Waist line removal

[iangotts]

Overall the front looks far more modern.

Grille - Front has s/s metal grille. Removed rotten rubber bumper bit. ( http://themeshcompany.com )

Indicator lights - Take 4 normal indicator lights. ( http://www.tractorspares.com ) Cut in half. Discard orange bits and glue white bits together. Buy orange bulbs. ( http://www.phoenixautobulbs.co.uk )

Faired in front - Lots of filler, but mixed with microfibers to give it more strength. I left the black strip in place but rubbed down with 60 grade w& d to key surface.

Side trim - Grind off trim, rub back, fill holes, respray. A lot of work for a small change, but it does remove the bumper/dodgem car look.

The plan with all of this is drive around for a month or two and check there are no cracks / movement before spending on a good quality respray.

[iangotts]

Photo of front... (Lotus purists look away now)

[ttedj]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wF6WM9HvDU

Had the trim removed.

Ted

[Lotus-e-Clan]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wF6WM9HvDU

Had the trim removed.

Ted

That one doesn't look right to my eye. Note that the rear bumper wrap (and front bumper) looks odd without the black waistline strip. Or put it another way, the designers would have designed the bumper differently if the strip had not been there.

[Simpatico]

Photo of front... (Lotus purists look away now)

Sorry but it's like an accident on the motorway, you have to look. Because the colour is fairly dark it's hard to see the waistline has gone TBH, but that mesh infill at the front just shouts B&Q to me. The bumperlets and gaping air scoop were doing no harm IMHO. And seeing as the current wheels are one of my favourite all-time wheels stuck on any car it's unlikely I'll be singing songs about the replacements. Sorry to sound negative, and it's your car blah blah etc, but you are posting pictures actively seeking opinions.

[iangotts]

Not posting photos looking for appreciation. Posting photo at the request of another member. And yes, it is my car. And I am grateful of the support / advice from various members, whether they like what I am doing or not. Long may that continue.

BTW Grille is Aston Martin stainless steel

[AndyC]

I wonder if the front bumper wouldn't look better with the area filled where the bump absorption pieces used to be. I know it would be more like the way the Elite & Eclat were, just not sure though.

[iangotts]

I did think about this. I could 'mock' it up to see how it looks before I commit to making the changes. Adding the grill was an easy option as I had some spare grill material left over. Perhaps a job this weekend.

[AndyC]

I think it's a job for masking tape stretched across the void and then spray over the top to mock it up or just photoshop.

[iangotts]

Here is the comparison.

[iangotts]

[Lotus-e-Clan]

Ironic ..the black waist strip (with maybe black over-riders) would integrate the look of the black wheels with black mirrors. Looking more like a ricer car now (well it is part-Toyota all said and done)...maybe more so if a little more slammed?

BTW. Body colour bumper looks too deep and "blocky"....best with over-riders to break it up?

[iangotts]

Great comments, thanks. Still work in progress. I will experiment with stripe/coachlines and also whether grilles should be black.

[ttedj]

Waht are the wheels and what size?

Thanks

Ted

[iangotts]

The wheels are from ImageWheels.co.uk

Style is called EV http://imagewheels.co.uk/large_wheel_pages/ev.html
The build is "Classic" - rim bolts are hidden
Colour is Anthracite (dark grey), not black
Size is 17" x 7J

Tyres are 215 x 40 x 17 Toyo T1R
from http://www.camskill.co.uk/m54b103s103p0 ... 15_40_R_17