Excel - Buying one, advice wanted

Excel - Buying one, advice wanted

Author
Discussion

billspence

Original Poster:

2 posts

259 months

Thursday 17th April 2003
quotequote all
Would anyone like to help me inspect an Excel? or recommend a method of having it inspected by someone who knows them.

I have my eye on one for sale in Central Scotland but I know nothing about them - my other car is a Reliant! (an 1800ti dhc)

Sutol1

2 posts

259 months

Thursday 17th April 2003
quotequote all
There is a good web site www.lotusexcel.co.uk/ on these cars, and if you do a search there is loads of info on what to look out for.
Was a bit dubious about buying an old Lotus originally but mines been fine apart from normal consumables..... gives me a grin just driving to Sainsburys

Simonelite501

1,440 posts

275 months

Friday 18th April 2003
quotequote all
Post the same question here, http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/lotus4seaters/
There are some vey knowlegwable people on this forum, (listen when Mike Causer speaks about Excels), mabye one of them is local to you. My two peneth would be to advise you to look very carefully at the condition of the chassis, the Excel came with the galvanised chassis as standard, unlike the earlier Elite/Eclat, but even the galvanised chassis rust, and are really expensive to replace. The other major ball ache is the motor. Budget around £2000 for a re-build, so look carefully, 907 series engines are suposed to sound a little rough when cold, but if it still sounds bad when hot, walk away. My last piece of advice would be to buy the very best you can afford, there are hundreds of them out there and not all have been looked after. Good hunting.
Edited to add this link, www.lotuseliteparts.bravepages.com
This is Mike Taylors site. Although predominantly for the supply of Elite and Eclat spares, Mike deals with all 907 variants and has a wealth of knowledge that he is more than happy to pass on to fellow enthusiasts.


>> Edited by Simonelite501 on Friday 18th April 01:12