The Lotus Grand Tourers

1985 LOTUS EXCEL IN MONACO WHITE/ BLUE HALF LEATHER.PRICE £5995!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1985-LOTUS-EX ... 2396740456

and

1990 LOTUS EXCEL SE SPARES OR REPAIR EXCELLENT RESTORATION PROJECT
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1990-LOTUS-EX ... 2012048746

I will try not to laugh too hard but both of these vehicles reek of trouble to me.
One that has been affectionately named the "black badge special" has an early narrow body badge on a 1990 registered vehicle with 1987-88 spec.

The other white one has been there for a long time and they have refreshed the photos today. Jps badging on an excel and advertised by a trader who knows nothing of standard items ((2.0 twin cam.... really!) when advertising the car. A sad statement that shouts "investment car"

Both say, be wary to me.

fueltheburn wrote:I will try not to laugh too hard but both of these vehicles reek of trouble to me.................
............................
...................Both say, be wary to me.

Each to their own on pet hates ... in the context of these two cars- these are mine ...

1) The ram tubes on the white car must be just a mm or two away from the cover plate (assuming they are still there)!

It will come as no shock to old timers on here that I'm not an open air filter fan - but even those who are fans of induction roar and are in denial of dodgy air temperatures, must admit the K&N's are way undersized - I've used deeper filters on my 1040 cc IMP engine just to properly house shorter ram tubes (45mm) than found on an Excel!

2) The black badge special has an air freshener masking the beautiful smell of leather ... And 11 owners within 98K miles

That said, both could become very nice cars with not too much effort ..assuming they are not full mechanical rebuild money pits?

As above the white, jps, (just please somebody) has been on the net for sometime! 6mth or so..

Lee1 wrote:As above the white, jps, (just please somebody) has been on the net for sometime! 6mth or so..

So that one is a wash and photos taken from a different angle ?

Have you ever dealt with Vincent Haydon Cars ?

http://vincenthaydoncars.com/Cars%20For ... ale_9.html

It sounds expensive when compared to others so I am surprised they are not very good at replying.

You may find the car,(not with them,but on there sales list). Request a viewing;see wat happens.

lxtwin wrote:

Lee1 wrote:As above the white, jps, (just please somebody) has been on the net for sometime! 6mth or so..

So that one is a wash and photos taken from a different angle ?

Have you ever dealt with Vincent Haydon Cars ?

http://vincenthaydoncars.com/Cars%20For ... ale_9.html

It sounds expensive when compared to others so I am surprised they are not very good at replying.

Not dealt with them but they have been around for a long time ...that Excel looks genuine to me. I'd love to own it.

I know folk are rightly wary of elderly low-mileage cars because lack of use can cause major issues if not stored and managed properly - but there is a lot of merit and value in a car that is relatively 'factory-fresh', hasn't been messed with etc., not least that the engine & running gear should show hardly any wear and the frames and body should be pristine. An opportunity for a new owner to treat and keep her right.

Lotus-e-Clan wrote: Not dealt with them but they have been around for a long time ...that Excel looks genuine to me. I'd love to own it.

I know folk are rightly wary of elderly low-mileage cars because lack of use can cause major issues if not stored and managed properly - but there is a lot of merit and value in a car that is relatively 'factory-fresh', hasn't been messed with etc., not least that the engine & running gear should show hardly any wear and the frames and body should be pristine. An opportunity for a new owner to treat and keep her right.

I am going to take a look at it to see what it is like, who knows the kids and missus might like it.

a wanted ad. for elans with the contact e-mail haydon555@binternet.com appears in the club lotus mag. every month, i wonder if it is the same organisation.

alanbell wrote:a wanted ad. for elans with the contact e-mail haydon555@binternet.com appears in the club lotus mag. every month, i wonder if it is the same organisation.

It is indeed. Seems to like dealing at the higher end with good low mileage examples (he has a number of low mileage Gig Esprit's and S1 Elise) plus gathering restoration projects into one space (his) to pass on at a profit!

Vincent Haydon has been around a while, formerly running the Lotus dealership in Salisbury (Haydon Cars) then expanding with Daytune before closing both. He has been dealing with older Lotuses independently for some years now. If I were looking to buy a car I would have been straight down to see that black one (and the blue early car listed here recently). I did actually buy a car from Haydons some twenty years ago.

fueltheburn wrote:I will try not to laugh too hard but both of these vehicles reek of trouble to me.
One that has been affectionately named the "black badge special" has an early narrow body badge on a 1990 registered vehicle with 1987-88 spec.

The other white one has been there for a long time and they have refreshed the photos today. Jps badging on an excel and advertised by a trader who knows nothing of standard items ((2.0 twin cam.... really!) when advertising the car. A sad statement that shouts "investment car"

Both say, be wary to me.

my car should have the oval looking badge but I changed it for the round yellow/ green badge, that doesn't mean its a bad car, just personalised. The white car does have "twin cams" so not actually a lie. Take the cars for what they are now, not what they "should" be.