Elite/Eclat/Excel picture thread!

[jep]

Bell and Colvill today, MOT and replace centre box exhaust which LotusBits supplied, twice.... I'll be sending the extra one back. 

[Rob.Lotus.Excel]

Hi All

I’ve had a busy time with my Celebration this year. 

It has been to Stonor Park (Henley), Salon Privé at Blenheim Palace, & a few drives with some 1980’s car friends into the Cotswolds over the summer. 

The Excel seems to be getting a lot more attention recently compared to when I bought it 5 years ago. 

[jep]

A beauty with the gold wheels a pleasant flourish.

Newlands Corner:

[jep]

[Mark Blanchard]

Rob, I saw your car at Stonor.  Looked stunning 👍.

[Rob.Lotus.Excel]

On 29/11/2022 at 18:52, Mark Blanchard said:

Rob, I saw your car at Stonor.  Looked stunning 👍.

Thanks Mark 👍

Did you have a car there too? 

[Mark Blanchard]

10 hours ago, Rob.Lotus.Excel said:

Thanks Mark 👍

Did you have a car there too? 

Yes 2, though no Lotus.

[jep]

66,000 miles rolled around today on Excel. 30,000 plus since 2012 with me.

Justin 

[exeterjeep]

Seen on FB today  - must be MOT exempt by now.

 

[Escape]

On 01/01/2023 at 14:31, jep said:

66,000 miles rolled around today on Excel. 30,000 plus since 2012 with me.

Justin 

Just saw this post, I was at Brooklands too and had a good look at the Excel but didn't realise it was yours. 🙂

[Bibs]

From fb...

 

[Gray14]

Googling Lotus Eclat images recently, ended up on Instagram and saw the picture below, thought it looked familiar. My car !!

Neighbours tell me people are always photographing it or just stopping and looking at it. Located in NW London.

I liked the comment the poster left about 'Hotwheels' and 538 likes !!

 

And visiting a friend in Archway, N London, someone took this one and posted on Instagram. Only 18 likes, but only 10 days ago. 

Edited May 10 by Gray14

[jep]

Front engine Lotus wedges are chronically undervalued. Folk love seeing them, real excitement. Rare and special vehicles, should be £30k+. 

Grab one whilst you can. 

Justin

 

[exeterjeep]

My first Lotus - end of 1981 a re-registered car from IOM. Had to be towed away some years later when the gearbox failed.

[jep]

Beans Industry internals on those gearboxes? Terrible reliability issues.

Toyota box a joy....though mine did fail at 47000 miles, 27 years old though. 

Justin 

[Don't Be Foolish]

Had a go at recreating one of the photographs from the Elite launch brochure at a local hotel this morning.

[Uncle Al]

Just a few pics of my project which started after my late uncles passing in 2016….it’s been a journey - one that started in 1978 when I first saw it!  Just the interior to do now…

[TonyL]

Beatiful.  I love the brown.  it's one of the few 70s colours that hasn't been revived (purple being another that comes to mind) which makes it look very 70s.

[jep]

Purple has appeared on a few moderns but not many. Metallic brown was in vogue especially on Honda a while back.

Brown Elite is yummy.

[ChrisJ]

I had a brown Peugeot 3008 - great car (until the BMW/Mini engine went pop), apart from the colour, although my wife liked it. When I bought it it was the only petrol 3008 close to me, the other one on sale was in Scotland.

[Uncle Al]

Thanks for the love of the brown.  From 2016 until 2022 it was seven shades of black - my uncle wanted to make a JPS Elite and there was even a full size JPS sticker/print (self adhesive) that was rolled up in the boot and now hangs on the garage wall.  TBH, I'm not keen on Sable Brown but I wanted the original colour.  I think you can make subtle changes and enhancements but personally I feel the colour should be as it left the factory - odd I know!  Although I have started to warm to it, I'm really envious of the purples, the greens and the silvers.  Even black does look good, actually all colours look good just not brown!  Although I mentioned this on my first post back in 2016, the car was registered less than 3 wks after I was born in 1974, and the engine was built in July 74 - it was being made I was being made.....it makes for a very strange connection of sorts.  To note, I've also gone down a very unusual track of recommissioning and have followed my senses with certain choices.  For example the engine was built by a Rover V8 specialist and the mechanical commissioning works completed by a Norfolk TVR specialist, I was on a budget and it has seemed to have worked so far.  Loving all of the cars posted - nothing like a wedge 🙂.

[jep]

Sold today. I'll miss the brilliant Excel. Deposit paid by a first time Lotus owner. I'll do a new MOT before collection. 

11 years, 30,000 very happy miles.

Justin 

[89esprit]

Hi All, Anyone have any pics of an Elite decked out in a race livery from back in the day? Were these ever raced in some sort of Saloon Car series?

Thanks,

Kenny