Very early Excel on ebay

[MattDebbage]

Very early Excel?
Strange rear spoiler - looks like its from a different car?
And still has the Eclat interior?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lotus-Eclat-/ ... 43ac4d971a

[AndyC]

The early cars up until the time of the E had that style of interior (dials set back in a pod that looked like it as the same hole as the glove box, clock heater etc in a raised section in the middle), but I cannot say I've ever noticed one having rear head rests.

And that spoolier, well, I think it does what the name suggests, it looks more modern.

[JimmyC379]

Looks like a 1983 model Excel. Interior is the same as my 1984 except the interior looks like it has been re-trimmed not to standard spec and min has the Personal wheel. Looks really nice except for that spoiler - I like the early model standard spoilers the best out of all Excels (but I guess each for the self).

[Simpatico]

Looks a really nice early model, and a rare intact interior from the few photographs. Bumpers and sills should be grey, but we'll forgive him that as long as he gets rid of that hideous Richard Grant Tat-cessories add-on spoiler!

[pompey ice]

This model was first registered on 05 /01/83 ,the one I have registered on 01/01/83
the cloth seat material is exactly the same only a different shade ,mine also has the same rear headrests
steering wheel on mine has gregario on it ,instruments are the same,the spoiler rather ugly prefer the original

Now for the bumpers and sills being grey I tend to think there could be a mistake in the WSM regarding changes
to the various years of production [out by one year ] mine has same colour as per photo ,looking at the scratches
on the bumper no trace of the dark grey in question ???


Have I opened a can of worms perchance......

Cheers Ian

[crs_20]

To open the can of worms further I own the Excel from the October 1983 Earls Court motor show when Lotus introduced the body colour bumpers / vents to the bonnet / added the rear wing and changed across to the Toyota wheels. I have documents from Lotus confirming the above.

So my guess is that
1. Your car has had the bumpers sprayed
2. That body coloured bumpers were an option at the time
3. That Lotus was wrong and my car wasn't the first to have body coloured trim!

[pompey ice]

Mmmm The plot thickens, I think i'll go for your number two being an option at the time ,that sounds the most logical
explanation for the differences .One other thing I noticed that car is badged Excel where as mine has Eclat on the bonnet
and boot and Excel on the rear sides,that confused me at the time I was looking to buy the car,
I'm sure one of the members will be delving deep into the archives to come up with an plausible answer.....


Cheers Ian

[Simpatico]

My recollection is that the bumpers went body colour when the Toyota supra wheels were added (& bonnet vents etc), but then it does seem the spec on these early cars changed quite often (has anyone counted how many trim variations they have seen?)

[MikeC]

Very tidy looking car!

Compared to my 1983 model (delivered to me on 6th Sept 1983) the interior is standard "half-leather" except for the pedals and the badge in the middle of the steering wheel. Rear seat belts were not originally an option IIRC, but were available for retro-fitting later. It's a bit odd that there's no shoulder strap tho'. Rest looks very nice condition.

The exterior has horrible (and unnecessary IMO) rear wing, bumpers and sills should be grey, the bonnet badge could be black/gold but it's very soon after ACBC's death to have that fitted.

At 60,000 miles I'd be very concerned to see when the big service at 48,000 had been done, and want to have it done again unless it was fully documented within the last two years.



For your amusement, the price list dated 1st March 1983 shows:-
Ex factory price £11,413.00
Car tax £998.64
Rec retail price in Tax & VAT £14,273.39

Optional Extras (inc car tax and VAT)
Power steering £650.33
Air con £852.15
Leather/cloth trim £386.20
Full leather £773.66
Metallic paint £295.26




Mike

[Simpatico]

Wow Mike, you certainly have got your money's worth out of your car, even if it was a small fortune back in 83.

[MikeC]

Wow Mike, you certainly have got your money's worth out of your car, even if it was a small fortune back in 83.

Odo reading currently 42,000 -- but it's on its third time around!

Sadly it hasn't moved out of garage for nearly ten years though.


Mike

[welshy]

Hi. Some may have noticed this has gone from ebay and im glad to say the car is now in the hands of my father since july of last year.

To clear things up the car did have a respray during the 90s when the alloys and wing was added along with the new design bonnet with the vent. It was blue and silver but for some reason had it painted the same colour throughout the car and to this day the paint work is in superb condition but it has been stored in the same show room for the past 5+years.

The interior was the main plus point for us, we have looked at a few before this with full leather interior and it put us off the car as it looked rather tired. The only down point is the driver seat has been repaired before and didn't do a brilliant job has it's totally different to the other seat. This will be getting sorted hopefully this year.

The wheels do need a refurb and a new set of centre caps along with new tyres has they have started to crack due to so little use.
And for the spoiler I like it tbh but can see why others don't.

Any more questions people want answered im more than happy to answer them for you.

[MalcolmH]

Ah yes - it looks from the pics like the driver's seat has had a leather piece fitted instead of the cloth... is that what you mean?

There's been the occasional request on here from owners trying to find that original ribbed cloth. But I don't know what success they've had.

Obviously the spoiler is a non-standard one, which will divide opinion. But I think you'll find opinion pretty divided on even the standard Excel spoilers!

[Bazzer25]

It was me who was looking for the seat material but in red. My interior is exactly the same with rear headrests and the only bad bit is the same as yours, the seat bolster. I am so reluctant to repair it without finding the right (needle in a hay stack) material.


The first photo is a better reflection of the true colour, they are not as faded as the camera makes them seem in the interior photo.