Jorge E Posted December 1, 2012 Report Share Posted December 1, 2012 Hello from Andorra! I'm Jordi, my car is an Eclat s2.2 1980 Altair Green. It is my first semi-classic car, I've purchased it a few weeks ago. The car is complete, has been maintained under roof for many years. The family of its first owner maintained the car it in a "medium care" level until they sell it. So I'm the second owner. I think because the age the car needs renewal of all filters and fluids, a complete brake rebuild, a new stainless steel exhaust system, new belts, thermostat, maybe new clutch. The heater is not working, the A/C system needs gas, etc. Rigth now the car is in an auto-classic workshop specialist for the fist rebuild (brake system, exhaust, suspension busches...) and then I'll go for other easier thinks by myself. I hope you Lotus enthusiast can help me in the process I begin!! I've found great usefull information on lotusforum.com!! See you, Jorge E Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisJ Posted December 1, 2012 Report Share Posted December 1, 2012 Nice looking car - I like the colour. More photos please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jorge E Posted December 1, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2012 Thank you, Chris! I've done only a few shots, the car needs to work on it before be exposed to the camera When the first work became done, I will perform a complete photo album! I've one picture of the interior and other (blurred) on a workshop lifter. On the rent box : Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazza 907 Posted December 1, 2012 Report Share Posted December 1, 2012 That colour looks fantastic, as does the interior. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramjet Posted December 1, 2012 Report Share Posted December 1, 2012 The longer you stay around this place, you keep learning something new. I have never seen that colour. Quote All we know is that when they stop making this, we will be properly, properly sad.Jeremy Clarkson on the Esprit. Opinions are like armpits. Everyone has them, some just stink more than others. For forum issues, please contact one of us Moderators. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emmerg Posted December 1, 2012 Report Share Posted December 1, 2012 (edited) Lovely - not many in that colour. Looks great. Good luck with it I wonder if the centre console came in green leather from factory - have not seen that before, usually veneer or black. Grey colour match so maybe it s original ? Edited December 1, 2012 by Emmerg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunc Posted December 2, 2012 Report Share Posted December 2, 2012 Welcome to our group Jorg! Lovely looking eclat. Ricks altair green elite also has the green console, so I'd guess it was factory fit. D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USAndretti42 Posted December 2, 2012 Report Share Posted December 2, 2012 I really like that colour. In fact the whole car looks really nice. Looking forwards to more pictures. Welcome to the forum. Thanks for posting. Quote S4 Elan, Elan +2S, Federal-spec, World Championship Edition S2 Esprit #42, S1 Elise, Excel SE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emmerg Posted December 2, 2012 Report Share Posted December 2, 2012 I meant to say great colour match not grey ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jorge E Posted December 2, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2012 Thank you all for such a warm welcome!!!! The car and I are in the way to know each other. Funny the conundrum of pout-pourri parts shared with so many other cars!!! My mechanich is searching the goodies to renew brakes, exhaust and maybe other "bottom" parts. If I need your help (or simply to notice you about a difficulty solved) I'll write to you here. See you! Jorge E Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emmerg Posted December 2, 2012 Report Share Posted December 2, 2012 The only other one I had seen had the veneer, like this - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neill1607 Posted December 2, 2012 Report Share Posted December 2, 2012 Not so sure about the interior colour, but love the exterior green. Looks like you've got a fantastic car as base to move forward with. Quote Hooligan at heart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loose Cannon Posted December 2, 2012 Report Share Posted December 2, 2012 Lots more pictures please Jordi but make them BIGGER! My Eclat is Altair green, and is due in the paintshop in January (fingers crossed). I was wavering about the colour but your pictures help convince me to stay original. BTW the veneer on the centre console is pretty rubbish and peels off when the base metal becomes rusty in damp conditions. I have seen a couple now, mine included, where this has been retrimmed with some thin leather and looks just as nice, the previous owner of mine did a smashing job. Quote In the garage no-one can hear you scream Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunc Posted December 3, 2012 Report Share Posted December 3, 2012 The only other one I had seen had the veneer, like this - Guy, I miss- understood. I thought you meant the console itself rather than the swtchgear panel. I didnt even notice the switch panel was green until re-reading. Looks good though :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emmerg Posted December 3, 2012 Report Share Posted December 3, 2012 Dunc - I will chose my words more carefully next time ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Nut Posted December 3, 2012 Report Share Posted December 3, 2012 Gentlemen you have all missed the point, Unfortunately the steering wheel is on the wrong side of the car which means I'll just have to take it. Jordi please ship to England straight away. Not to sure about the totally green interior but I love the rest of the car, it looks almost new. The Forum can I think, answer most, if not all questions regarding the Lotus cars, if not we know a man who can. Welcome and enjoy. