The Lotus Grand Tourers

I can see that low values are aligned with the high cost of parts/specialist repair and that financial viability is therefore an issue. The Excel is without doubt a very fine and period perfect Lotus model deserving of its place in the motoring world. It has the particular kudos of being the last fr...

I have always found the Hagerty Insurance on-line valuation tool very useful and pretty reliable. Just select a manufacturer, then model and year and up pop approximate values of many classic cars. The sad thing is the 'Excel' doesn't appear in the list! Perhaps someone ought to remind them that the...

Uniroyal Icesport 3 are better when the bulb drops

In my own experience 'classic' (historic?) vehicles see the road only occasionally. I understand the insurance drift but wonder whether cars running just a few hundred or a couple of thousand miles a year really need annual testing. Perhaps an insurance insistence on evidence of safety testing every...

Waistline trim end caps don't exist in early (narrow bodied) cars. Just a bit of black adhesive-sealant smeared over the angled trim profile! Less heavy

Have had much the same issues on a couple of my older cars. If there is no 'click' at all on the motor and all electrical connections are ok there is probably a problem in the starter winding itself. The simple (and probably cheapest/best) fix is to replace the starter assembly complete . If you can...

Interesting thread regarding glass removal for later door-mounted mirrors. Is there any similar guidance for glass removal on early 'glass' mounted mirrors?

I am using Fuchs Titan Super Syn 10W-60 which is one (when I last looked) of those suggested by Opie oils. Seems fine. Not sure what is 'normal' oil pressure. I did ask the question a little while ago but had no response. Couldn't find anything useful in the manual. My '84 LC car shows a little over...

I am aware that the fiesta cooling fans are suitable and will fit an excel and found the recent posting interesting. I will though need a compatible dual fan shroud to make things work for my (single fan) '84. Have looked through the site search facility and nothing has shown. is there a compatible ...

The Excel service notes are extensive with regard to body repair and re-finishing. Perhaps worth looking through before you proceed. In particular the recommended background preparation (grit level) to avoid damaging the original gel coat which from my reading is crucial.

Not on an Excel but I have made a very simple 'Araldite' repair a few times on my classic cars in very similar circumstance. If you have identified the point of leak and it isn't a hose then make sure that you drain the system below the problem area. Leave overnight just to make sure things are reas...

For people to have a reaction the car obviously needs to be stationary and you need to be next to it. I have owned a number of interesting (classic) cars and have always liked the way that social barriers are so easily broken down by easy conversation. A bit like owning a dog! Immediately people (in...

Lola had a similar problem and I gather was experienced by an earlier owner of the car on the driver side. With the door card off I lubricated (with a good quality penetrating spray oil) every connection/pivot. including those which looked ok. Everthing now works perfectly.

[quote="Lotus-e-Clan"]These would look the bees knees ...Classic tyres with raised white letters ..at a price (£184)! 225/60/14 would be OK for size/speedo error (within reason) and tread pattern is very much like the original Goodyear Eagles too! ....speed rating is low though Certainly look good. ...

Lola ('84 car) looks really good since her recent respray and interior refurb. I need now to focus on running gear and mechanical matters. She does wander alarmingly on uneven road surface and although there may be bushing issues I plan to start correction with the tyres themselves. The present tyre...