transmission: 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 382@5,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 415@4,200rpm
MPG: N/A
CO2: N/A
First registered: 1991
Mileage: 17,600
Price new: £48,000
Price now: £94,995

See the original advert here

[sidesauce]

Nice. But not £95k nice IMO.

[blade7]

After the ridiculous amounts money being bandied around for quite ordinary Escorts, I've given up trying to make sense of big money for 90's cars.

[covert]

Only few classics worth spending money on

[s m]

If I had 95k to spare I'd love it

[HTP99]

The filter used on those photos don't do the car any favours.

[cerb4.5lee]

I'm another that absolutely loves these.

For some reason I always remember the list price of these as well. I remember thinking £48k seemed like a lot of money when I was only driving around in a £800 Skoda Estelle at the time it first came out.

I couldn't afford one back then...and I still can't afford one now!

[wab172uk]

Just when these things came out I saw one accelerate at full chat on a dual carriageway. I'd never seen anything accelerate as rapid as that thing did that day. I doubt anything (or very little) back then could even touch a Lotus Carlton. And people thought Cosworth's were quick? Different league

I still remember the total outrage from the Liberals and road safety brigade at how fast it was. They wanted it banned. For that and the day I saw it accelerate, it'll always be a very very col car to me. And I hate vauxpoo cars !

[TwigtheWonderkid]

I recall jasper Carrot talking about these....."They say it's the perfect family car.....who are the family...the Fittipaldis?

[s m]

wab172uk said:

Just when these things came out I saw one accelerate at full chat on a dual carriageway.

Same here - first one I saw was the footballer Dalian Atkinson's one. He gave it the full beans out of an island and it just disappeared into the distance. The Porsche he had after was a downgrade performance wise!

[Richard-G]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

I recall jasper Carrot talking about these....."They say it's the perfect family car.....who are the family...the Fittipaldis?

the clip where he says that is in the top gear clip below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGgdyJKdNqw

amazing car, quicker than the fastest ferrari of the day in its time!

[blade7]

wab172uk said:

I doubt anything (or very little) back then could even touch a Lotus Carlton. And people thought Cosworth's were quick? Different league

Sure was, engine nearly twice the size, cost over twice as much. I'd still have an RS500 over an LC though.

[anonymous-user]

Having been up close and personal to one of these I wouldn’t touch one with a barge pole. I used to think they were lovely old things, but the bodging that went on putting them together is remarkable. They make TVR look professional

Lovely to look at, but I’ll leave it in a museum thanks.

[V8fan]

If you can see past the badge, 5th Gear compared one to a VXR8 in 2008. The newer Vauxhall was faster round a track, unsurprisingly, but not by much:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoCYrtcF3mg

And if you don't need 4 doors, a Monaro VXR can be had for much less.

[phumy]

I sold mine in July this year, it was in stunning condition, 81k miles and i was not greedy, i priced it to sell, the second person to view it bought it after a week of being advertised on PH. It sold for less than half the price of this one and i got within £0.5k of the asking price.

Some people/owners are either greedy, blind to the market at the moment, have absolutely no idea of real values or are not looking to sell but just say, "look i own an LC".

[cerb4.5lee]

I remember the chap who I purchased my 200SX from had one for sale and he was telling me that he took his son to the cinema in it. He mentioned that it was still pulling at 160mph on the way there, and I remember thinking that I really want one!

[hondafanatic]

phumy said:

I sold mine in July this year, it was in stunning condition, 81k miles and i was not greedy, i priced it to sell, the second person to view it bought it after a week of being advertised on PH. It sold for less than half the price of this one and i got within £0.5k of the asking price.

Some people/owners are either greedy, blind to the market at the moment, have absolutely no idea of real values or are not looking to sell but just say, "look i own an LC".

What was it like to own/drive? Or point me to a 'Reader's Car' thread if you have one.

I remember being 11 and sitting in one at the Glasgow motor show. I remember it being over twice the price of dad's company car limit...remember those where powerfully built directors were given a capped budget with a couple of restriction but pretty much got what the wanted. Think my old man's limit was £25k which was ok back then.

[SweptVolume]

Always a favourite of mine, I remember when higher mileage (though not stupidly so) were going for £20k.

Something to ponder, though; are there any more around this price? I knew that £40-£50 was more on the money these days, but could this just be a long-term owner who's decided they're possibly willing to let it go if it effectively (when inflation is taken into consideration) hasn't lost a penny? Unless it sells for this money, the price is irrelevant.

[alex.baker89]

I personally love it (personally love most Vauxhalls of this era). If I had £95k I'd have it in a heartbeat.

Even has the same Blaupunkt SQR 88 as my E30 - cracking tape deck

[phumy]

hondafanatic said:

What was it like to own/drive? Or point me to a 'Reader's Car' thread if you have one.

I remember being 11 and sitting in one at the Glasgow motor show. I remember it being over twice the price of dad's company car limit...remember those where powerfully built directors were given a capped budget with a couple of restriction but pretty much got what the wanted. Think my old man's limit was £25k which was ok back then.

It was a lovely car to own and drive, big and comfortable and very quick, when you wanted it to be, a bit like a three seater sofa on steroids. It used to get a lot of attention and never drew a bad word from anyone.

[Shakermaker]

hondafanatic said:

What was it like to own/drive? Or point me to a 'Reader's Car' thread if you have one.

I remember being 11 and sitting in one at the Glasgow motor show. I remember it being over twice the price of dad's company car limit...remember those where powerfully built directors were given a capped budget with a couple of restriction but pretty much got what the wanted. Think my old man's limit was £25k which was ok back then.

the best reader's car thread on the subject is this one

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...