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tocus Posted December 8, 2012 Report Share Posted December 8, 2012 Here some other pictures i found on my pc: http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/820/20120216173439240.jpg/'> http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/855/2012021617404626.jpg/'> http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/221/33787543002f9f798509.jpg/'> (they say: this last picture must be been an ex car of lotus factory, maby from colin himself..) i know that he had a Essex elite s2.2 only one was build, its was inside the netherlands now its back to england, i know the owner, great men! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loose Cannon Posted December 8, 2012 Report Share Posted December 8, 2012 That Eclat belonged to Hazel Chapman and was given to journalist Jabby Crombac (there are pictures on the net of this event at a Grand Prix somewhere with Essex/David Thieme in the background). It was auctioned off after Jabbys death and is still in Europe, not sure where. This is it pictured at Colin's house, I would love to know who took the picture Quote In the garage no-one can hear you scream Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jorge E Posted December 8, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2012 Here some other pictures i found on my pc: Tocus, this is JUST my Eclat! These pictures are shoted inside the dealer garage where I bougth the car! You can see the registration plates of others cars on the foreground, all Andorra registration!!! I did'nt saw them before, maybe you have found that pictures on an old online advert? I think the interior needs a cleaning journey and maybe a new headlining (not shown in the pictures, need reglue or change...). And "The Nut", despite the steering wheel is on the rigth or "wrong" side of the car, let me just put you a question: Are there a sportiest steereng wheel for thath car wich can maintain the styling of the eigthies? Some suggestions? Or I'd better for no replace the original one? Thank you!! -- Jordi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loose Cannon Posted December 8, 2012 Report Share Posted December 8, 2012 The "Personal" (Nardi) steering wheel for the Lotus Excel matches the dash nicely as it was designed by Giugiaro who also did the Elite/Eclat interior. You will need a suitable boss (from an early Range Rover or MG Midget I think) or have one machined Quote In the garage no-one can hear you scream Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tocus Posted December 8, 2012 Report Share Posted December 8, 2012 hello Jordi, yess i know that this is your car, because i sa it one year ago or something, i only have just 3 orginal elite steering wheels for sale, and not a excel steering wheel, it sould be nicer if the car stays orginal, but if you want something else.. its your car, what about the cleaning, there are some company;s where you can buy leather paint, into the right colour of your green leather, they just must have a little pice of the green leather and they will make the paint for you, DONT FORGET the primer on the leather, otherwise it dont holds, it works perfecht i do also some times, i still have 2 LHD lotus elite cars, (i am from the netherlands..) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jorge E Posted December 9, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2012 (edited) Hello Tocus! Thank you a lot for the advice on the cleaning! So... you're the man wich came to Andorra interested for the Lotus last January or Febrary !! In fact, the dealer told me "a german guy come to see the Eclat, seemed interested and wanted to buy it to take the car outside Andorra... " I guess the asking price was too high for compensate export duties. Well, the price they ask was high anyway, and the car needed some immediate repair (exhaust, clutch and so on...). And also needs some exterior brigthwork to correct, maybe in the past a body repair not so much carefully was done. As expert you are, and if you looked carefully the car, maybe you can give some tips or advice on it... I will be very thanksfull!! I'm not an Lotus expert!! Wath a surprise, great that forum !!!! And for the steering wheel... I agree with you to keep the car as when its first day. I do promise to keep the car as original as I can. If a mod is done, and the original part will be carefully stored and reversed in the future if needed. Best regards, Jordi Edited December 9, 2012 by Jorge E Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tocus Posted December 11, 2012 Report Share Posted December 11, 2012 no jordi i dont went to andorra, i am just a good searching for lotus elite and eclat car, because i work always on this cars, (and i wanne buy more cars..) thats the reasion that i had allready 8 of that cars, and i still like it, to make cars good and then sell them to a person how also loves this cars, and now i have 2 cars complete for spares and bits, and now i can sel parts to other lotus owners so they still can keep driving, or make them car better, or nicer.. if you need some info just ask, thats also the reasion that we have this forum (and i am also on other forums, like the lotusexcel.net) its just great to hear every time the great storys of other owners and make them happy with parts. thats keep me going, and i am just 25 years old, so hopefully my future will be the same as its going, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jorge E Posted December 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2012 This is great Chris! Happy to know how deep is the knowledge you have on Lotus, and how great is your aficion to those cars! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mat grant Posted December 14, 2012 Report Share Posted December 14, 2012 (edited) Hi, Just for your info, if you're thinking of changing the steering wheel - The three spoke Excel "Personal" wheel comes in two types, early (pre 1986) and late. The early type has different splines and fits straight on the eclat column. I have the three spoke early Excel Personal steering wheel fitted to my Eclat S1. The later type that was used with the Toyota column has different splines and doesn't fit on an Eclat. Cheers, Mat. Edited December 14, 2012 by mat grant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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