Tell Me about the Lotus Carlton
Discussion
http://www.mudah.my/Lotus+Carlton-21254569.htm
OK I am going to look at this car for sale on wednesday, in Kuala Lumpur, so far I know two cars were shipped to Singapore when new, and I've got a buyers guild, also got an email into Lotus Malaysia asking wha they know, as I've said here before they are really interested in the older cars and helped me a lot when I raced an Esprit Engine. I've down loaded a buyers guild.
My concers at the moment.
Are the badges correct, and the side badges are missing,
Why if it is a vauxhall is the milage given in Kilometers, (I've seen this before on Uk reg cars and may just be a mistake by the seller)
Appreciate any advice you may have on buying as this will not be an easy car to maintain so the purchase needs to be right.
Price is 18,000 pounds, which is cheap for a car her, (My current 944 is worth 12,000 pounds to give you an example, mint 2.5 Sq dash with 25000 miles), will be a pure sunday car, I have a day car a track car.
OK I am going to look at this car for sale on wednesday, in Kuala Lumpur, so far I know two cars were shipped to Singapore when new, and I've got a buyers guild, also got an email into Lotus Malaysia asking wha they know, as I've said here before they are really interested in the older cars and helped me a lot when I raced an Esprit Engine. I've down loaded a buyers guild.
My concers at the moment.
Are the badges correct, and the side badges are missing,
Why if it is a vauxhall is the milage given in Kilometers, (I've seen this before on Uk reg cars and may just be a mistake by the seller)
Appreciate any advice you may have on buying as this will not be an easy car to maintain so the purchase needs to be right.
Price is 18,000 pounds, which is cheap for a car her, (My current 944 is worth 12,000 pounds to give you an example, mint 2.5 Sq dash with 25000 miles), will be a pure sunday car, I have a day car a track car.
Berw said:
http://www.mudah.my/Lotus+Carlton-21254569.htm
OK I am going to look at this car for sale on wednesday, in Kuala Lumpur, so far I know two cars were shipped to Singapore when new, and I've got a buyers guild, also got an email into Lotus Malaysia asking wha they know, as I've said here before they are really interested in the older cars and helped me a lot when I raced an Esprit Engine. I've down loaded a buyers guild.
My concers at the moment.
Are the badges correct, and the side badges are missing,
Why if it is a vauxhall is the milage given in Kilometers, (I've seen this before on Uk reg cars and may just be a mistake by the seller)
Appreciate any advice you may have on buying as this will not be an easy car to maintain so the purchase needs to be right.
Price is 18,000 pounds, which is cheap for a car her, (My current 944 is worth 12,000 pounds to give you an example, mint 2.5 Sq dash with 25000 miles), will be a pure sunday car, I have a day car a track car.
I have spoken to the owner of this car via e-mail so was aware of its existence although not got his mails to hand so can't check the details I have at this exact point in time (will check for you if it will be of any help)OK I am going to look at this car for sale on wednesday, in Kuala Lumpur, so far I know two cars were shipped to Singapore when new, and I've got a buyers guild, also got an email into Lotus Malaysia asking wha they know, as I've said here before they are really interested in the older cars and helped me a lot when I raced an Esprit Engine. I've down loaded a buyers guild.
My concers at the moment.
Are the badges correct, and the side badges are missing,
Why if it is a vauxhall is the milage given in Kilometers, (I've seen this before on Uk reg cars and may just be a mistake by the seller)
Appreciate any advice you may have on buying as this will not be an easy car to maintain so the purchase needs to be right.
Price is 18,000 pounds, which is cheap for a car her, (My current 944 is worth 12,000 pounds to give you an example, mint 2.5 Sq dash with 25000 miles), will be a pure sunday car, I have a day car a track car.
