Early Excel sales brochure and price list

[MikeC]

I've scanned the original Excel brochure and the 1983 price list, starting here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/54731504@N ... 897306086/


There's also a quiz picture, originally for another list, but anyone here can have a go too:
Where is this? http://www.flickr.com/photos/54731504@N ... hotostream


Cheers,

Mike

[Mr Locust]

Where is this?

Triangle, Loton Park?

[MikeC]

Where is this?

Triangle, Loton Park?

Got it in one. The Yahoo Lotus-cars mailing list took a lot longer.

Location: Stafford

Ah, that explains it.



Mike

[Mr Locust]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrlocust/s ... 309469705/

That explains it! Loton is a really good venue for the keen photographer of hillclimbing motorsport.

[MikeC]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrlocust/s ... 309469705/

That explains it! Loton is a really good venue for the keen photographer of hillclimbing motorsport.

It's a lot more fun behind the wheel than behind the camera! Why not give the Excel a run in the Paul Matty Championship?

Finding this picture is what started me off digging through the photos.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/54731504@N ... hotostream

I'm the one in nomex on the left, wondering how much it's going to cost me.



I see you frequent Curborough too. Here's Curborough about 1975. I've taken the Excel there a couple of times too.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/54731504@N ... hotostream



Mike

[Mr Locust]

I have run at both venues in the Caterham as a former competitor in the Lotus 7 Speed Series.

Going around the outside of the cones at Triangle after finding it was more greasy than I first thought is definitely not the fastest line!!

[MikeC]

Going around the outside of the cones at Triangle after finding it was more greasy than I first thought is definitely not the fastest line!!

Yes, these hillclimb venues can be very, very greasy. That's what caught me out in the Lola, I was first off after the lunch break and Loggerheads hadn't dried out after a bit of rain.

I ran out of skill too, which never helps



But, to bring things back on topic, the Excel can turn in results that surprise anyone who hasn't driven one, on a "quick" circuit, Goodwood or Donington particularly. At Brands Indy I've done times that got the others in the class (over 2 litre saloons) examining it wondering what I'd done to it. But it was 100% standard production, even down to the archaic Goodyear NCT tyres, and with about 150,000 miles on the clock.
Ooops, not 100%, it had 3 Spax dampers and 1 Koni at the time.




Mike

[Mr Locust]

I suspect the 'over 2l saloons' classification flatters the Excel. Apart from a modestly reasonable power to weight ratio, I would suspect that the small frontal area and low cd probably make it reasonably efficient through the air at high(er) speeds compared to something more conventional.

The Caterham is pretty good on the power to weight front but aerodynamics are not it's forte. A bit like a brick with bits sticking out! You really notice the difference in performance if the full windscreen is replaced by an aeroscreen.