The Lotus Grand Tourers

I have an 87 Excel SE. A fabulous car with one horrible problem.
The original owner had a Webasto sunroof fitted after purchase and it is impoosible to get spares for said sunroof which is prone to leaking and needs a new rubber seal. The screw dow/locking mechanism is also worn.
I have tried all sorts to keep it watertight, none of which last and am thinking the only solution might be to have it taken out and the hole filled in with fibregalss to bring the car back to original spec .
Any thoughts on this? Is it a job that is practicable ? Do you know or can recommend a bodywork specialist that might undertake the work?
Thanks in advance
Duke

Hello Duke,

Had same problem with other car. Cheapest solution is taken out the sunroof and replace with an other one bigger/same size.
You sometimes find these old sunroofs, new in package, on auto jumbles as I did or internet very cheap. Yes it will be some search.

Filling the hole is possible.. with a polyester plate. Roof is quite flat. But it will require some modelling + painting whole roof + retrimming headliner...with all the mess you will get inside the interior...

Just my 2 censt Curt

Hi.
If you do want to go back to original then I'd suggest contacting Lotusbits and purchasing a section of roof. They break lots of cars and I suspect sell less bodyshell parts than they do mechanical sections, so guess a roof will be relatively cheap. Then a bodywork firm can wafer down the edges of your roof and the new section (once shaped to suit) and glass it in. That will be easier than trying to get the right curve from scratch, and quicker.

Edit:Realising where you are then I'd simply ask Mike to do the whole job.

100 % agree with AndyC.
Get a roof panel from Lotusbit's and set it in. Not much of a contour in the roof panel, but enough IMO that it would never look right if you filled in and tried profiling.
You'd spend more on filler than you will on a panel from LB. - and all that rubbing down.... Urgh.

Tony

I thought it was possible to still get the Webasto sunroofs - have you tried these guys - https://www.thetrimmingcentre.co.uk/tudor-webasto

If wanting to return to standard, I agree with above comments - get a panel from Lotusbits and glass in.

There's a whole Elite bodyshell for sale on fleabay at the moment for reasonable money (wish I had more space!).

Pete

Pete Boole wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 19, 2021 18:23

There's a whole Elite bodyshell for sale on fleabay at the moment for reasonable money (wish I had more space!).

Pete

Surely that would be a different profile to OPs Excel?

I'll bet there's not much in it. Just in case Mike doesn't have anything available!

Pete

My sunroof hole was glassed in by the paint shop when it was resprayed, very successfully.

Webasto sunroofs are, IMHO, the best type of sunroof on a classic and if you can restore it using the contact provided by AlanM then go for it!

Please don’t butcher an Elite! Although the roof profile is the same as far back as the roll hoop I believe.

Cheers, Richard

Thanks for all the suggestions and don't worry i will not be sacrificing an Elite body shell!

Unfortunately this particular sunroof has no spares available so I will have to get a paint shop to glass in the hole. My Excel needs a respray anyway following a botched job around five years ago which has led to the blistering of the paintwork that comes when the prep is not done properly.

I notice Richard, you are not far from me and would be intersted to know who did your paint job. I may well go to them.

Cheers
Duke

You do not need to butcher a roof for that "flat" spot. Auch...
I did several glasfiber bodies repairs and it is only useful to cut a piece if the shape is completely gone like the corner of the car or other specific shapes.

RGDS Curt

Trust me @CID that Mike has more than enough Excel bodies and some will be of crashed cars where major parts are no longer viable as a whole FG body, so it's no real loss to have a section cut. It just saves some more going to be destroyed.

dukeashton wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 20, 2021 17:21

Thanks for all the suggestions and don't worry i will not be sacrificing an Elite body shell!

Unfortunately this particular sunroof has no spares available so I will have to get a paint shop to glass in the hole. My Excel needs a respray anyway following a botched job around five years ago which has led to the blistering of the paintwork that comes when the prep is not done properly.

I notice Richard, you are not far from me and would be intersted to know who did your paint job. I may well go to them.

Cheers
Duke

Just wondering - would The Trimming Centre be able to fit a new sunroof that was the same size as or slightly larger than yours?

Richard

Good question! I am looking into that.
Whilst checking out specialist repairers in our region I came across these. They look impressive on their website. Have you come across them?

https://www.option1sportscars.co.uk/
Cheers
Duke

dukeashton wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 21, 2021 18:18

Good question! I am looking into that.
Whilst checking out specialist repairers in our region I came across these. They look impressive on their website. Have you come across them?

https://www.option1sportscars.co.uk/
Cheers
Duke

Yes, I have used Option 1 for some retrimming work, but not for bodywork. Definitely worth considering alongside the other suggestions in my pm.

Cheers, Richard