If you have concerns about originality then the badges are just one of many changes from factory. Just by going from the pictures in the advert the following items are non standard:
Exterior
- Exterior Colour (all LC's and LO's left the factory in the colour Imperial Green)
- Headlamp washer/wipers are missing
- Rear Lotus badge is correct but in the wrong position
- Rear Carlton badge is missing
- Appears to have tinted glass fitted
Interior
- Seats look to have been re-trimmed in different colour leather and style
- Aftermarket radio
- Looks to have a boost gauge in the dash where the clock should be
- Can't see clocks clearly but if a RHD car it should have MPH (LHD cars had KPH)
Engine Bay
- Airbox has been removed and 2 cone filters are fitted
- Radiator shroud is missing
- Rocker cover has been re-painted in black
- Blue silicone turbo vacuum hoses fitted (these with the boost gauge - check if the ecu has been 'chipped')
If you want info on where to look a buying guide can be found here - http://www.lotus-carlton.co.uk/
Dedicated Club for these cars is - http://www.autobahnstormers.org.uk/index.php
With regard to parts, yes they can be tricky to find but as with all classic cars if you know where to look they can be found ok, however sometimes takes a while to obtain so these days these are best to be used as a 2nd car for that reason only. Due to your location you'll also have to rely on the postage system to get parts accross.
Great cars though
Wow thanks, I understand the car is owned by an expat, do you know how it came to Malaysia?
Probably not tinted windows, just a film on the inside, very common here.
Chnaging the air box for the KN type filter is also common.
rad cover probably removed to 'increase' air flow in the tropics, not sure it will have worked but that will be the thinking.
Insurance here is tabuler, just bassed on car cc and value, no account of driver exprience or mods to the car so air filters and wheel changes are common.
Always wanted one, had a drop head elamn Sprint, 5 speed JPS Europe and Alotus Sunbeam, Currently uilding a Caterham so this is the lojical conclusion.
Thanks for the info
Probably not tinted windows, just a film on the inside, very common here.
Chnaging the air box for the KN type filter is also common.
rad cover probably removed to 'increase' air flow in the tropics, not sure it will have worked but that will be the thinking.
Insurance here is tabuler, just bassed on car cc and value, no account of driver exprience or mods to the car so air filters and wheel changes are common.
Always wanted one, had a drop head elamn Sprint, 5 speed JPS Europe and Alotus Sunbeam, Currently uilding a Caterham so this is the lojical conclusion.
Thanks for the info
The fan cowling you can see behind the radiator should not be there! It looks like it's been bodged on somehow? There should be a cowl between the slam panel and the radiator that extends over the top of the rad with a bit of a top cover to keep you from getting your fingers in the fan!
The valve covers were never "red" they were silver/grey like the charge cooler unit with the "LOTUS" in red..
Might have an overheating problem that someone tried to cure with the cowl?
Radiators are no longer available but,i just had one made to pattern by a company in London so it would be no problem to make another?
The valve covers were never "red" they were silver/grey like the charge cooler unit with the "LOTUS" in red..
Might have an overheating problem that someone tried to cure with the cowl?
Radiators are no longer available but,i just had one made to pattern by a company in London so it would be no problem to make another?
Berw said:
Wow thanks, I understand the car is owned by an expat, do you know how it came to Malaysia?
Had a chance to check the info I have for you:- Car is build number 0306G, so its originally a UK car
- Was exported out to Malaysia by the ex PM's son and is the only LC in Malaysia (current owners words).
- Car had 47K on it last year and has been owned by the current ex-pat owner for last 11 years but only cobered 5k in that period, has been started weekly.
- Has had new discs and clutch complete with strengthened bellhousing. The charge cooler pump has apparently been changed for an electric one and a turbo timer has been fitted along with different shock absorbers.
- Reportedly all runs fine and owner was contemplating selling it when I was in contact.
Good luck with the viewing and trust the above info will be of use to you.
Ok deal done 70000rm 14k pounds, car is body wise great been repainted, common here, will like at going back to original, front seats are bbs so not original, rad is not original, so that explained the shroud, bigger for the tropics, as said, turbo timers etc, goes for change of ownership inspection then money changes hand.
Only problem the wife was not happy so she bought the z3 convertible that was next to it in the show room.
Only problem the wife was not happy so she bought the z3 convertible that was next to it in the show room.
Car is now being inspected for owner transfer, it has to go for the equivalent of the dvla and the engine number is checked, and they make sure there are no mods, all a bit of a farce. Car will then be delivered to me next week, insurance is an issue on classics, so I will sort that, as I know where I can get agreed value.
