Prices on the up

[soldave]

Was glancing through the car magazines this evening and spotted this little piece below. Good (especially as an owner) to see prices on the rise

[Testdriver]

Thanks for sharing!

With so little cars available on the market I'm wondering where they have the 34% from? Just a summary of the online ads comparing this year to last year? Then, the price in an online ad is the price the owner asks,  not the real market price. 

I don't believe those cars will be worth a fortune in the future, same as most other Lotus. But in the end, who buys a Lotus as an investment? There are many Ferrari, Porsche etc. that would make more sense as an investment. But I believe most of the Lotus owner bought the car because of the driving sensation or because we dreamed of a certain car since we were kids...

Nevertheless, nice to read about our cars in magazines from time to time :-)

BTW. I've read recently from a 'classic car specialist' that the wedge design cars will be the 'next big thing' in classic cars, we'll see, we'll see ;-)

[Barrykearley]

Bought mine - because it was my childhood dream car - much like why anyone else sensible enough to buy an esprit 

[mikeeech]

Mine was a teenage dream.... That's either a sign of my age or some developmental issues!

[Testdriver]

same here - saw one when I was 8, thought it was an UFO and decided I want one some day 

[makkyh]

Earls Court 1975

Walked in and the first car I saw was the Elite. Hopelessly smitten then as I am now. I agree with Daniel that we have bought these cars because they made such an impact when we were of impact age, I for one have spent way over what I could ever hope to recoup, but that was never the point. I suppose the up side to the increased interest is that restorations may now more viable. I am sure we all agree that more of our cars on the road will make us all smile that little bit more.

[oilmagnet477]

Thanks for sharing the article - shame they didn't use a picture of an Éclat or Elite though!

If you look after a classic car properly, in 95%+ of cases these are not 'investments'

Anyone who cocoons a car in a plastic bubble, still has to grease bits and pay for storage, and most folk with the budget for Ferrari's etc wouldn't dream of opening the bonnet themselves so garage costs will be ££££££££££££

I just like the idea that my car might slowly appreciate in value whilst still looking great in the shed and, when she's back on the road, will give me a fun car to drive and have people turn and look at as something different.

[Testdriver]

5 minutes ago, oilmagnet477 said:

I just like the idea that my car might slowly appreciate in value whilst still looking great in the shed and, when she's back on the road, will give me a fun car to drive and have people turn and look at as something different.

That's the spirit 

[Dunc]

15 minutes ago, oilmagnet477 said:

Thanks for sharing the article - shame they didn't use a picture of an Éclat or Elite though!

They did though.....

Thats an Eclat Excel.

[mikeeech]

So what's the difference between and eclat excel and an excel?

[Herc]

Difference: not much.  The  car in '82 was released as the Eclat Excel, allegedly to simplify statutory model testing requirements.  The Eclat part was later dropped.

[Dunc]

It was only dropped from the badge on the tail, not from the documents.

Most Excels are registered and insured as "Eclat Excels", because thats the Sunday name for the car.

A few owners have contacted the DVLA to have the "eclat" bit removed, but Excels are still Eclats of a sort. I believe some of the later ones simply said "Excel" on the V5 when registered new, but most say "Eclat Excel".

[amoss]

1 hour ago, Dunc said:

Most Excels are registered and insured as "Eclat Excels",

Quite right. Mine was one of the later ones (1991 Excel Celebration) and the V5 says "Eclat Excel".

[eeyoreish]

My old 1989 Excel was 'Eclat' on the V5...