lotus excel

[Esprit2]

you've heard of 4 Excels in the USA? I only know 2, the Utah one and one in let's say the south of the north-east USA. Patrick Peal's old list of Lotus production did show 1 Excel in "US" spec, but if it existed it's neither of those.

Mike,
Good to hear from you, it's been a long time.

I can't confirm any of the rumors I've heard. But back in the day, the Pearl White one in the northeast was reported to me to be an escapee from one of the big three auto manufacturer's product evaluation programs. The same person who told me that also indicated that each of the USA big-three auto companies had brought in Excels for evaluation. I can't document either the original stories, nor the fates of any of the cars that may have come in for testing.

I have seen post-escape pictures of the pearl white car participating in Lotus events and car shows in Northeast USA, but not of the other two mythical test cars.

I stumbled across the red, right-hand drive Excel in the car museum out west many years later, and later still it was for sale. I don't know if it was one of the three test cars or a 4th car, and I don't know where it is now.

Sounds like I don't know a lot, doesn't it?

Personally, I would really like to have an Excel SE. I'm bummed that they were never sold in North America, but I can understand the marketing logic. The Elite and Eclat were never popular over here and sales were very weak. The cost of Federalizing and certification testing a car for sale in the US was huge, and it appeared the rewards for doing so with a 4-seat Lotus were not great. Why bother going another round with the Excel... they didn't.

.... on the Bright(man?) side that means I'd beat him driving his Esprit

I'd pay to watch


Tim

[cliveyboy]

My first ever Lotus was an Excel SE. I still think they are fantastic cars.
When I bought mine in 1989 it was acclaimed as one of the best handling front engine cars in the world.
As sports cars go I think they are some of the best value sports car for the money.
As mentioned lots of Toyota bits on it. The story I heard was Lotus sorted out the handling on the original Toyota MR2 and a friendship was born allowing Lotus access to the Toyota parts bin. A friendship which has carried on to this day

Clive

[Esprit2]

The story I heard was Lotus sorted out the handling on the original Toyota MR2 and a friendship was born allowing Lotus access to the Toyota parts bin. A friendship which has carried on to this day

It was more than a corporate friendship. Toyota owned 16% of Lotus at that time, and that relationship lasted until GM bought the rest. When that happened, Toyota was less comfortable sharing a bed with GM and sold their shares to the new majority owner.

Regards,
Tim Engel

[MikeC]

Discussion on the Excel forums <http://www.lotusexcel.net/phpbb/index.php> suggests that another four (!) have arrived in the USA in the past few years and there's another coming soon. One of the newcomers was photographed at the Carlisle, PA Import show in May, 2010.

In 2006 I had a series of emails with the owner of the western red Excel, and with a prospective buyer. It looked a nice Excel, but wasn't the year that the paperwork said. Absolutely nothing wrong with it as a car though.


Tim, if you trust my experience of Excels, go for the 160bhp version over the S.E. with 180bhp. It's quicker by a decent margin on the road, and often on the circuit too. I realise this is heresy in the land of "more is better", but its torque curve suits the gear ratios better. On the road it's a lot less harsh too, and, being generally older, the trim quality is better -- more leather, less cloth.


Clivey,
you do Ginetta stuff? Do you get the G.O.C. magazine? A photo of my old Ginetta G8 Formula Three should have appeared in it recently....




Best wishes to all,

Mike

[cliveyboy]

Mike
I dont get the Ginetta OC mag as its G15's that I do all the bits for so its the Imp club magazine for me.
Post a picture so these Lotus guys can see what we are talking about.
Am I right in thinking there were only a few G8's made?
Clive

[MikeC]

Clivey,

you do realise that I've now got to admit to the Lotus community, which I've supported unceasingly for the past 35 years, that before owning or even driving a Lotus I'd had Ginetta and Lola race cars?

Oh the shame of it.

[FX: scans smilee collection on BB page. No sackclothandashes.]


Heh, well, getting a photograph to you is easier than it was 35 years ago.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/54731504@N ... hotostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/54731504@N ... hotostream


Recent correspondence with G.O.C. folks says that this was the only G8. Having later owned and raced a championship winning F3 car (yes the exact chassis, but not with me as driver (GRD, a spin-off from Lotus, was the make) I've got an opinion on why the Ginetta G8 was not a success. I'm going to skip over the details, but it does have a bearing on why I abandoned Ginetta in favour of Lotus.

1) Weight: too much.
2) Stiffness: too little.

Lotus cars are in contrast 1) little and 2) lots.



Oh, some Excel photos too....
http://www.flickr.com/photos/54731504@N ... 6386461763
http://www.flickr.com/photos/54731504@N ... 6386461763

... and my GRD
http://www.flickr.com/photos/54731504@N ... 6386461763




Mike