1984 Excel

[Bluexcel 3]

Just sold and heading from Perth UK to Perth Western Australia...

[johnpwalsh 1,332]

LotusRescue are glad we were able to help out with that one Tony. Have you bought the replacement yet.

[johnpwalsh 1,332]

So, You may think LotusRescue has been a bit quiet of late, in fact for a fair few months. However, things have been moving on in the background. Delays caused by my full time job which meant little time at home over the past two years and not too much being done when I was home, other than one project which was the the imported S1 from the states. She is now all done and off to her owner at long last. I must admit, it is looking rather good and had a huge amount of work done on her.

On the personal side. The TLF member who, three years ago offered to back me in the venture has now been repaid. I will forever be thankful to him for restoring my faith in humane nature when at a time I was pretty pissed off with the world and all that went with it. Thank you bud, it will always be appreciated. Although you asked for nothing in return I am pleased I was able to make a start on something, and eventually pay you back.

In the following months I had to give up my workshop as the owner put his property on the market for sale, and surprisingly, it sold in 4 days. Ouch. I had four days to find alternative storage for the cars I had. Luckily, a local guy who is into classic motorcycles had a spare barn and storage space so a deal was done and hey ho, new premises.

At the same time I had a nice little windfall which allowed me to purchase a nice 4 post ramp, some vehicle stock, a load of new tools etc and get the new workshop kitted out properly (thank you Mrs W) So now LotusRescue has a wonderful big shed that holds 4 cars,  and outside covered storage for 6 more, a four post 4 ton ramp which is slight bigger than the standard 3 ton one and gives an extra .5Mtr width and 1.5Mtr length which is perfect for an Esprit. In addition to the ramp, I managed to find a cracking good jacking beam which fits across the ramp and allows me to jack any vehicle up and have the wheels free to work on anything. The building owners have been excellent in having a new concrete floor laid prior to the ramp going in so no worries about strength of the floor, all new lighting and all new power sockets, and loads of them. It is bloody ace. LotusRescue now has 3 client cars waiting for work (which helps pay the rent) plus my increased own fleet, and all due to one man and a little luck with a PPE claim. And all that happened withing a few months at the end of last year. Now if you think that's good, the next bit is a cracker. As of the end of this  month I am no longer working away from home for months at a time then only having a week or so off, I am back on a normal work rota where I work away for 4 weeks, then home for 4. A life can now be had, plans can be made, our house backlog of jobs can be finished, the  wife's car can be completed ( the Excel has been waiting almost 2 years) and I can get cracking with other projects. The first being another S1, then the Ekup, an Elite (horrible faded Brown) and two Excels, then whatever whatever lands up next.

Couple of pics attached of the S1 the day she left outside the old workshop and the new shed waiting to be finished and have the walls and floor painted. Progress. Oh yes. 

 

 

Happy today.

 

Oh yes.

 

 

[Barrykearley 6,861]

Fantastic to see onwards and upwards 

[Clive59 115]

So pleased John,  a long wait but looks like you have cracked it. Looking forward to some new additions!

[Bibs 11,167]

Excellent news

[johnpwalsh 1,332]

Update on the S1. Had a call from the owner. Can you pop over to France and fix a couple of issues. Transport driver had yanked on the handbrake and it was well and truly stuck on, passenger door wouldn't open and a few other little issues caused probably by bouncing about on a transporter for something like 700 miles. So, LotusRescue goes international. Plans all made, 14 hour drive to Folkestone, overnight stay, then Le shuttle early morning. Gets to destination and find snags are all an easy fix. Carried out a few other improvements the owner requested. Job done.

Half day to spare before our return which was pre booked so obviously we had to do the French tourist bit and head into Paris central. Whirlwind tour of the city using their metro and train system which is a great way to get about. Fantastic Italian meal courtesy of the cars owner in the city centre. Last night in the city prior to heading home.

The old Volvo did us proud. Loaded down with every tool I could think I would need, then some. A mileage check showed 1,983 miles on 4 tanks of fuel. Bloody good going for a heavy car with a good bit of weight in the boot.

Return journey was fun in heavy rain, thick fog drizzle, then more fog.

So. Do we now call it LotusRescue International. Lol.

 

[jep 853]

International LotusRescue. Lotus are Go!   (For those of a certain age).

Well done. I could have done with you in 1994 when I was stranded on an autobahn in my S1 Esprit. A German Lotus groupie stopped and assisted. The rest of the story is very long....involving multiple transporters and a 90 year old woman.

Justin 

[Angus553 34]

International Rescue (Lotus) Ltd could be a winner, travelling the globe from your secret island base !! 

[johnpwalsh 1,332]

The long and the short of the trip to France is we have now been asked to carryout a full restoration on a second S1 by the same owner. Must be doing something right. Many lessons learned on the first one .

No 1, Never believe that all reproduced parts will anything like close to fitting, or as described.

No 1 A. Never believe it when a supplier says, yeh, this part will also do the job, just tweak it a bit.

No 2, Never take for granted promised delivery times.

