The Lotus Grand Tourers

Does anybody know if the ball shaped chrome gear knob that Club Lotus sell fits the Excel? Very helpfully there is no information on what cars it will fit and no information as to whether its universal.

Regards

Shaun

shaunw wrote:Does anybody know if the ball shaped chrome gear knob that Club Lotus sell fits the Excel? Very helpfully there is no information on what cars it will fit and no information as to whether its universal.

Regards

Shaun

Don't know if it fits, but i am removing my Aluminum one as it is very good at absorbing heat and staying very cold in the winter

You wouldn't have a pic of what it looks like would you Jerry?

I'm willing to suffer discomfort for the sake of style

Seriously though, The car is kept in a warmish (central heating pipes run through it) garage so the heat / cold will only be an issue if the car is left out for any period of time. I would replace with a wooden one if they were available to buy new, but as far as I'm aware you can't get them.

The only other option is to get my wooden one re-lacquered but I've had no luck finding anywhere that will undertake such a job. It's faded a bit over the years and the lacquer has chipped around the bottom. Its not too bad but I want to replace the dash panels and I think when I do my knob will stick out like a sore thumb (which could be embarrassing )

shaunw wrote:You wouldn't have a pic of what it looks like would you Jerry?

I'm willing to suffer discomfort for the sake of style

Seriously though, The car is kept in a warmish (central heating pipes run through it) garage so the heat / cold will only be an issue if the car is left out for any period of time. I would replace with a wooden one if they were available to buy new, but as far as I'm aware you can't get them.

The only other option is to get my wooden one re-lacquered but I've had no luck finding anywhere that will undertake such a job. It's faded a bit over the years and the lacquer has chipped around the bottom. Its not too bad but I want to replace the dash panels and I think when I do my knob will stick out like a sore thumb (which could be embarrassing )

Shaun

bear in mind mine is Aly and i got it from Halfauds




i Just bought a Ford Cortina one to see what that would look like. i know it is the wrong shape but who knows may look OK

I quite like that. Not at all 'chavy'. Some of them look ridiculous these days. I definitely want a round one as the current one is a joy to use.

Thanks for the pic

Shaun

Hi Shaun YES! The round gear Knob from Club Lotus does fit the Excel. I have one on mine and although it can initially be a bit cold in winter it's hardly a problem! By the way it'd made by "Richbrook Sport Auto Accessories".
John.

i have just fitted a wooden one, wrong shape but it goes ok i think.......this one is for a Lotus Cortina

Cheers John, would you happen to have a picture of it 'in situ'?

MrcoolA, like the starter button, great idea

Regards

Shaun

I've got a nice MOMO leather gearknob with an aluminium insert in the top. After leaving the car in the baking sun during June I got in and drove off... I've now got OMOM seared into my left palm...

lol, could be worse, could have been a shift pattern. I presume then that most aftermarket ones fit? Is it attached with a grub screw or does it use the original thread?

shaunw wrote:
MrcoolA, like the starter button, great idea

Regards

Shaun

Always wanted a starter button and found that the only reason i used the fag lighter was for my sat nav and i had to keep moving it when i changed gear, so moved the fig lighter socket(s) to the glove box and got my starter button

Have a look at this for more on gear knobs http://www.lotusexcel.net/phpbb/viewtop ... =14&t=4722

Thanks Kev, spookily the top picture showing the original knob is my car. Photo was taken by the previous owner when he put it up for sale. Unfortunately the gear knob doesnt look as good in the flesh as it does in the photo, ditto the dashboard laminated panels. The rest is pretty much as good as it looks in the photo though

Shaun

Kev has already linked it... I have add a further pictures and details

I recently did some leather renovation to my black interior (red Excel) and was considering replacing my gearknob and the two wooden seat knobs, which were all very dull and tired.

Having bought one of those tall wooden gearknobs (with Lotus top) from eBay - nice quality, but with a hole pitifully too small to take the stick - and having emailed Lotusbits for decent breaker ones with no reply, I decided to lightly sand and varnish my old knobs using some old gloss wood varnish I found in my shed. 2 or 3 brush coats of that, and they looked fantastic! They set off the smartened-up leather very nicely and will now probably outlive the car. Or if they don't, I'll just get the varnish tin out again!