Bought an Excel

[Finlandese]

My Esprit Project has been giving me a hard time lately, so I did what any sane man would do and bought myself an Excel project. Oops, I´m sorry, I meant to say "Insane"

 

It´s an 84 widebody, that had been left off road for a few years By a car collector, before it was given to his daughter as a gift. At this point it must´ve had mould and snails all over the place (I foung cooked snails from the top of the engine). What a gift. I bought the car from the daughter, for pretty much the same money that she had spent trying to recommision the car.

 

The good stuff: Very good leather interior, engine doesn´t seem too bad either (113 000 km).

 

The B.. needs improving bit: Every panel above the join line has lacquer peel. Wheels have bad paint and tires are cracked even in the sidewalls. One of the cooling fans is seized solid, and the other one doesn´t want to work either. The timing belt cover was chafing on the recently changed timing belt.

 

So it was abandoned by the owner who should´ve know how to take care of it, and given as gift to non car person. Doesn´t sound too good, but it was pretty cheap for a LHD car and I bought it with my heart instead of useing my brain..

 

I have to say that as a car it is a very intresting mix of a GT and a sports car. Even with the death trap tires the handling seems very good. I can´t wait to get it going properly!

 

 

[mikeeech]

Wow he must really like his daughter to give her a knackered old Lotus!

 

Pics please

[Finlandese]

I thought the same. Will post pics when I have the chance.

[Finlandese]

Imageshack is giving me problems. How do I download pictures from my Computer to this topic?

[mikeeech]

press the <more reply options> button at the bottom of the page and upload the image...

[Finlandese]

Thanks. It´s crap picture, but the only one I´ve got... Instead of thinking about the important bits, I am debating with myself, should I paint the wheels white or gold?

Edited March 30, 2014 by Finlandese

[cdfps]

gold

[Finlandese]

Started the first full day at home with the Excel By giving Mike a ring. Ordered cooling fan, timing belt and tensioner, shop manuals and the drivers handbook. Got a great tip about tires (Toyo Proxes 205/50 VR15).

Here are some more photos. Haven´t seen many widebody Excels with the flat dash top. The a pillar picture shows the lacquer peel.

 

 

[Dunc]

If I gave one of them to my daughter, I'd expect her to be grateful.

 

(and she would probably ask for it to be painted pink).

D

[Finlandese]

Well, I´m sure you agree that giving a classic car project to a person who doesn´t have the means nor the skills to restore it is not a good idea. Especially as if she has just had her second baby and has to arrange and pay for the storage..

[Loose Cannon]

Very rare pearl white, someone will have paid a lot of money for that when it was nw.

 

Wheels must be white also, and the later OZ style!

[Finlandese]

Is pearl white that rare? When was the widebody introduced? My car is registered as a 1984 model, but the date of first registration is 4/4/1985. I was thinking of modifying the rear spoiler to a bit more wing like shape, but perhaps it would be wiser to just restore it to it´s original glory.

 

Were white wheels a Lotus option, or were they all done later on?

 

P.s. Sorry for the question deluge..  

Edited April 1, 2014 by Finlandese

[Loose Cannon]

It is certainly rare compared to red/blue/white! Unfortunately the few pearl whites I have seen all needed some work to the paint, especially the wheels when they had been colour coded (these seem to go yellow). A silver finish will be more durable but not as dramatic.

 

Definitely no F1 wings please

[Kimbers]

That's a special Ed mate and rare. You really want to keep it stock if you can. Have the wheels reconditioned silver the same colour they were. Don't paint them Gold or white Please!

[Jukka]

As Kimbers said, as original as possible.

I need to see this car!

[Finlandese]

It is certainly rare compared to red/blue/white! Unfortunately the few pearl whites I have seen all needed some work to the paint, especially the wheels when they had been colour coded (these seem to go yellow). A silver finish will be more durable but not as dramatic.

 

Definitely no F1 wings please

 

HI,

 

Wasn´t planning a F1-wing :-). The standard wing seems to have been made thinking more about fiberglass molding than aerodynamics in mind. I was thinking was that I would trim the leading and trailing edge bottom lips off, so that it would actually work as a wing instead as spoiler.

 

Well... a long list of other thing to do before, I´ll probably think about that in 2018!

That's a special Ed mate and rare. You really want to keep it stock if you can. Have the wheels reconditioned silver the same colour they were. Don't paint them Gold or white Please!

 

Originally I was set on white, as it was pretty unique look for the 80`s. If it wasn´t offered as an option from the factory... Might have to reconsider. In any case I will have to get another set for the winter, as I am organizing a winter event here in Finland and I need studded tires for ice racing!

[Finlandese]

As Kimbers said, as original as possible.

I need to see this car!

 

Hi Jukka!

 

It´s easy to make it original, as it will require only painting and replacing the casette player. Give me call and we´ll arrange the inspection of the car..

[mdw]

I think SWLC had some white oz wheels they were advertising. I cant remember if they were 4 or 5 bolt

[Finlandese]

No OZ wheels for me, I wanna party like it´s 1984!

[amoss]

That's a special Ed mate and rare. You really want to keep it stock if you can. Have the wheels reconditioned silver the same colour they were. Don't paint them Gold or white Please!

Totally agree.

[GavinT]

A left hooker too....I could import it to the US

[Kimbers]

Speaking to my dad last night he says that the Pearl White cars were a limited run for show use. I have a picture somewhere of them on stand, let me check and I will post it up.

[Finlandese]

Wow.. 

[Kimbers]

Here you go:

 

With Chairman of Toyota:

 

 

With British Royalty: Note the wheels are pearl white. I was wrong!

 

Sorry, don't know why they are upside down. They are right on my Photobucket and computer!

[Finlandese]

Holy Batman, Kimbers!

 

Thank you, this make´s it even better. Great pictures and great addition to my experience with the car. Gotta love the community that you get to know around this hobby!

Edited April 2, 2014 by Finlandese