Re: Looking for Elite 503 in U.S.
Posted: Sat Sep 28, 2013 5:45 pmroger French,
very clever, I kept the wretched car because I liked its looks and hoped that the next repair would build in some reliability. I had the spyder conversion done and it cured the rear end problems but I still had to fit two more gear boxes. after that I simply gave up and bought an excel. it may surprise you to know that an excel se is more powerful than any na esprit, 180 rather than 170 bhp in the hc esprit, and 160 in the rest, it is more aerodynamic and only slightly heavier so should be quicker. at a club lotus dinner several years ago I discussed this with a lotus employee who was involved in the development of both cars he said that the excel se was slowed by fitting the spats, the only lotus to have such things, I do admit they look good. to say that elites are as reliable as early esprits is true in that they are equally unreliable.
when it comes to esprits, eclats, and elites, and perhaps excels my advice would be do not buy anything earlier than1986 as lotus liked their customers to help with the development of these models which were a complete change of direction from sevens, the first elites and elans.
finally the ?clat sprint had a ford 4 speed box that did not break.
very clever, I kept the wretched car because I liked its looks and hoped that the next repair would build in some reliability. I had the spyder conversion done and it cured the rear end problems but I still had to fit two more gear boxes. after that I simply gave up and bought an excel. it may surprise you to know that an excel se is more powerful than any na esprit, 180 rather than 170 bhp in the hc esprit, and 160 in the rest, it is more aerodynamic and only slightly heavier so should be quicker. at a club lotus dinner several years ago I discussed this with a lotus employee who was involved in the development of both cars he said that the excel se was slowed by fitting the spats, the only lotus to have such things, I do admit they look good. to say that elites are as reliable as early esprits is true in that they are equally unreliable.
when it comes to esprits, eclats, and elites, and perhaps excels my advice would be do not buy anything earlier than1986 as lotus liked their customers to help with the development of these models which were a complete change of direction from sevens, the first elites and elans.
finally the ?clat sprint had a ford 4 speed box that did not break.