Door handles on 91

[rivercitylotus]

Jim, It sounds like your car has lead a hard life

IMO its nice to start with a project of your favourite car(like I did)

You will get to see the construction of the car firsthand and can do the work to a standard that sits well with you.

Since the handles are already butchered , why not loose them altogether and go for a electric release?

A one off louvered rear hatch (with no wing) like a Miura /Murciealago would also look good on a Stevens IMO

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

A hard life defintiely. It does suit me to start with project car. Im definitely in a quandry regarding the rear deck. the 93 style deck over a 91 engine cover means I've got rain issues, and a louvered rear hatch might solve that issue. I can see why you'd want to take off the wing, with those louvers on board.

But the door handles concern me. the openings have been cut out to 6.5" by 3-3/8" roughly, and well executed (are you there Claudius?) to fit flush handles, but to keep going to down that route I'm in for some considerable grief with the internal mechanism of the door ( I hear), perhaps I should bite the bullet and let a shop finish the flush handle work.

If I thought it was possible I would really consider glassing the holes *back in* (any fiberglass folks out there? Possible?) and recut the holes for the standard handles again! It's not that I don't like the look of the flush handles, but I can except the esthetics of the car as it came from the factory (quite easily!)

This would keep my $s and time focused on the car as a machine to for the road.

So is it feasible glass in those holes? I wonder if the patch would be strong enough?

[andrewp1989]

Any good fiberglass shop will be able to "glass in" those holes without strength concerns. There is no issue with clearance behind the door skin (I mean shell, I guess?). I would suggest that you gut the door and supply them with the door shell off the car.

AP

[rivercitylotus]

Any good fiberglass shop will be able to "glass in" those holes without strength concerns.  There is no issue with clearance behind the door skin (I mean shell, I guess?).  I would suggest that you gut the door and supply them with the door shell off the car.

AP

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks Andrew; the doors need to be gone through anway... Am I on the right track here iyo? Anybody out there actually convert to flush handles?

[andrewp1989]

To be honest, I also have thought of doing what you are now thinking of attempting. The Austin Marina-sourced door handles look especially "cheap" on my 1989 car.

As far as I can tell, the flush door handles off the S4 appear (externally) to be sourced from the 1st generation Suzuki Swift (here in Canada). The Suzuki model year is perhaps 1990 -1992 (guessing). I know the Turbo Swift has identical handles, but I can't say if all model Swifts have them. GM had a near 50% ownership of Suzuki cars (then) so it kinda makes sense that this could be a GM-sourced part for the S4.

AP

[x6gas]

The S4 door handles are from a Vauxhall Calibra.

[Speedquest]

Thanks Andrew; the doors need to be gone through anway... Am I on the right track here iyo?  Anybody out there actually convert to flush handles?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, in Detroit, someone I know has a red Sport 300 clone with flush door handles and electric door releases. It looks bitchin! I am going to do the same to my car, it really cleans up the lines of the car.

Darnel

[WayneB]

The Suzuki Swift was also developed and sold as a Geo Metro, Chevrolet Sprint and the Pontiac Firefly.

I believe Lotus did the development work on the Turbo Firefly so the handles could be the same as the Esprit/Calibra

There are millions of these things in auto wrecking yards, they practically beg you to take parts off them.

Edited December 21, 2005 by WayneB

[rivercitylotus]

The Suzuki Swift was also developed and sold as a Geo Metro, Chevrolet Sprint and the Pontiac Firefly.

I believe Lotus did the development work on the Turbo Firefly so the handles could be the same as the Esprit/Calibra

There are millions of these things in auto wrecking yards, they practically beg you to take parts off them.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Outstanding thank you. I'm off to the wrecking yards...

[andrewp1989]

Should you be unable to locate them, I think I have a salvaged set (in white) hiding in the basement. $5.00 is what I paid at you-pull-it Edmonton autowreckers. No key though.

Yours if required.

AP

[rivercitylotus]

Should you be unable to locate them, I think I have a salvaged set (in white) hiding in the basement.  $5.00 is what I paid at you-pull-it Edmonton autowreckers.  No key though.

Yours if required.

AP

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Kind offer Andrew; Thanks. I may well take you up on that, but I haven't actually tried to locate them yet and I'm still a little up in the airon the issue. Let me do a little digging I put you through the effort. thanks again.

[f1karting]

Should you be unable to locate them, I think I have a salvaged set (in white) hiding in the basement.  $5.00 is what I paid at you-pull-it Edmonton autowreckers.  No key though.

Yours if required.

AP

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hi Andrew.. if Jim decides not to take you up on your offer.. I would be interested in them. Let me know at f1@horizon.bc.ca

Jan

[Paul C]

Yak!

Marina/ TR7 door handles look like a good option compared to handles off THAT crate!

[x6gas]

When I was eight my Dad had a Morris Marina (reg SGL 278M) and I was so chuffed coz it had the same door handles as the TR7 and the Lotus Esprit.

I think the handles are actually pretty cool even now (and I have cars with both styles of handles). What's wrong with them? Apart from the fact that they used to be used on some crappy cars that let's face it are as rare as the Esprit these days.

The biggest trouble is that the paint chips off and they look tatty, but that's easily solved as is colour coding them.

Ian

[slade]

the complaints I get-

-feel mushy and not positive. They don't "pop" the doors open.

Since we didn't get any of the crappy cars those doorhandles are on in the states, no one recognizes them

It was only after I got my TR7 that I reallized how many parts were really carried over, interior and otherwise.

(though somehow the parts seem sturdier when installed in the esprit)

slade

[f1karting]

I think the basic design is OK.. I just hate the fit and finish, and like Slade mentioned, the feedback. Take a close look at one.. not exactly well made are they?

I may go with the shaved kit that fishy has and loose them all together.

Even more disgusting are the interior releases.. butt ugly and cheesy feeling... any good ideas for replacing those??

[igreenrover]

Those handles appeared on the 4 Door Range Rover from 1980 to 1995 and on the Discovery from 1989 to 1998 and people never complained there! Despite the fact the LSE was pushing

[Joey]

Those handles appeared on the 4 Door Range Rover from 1980 to 1995 and on the Discovery from 1989 to 1998 and people never complained there! Despite the fact the LSE was pushing

[f1karting]

I took mine out and had a look.. the slop is from worn pivot pins and poor action on the actuator assy in the back. I think some careful re-construction with more durable parts would do it right.