Non std items and jobs to do,
Air box (there appears to be one for sale in Liverpool), replace cam cover gasket and repaint, radiator cowl, these appear to be available, but I need to check the rad is original, I suspect it has got an extra core, replace rye clock, 25pound on eBay, need to find the badges, new Tyree, they are like iron blocks.
Longer term plan to look for original seats and take back to original colour.
Road tax will be around 900pound but insurance should be 200fuuly comp with unlimited mileage, and 25pound for each named driver (even the 17year old daughter will only be 2).
When it is 25 year old tax drops by 75% so not long.
I am told there are two sets of wheels and loads of spares included haven't seen them yet but owner is happy with the sale and included them latter
Non std items and jobs to do,
Air box (there appears to be one for sale in Liverpool), replace cam cover gasket and repaint, radiator cowl, these appear to be available, but I need to check the rad is original, I suspect it has got an extra core, replace rye clock, 25pound on eBay, need to find the badges, new Tyree, they are like iron blocks.
Longer term plan to look for original seats and take back to original colour.
Road tax will be around 900pound but insurance should be 200fuuly comp with unlimited mileage, and 25pound for each named driver (even the 17year old daughter will only be 2).
When it is 25 year old tax drops by 75% so not long.
I am told there are two sets of wheels and loads of spares included haven't seen them yet but owner is happy with the sale and included them latter
Murthy's dam law, yesterday there was a general election in Malaysia, and over the weekend they declered today (monday) a bank holiday, which means that the planed 'pusmacom' (DVLA) type inspection that is mandotory to do the change in registration can not happen today and therfore a 24 hour delay in collecting the car.
Wife just called me to say car has arrived at home, was a little worried as I paid by bank transfer, and I am currenlty 1000 miles away, so in theory the garage could have pocketed the cash, wasn't a high risk but I'm happy to get it into the hands of some one I know. (I was going to use the word trust, not know, but cosidered it inappropriate as I had phoned her and told her she was not even to sit in the car in view of her record of having reveresed by 635M into a lamp post and hit a wall in my 944)
Home Saturday night, Sunday lunch with my mate who does agreed value insurance, then meet my other mate who does ownership transfer. Monday will then have insurance, once this is on the 'dvla' system I can transfer the ownership, and pay the road tax of 4987 ringet a year , almost exactly 1000ponds a year.
Yes, the change of ownership is the only time there is an 'MOT', so first is the inspection, then the insurance has to be on a centrel computor, then you can do the transfer, and both the seller and the buyer should attend the office, (can get round that) the they do the tax.
But then that's it no MOT again until you sell, just each year they check the insurance before they give the tax, so if you are stopped all the police look at is the tax, if its taxed its insured, so worth the effort to get right at the start. But there are loads of cars around that are unroad worthy. Big issue on the Carlton is the road tax it is bassed on cc, my 944 is 2500cc and 170 pound a year, the Carlton is 3.6 and it is 1000 pounds.
When the car is 25 years old, and if you own two other cars this dropes to 250 pounds(25%), providing the car is original, .
But then that's it no MOT again until you sell, just each year they check the insurance before they give the tax, so if you are stopped all the police look at is the tax, if its taxed its insured, so worth the effort to get right at the start. But there are loads of cars around that are unroad worthy. Big issue on the Carlton is the road tax it is bassed on cc, my 944 is 2500cc and 170 pound a year, the Carlton is 3.6 and it is 1000 pounds.
When the car is 25 years old, and if you own two other cars this dropes to 250 pounds(25%), providing the car is original, .
Car is now in my name, and I've paid the insurance, to start tommorow 5001 ringet a year so about 1000 pound, fully comp, me and wife to drive, agreed value, classic car cover for 30,000 pound, insurance is done through a classic a car mate of mine and they pay out but you can't transfer no claims in, (well they paid on the wifes Porsche, and no point in messing about with the cover, it is the only one in the country so even a small bump would need parts brought in from Europe) tommorrow I go for the road tax 600 pound a year, and then to the tyre shop, ordered 4 new tyres, for friday then its down to Sepang for a weekend racing my sylva in the Asia Classic Car Challange,so it will have ablast down the highway.
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