The Lotus Grand Tourers

88 Lotus excel SE

Big mistake on my part, was working on the boot lock mechanism and had to move the car and shut the boot without thinking. The boot is locked via the latch but the lock is not attached to the latch so the boot is stuck shut.

Wondering what the easiest way to get into this would be? I have removed the spare wheel and the cover for it so would the easiest option to drill a hole in the bottom? Is there any option of getting into it without being destructive?

On the bright side my boots went from not locking at all to being locked permanently...

I'll look at the weekend for my latch and if I find it will offer it up to the boot off car and have a looksee

With the lock disconnected from the link rod you're buggered. Noting the mechanism is also behind the mount plate. Access which ever way needs to go through the lightening cutout as far as I can tell. Pics to follow

The_Mini_Ken wrote: Wed Jul 16, 2025 17:14
Wondering what the easiest way to get into this would be? I have removed the spare wheel and the cover for it so would the easiest option to drill a hole in the bottom? Is there any option of getting into it without being destructive?

going through the boot floor doesn't look very viable.

Pushing something from the top to push dow on the springloaded catch might be possible but it would be very a convoluted U-type wire you would have to feed past the gap between lid and rubber moulding, and if it is stiff enough it might be to thick.

Doable looks to be to drill a (6mm??) hole central above the lock as high up as you can make it in the gap covered by the trunklid through the body and the metal lock mounting plate. Bend the end of a screwdriver in a half moon, insert it curve up and depress the lockcatch chanting ' nothing on one, nothing on two' etc .

Another possible option.

Unbolt the boot hinges from the body and lift the front of the boot up.

If you look down into the gap at the upper outer edges of the boot, below the glass you will see two bolt heads (one each side) these bolt into the hinge bracket - what I can’t remember is if there is a normal or captive bolt on the hinge.

Then the other bolt is hidden under the parcel shelf carpet. This is a normal nut and bolt, so would need to be drilled out.

Sorry, just looked and re-thought this - the boot lid wouldn’t lift up as hinge extends under the rear panel and glass.

Drilling through lock maybe best way. Only lock is forfeit

Hawaiis0 wrote: Tue Jul 22, 2025 23:19 Drilling through lock maybe best way. Only lock is forfeit

Sourcing a lock, and rebuilding the lock barrel to fit your key seems a pain. If you drill a smal hole, plug it with a bolt afterwards and nobody needs to know