No 3. Never give an estimation on how long a particular task will take without at least multiplying the hours required by 3, especially when it comes to re aligning doors and windows. 

No 4. Never believe history that comes with a car unless you personally have known the vehicle, I can almost guarantee, the history has been, shall we say massaged a little.

No 4 A. Always think of the worst and if it's better, it's a bonus and you have saved time.

No 5. Always have the manual handy. It looks like the part fits, nope, that's wrong, take it off and do it again. And if you don't think that looks quit right, your probably right, but hey its a Lotus and could well be.

No 6. Don't believe everything in the manual. The original build of the car was probably not as described.

No 7. Find someone with a similar model that is willing to compare notes and supply photographs. Believe me, it's a godsend at times.

No 8. Take loads of photographs of whats been done, it's a bonus for the owner, great for the cars history, and a great way of looking back and checking before and after.

No 9. ALWAYS thank those who have helped out with above photographs and info. I can guarantee, you will be contacting them more than once.

Lastly. When your project is finished, and it starts first time off the key, moves, stops, starts and everything works as it should. Give yourself a pat on the back as it's a bloody miracle, after all. Its a LOTUS.  

 

Thanks to all who helped by answering questions when I was stuck.

[johnpwalsh 1,332]

Hi guys, been very quiet of late, but still here.

So, after the long ongoing saga of the Esprit I was restoring has at last gone, I can now concentrate on my own cars which presently is. Lotus Excel x 4. Esprit x 1. Lotus Elite 504 x 2. and of course the Ekup. The donor is already home so I can now start the strip down and prepare the Ekup for a nice paint job and a rebuild. The plan was to start it at the beginning of the year but something called a virus kind of put paid to that by having me stuck overseas for 12 bloody weeks. So, job one is clean up the engine bay and have it painted in the chosen colour prior to fitting out. Strip all the suspension and brakes so they can be rebuilt. Have a fuel tank designed and built to sit in the back.. Once that lots done she will go back to the paint shop for the shell to be painted prior to fitting out the interior. I recon a years worth of work (virus dependant) and she should be ready. The finished item is going to be a bit strange for a Lotus and will certainly be a Marmite car, but hey ho, it's saving two from certain death at a breakers, so I think it's justifiable. I am sure a few people will be a bit surprised when they see the final finish as it will not only be a one off Lotus,  if it will all works out properly, it will have something on it that would be least expected for sure. Time allowing I will see if I can do a video update of works as it commences. That is with the exemption of the last bit as that's being kept out of site until her public unveiling. :).

An of course we are still working away on the LotusRescue concept in helping out with other projects etc. Prior to this bloody virus, we managed to have a car sold to Australia, One to Germany and one off the Durham. So 6 happy people. And of course, always more projects on the go in the background. 

[USAndretti42 308]

Glad to see you are up and running again, John.  I was worried you might be stranded somewhere where you wouldn't want to be and unable to return home.  Looks you have plenty on the go.

[johnpwalsh 1,332]

Hi Trevor. 12 weeks offshore Doha was a long haul and certainly put paid to loads of plans for this year. However, now i'm back home I have been cracking on with a few projects. December of last year I found a little Dutton Phaeton in a storage container less than 10 miles form my home. Made a deal for it thinking something to play with this summer while I work on Ekup and Wendy's excel as i'st still not finished. Anyway got a phone call just this Saturday past to say the Dutton had been released and ready for collection. And before any comments on me divorcing from Lotus, nope, just a summer toy worth saving. But once again, time is against me and I think the little Dutton will be sold on due to lack of time for it. The 504 Elite is all but complete, the 501 is much the same. As mentioned Wendy's Excel is almost there except for electrical problems which  hate. Then the biggie will start, the Ekup. Anyone fancy a nice little Dutton in very good condition, tax and MOT exempt as of next year.

 

The new tow motor. VW Amarok which last week has replaced my ever trustworthy Volvo XC. I needed more towing capacity.

And the little Dutton.

 

 

Watch this space for updates.

 

 

[pete 1,805]

is that a ford engined one John

[johnpwalsh 1,332]

On 26/05/2020 at 08:03, pete said:

is that a ford engined one John

Yes. 1600 cross flow with 4 branch and type 9 gearbox.

 

 

[johnpwalsh 1,332]

So the virus has turned LotusRescue into a busy little workshop. One very nice Esprit SE in for a refresh including a clutch change. An S1 Elan  M100, one owner with only 26k miles on her coming in for a full service and check over as its been in storage for years. It's a possible new purchase for a newbie Lotus owner.

Some of you may remember another Esprit SE I found about 5 years ago now up in the highlands, well the owner has now decided to restore her and wants me to do the overhaul. That's going to be a big job as last time I saw it she was in a bit of a state, but at least it will be another saved. My Ekup project gets pushed back again, as does Wendy's Excel.

On the down side, in the last few days my replacement tow motor, the VW Amarok has broken a front spring and now suffered a cracked windscreen. Grrrr.

Ah well, that's how it goes.