Lotus Carlton engine
Discussion
Could it be fitted in anything else?
Not that I've got one, of course (student), but I was wondering, if that engine and those brakes can make a minicab comparable to a Ferrari Testarossa, what could the engine do in something lighter, more aerodynamic and sportier?
Of course, to keep it authentic it would have to be a Lotus - what about an Excel, Esprit or Elise/VX220?
Not that I've got one, of course (student), but I was wondering, if that engine and those brakes can make a minicab comparable to a Ferrari Testarossa, what could the engine do in something lighter, more aerodynamic and sportier?
Of course, to keep it authentic it would have to be a Lotus - what about an Excel, Esprit or Elise/VX220?
I know Pininfarina did a concept sports coupe based on the Carlton called the Chronos, which hit 190 mph. Looked a bit like a Corvette, IIRC.
I say the Excel because it would share a similar drivetrain layout, and there's plenty of room in the engine bay (it was made for a V8, remember). The Carlton with a sports bodyshell would make a great Ferrari 400/456 alternative. You could probably fit it in an Opel Monza (though that would be missing the point!)
I say the Excel because it would share a similar drivetrain layout, and there's plenty of room in the engine bay (it was made for a V8, remember). The Carlton with a sports bodyshell would make a great Ferrari 400/456 alternative. You could probably fit it in an Opel Monza (though that would be missing the point!)
They are, however, crashed on a regular basis on rtack days. If you check out the salvage auction sites there are usually one or two. The Nurburgring has claimed a fair few over the years.
Btw - I'm not planning to do this - don't get your hopes up! I was just wondering whether it was possible to create a Lotus supercar faster than the Esprit V8TT.
Btw - I'm not planning to do this - don't get your hopes up! I was just wondering whether it was possible to create a Lotus supercar faster than the Esprit V8TT.
v8thunder said:
I was thinking more sophistcated supercar, rather than insane, stripped-out fire-belching screamer.
Then just keep the Lotus Carlton, 3600cc twin turbo, how "SUPER" do you want a super car to be?!
There one for sale in a showroom in Southwick, Brighton @ £37,000 if your interested.
Nacnud said:
Maybe one catch - aren't Lotus Carlton's worth serious Wonga these days? Might be a bit pricy as a donor vehicle.
No.
They are worth feck all.
I could get you a delivery miles one, LHD admittedly, for 15k GBP. They will never sell the one in the showroom for 37k.
The problem is that there are a substantial number of essential components that are no longer supplied, and Vauxhall and Lotus have disowned it. You have all the service support of someone running a Facel Vega or Subeam or somesuch. If your flywheel goes pop - you'd better get one made as scratching around for a used part is about your only possibility - and the prices for those are increasing as the owners hoard them.
On mine, I had to source new head bolts for the engine myself - and this is a turbo engine where head work is quite common. Useless situation.
If you have anything to do with a Lotus Carlton these days, you need to be very brave, very 'in the know', have very good contacts, have your fingers crossed and be ever so slightly
That said the engine was quite good when running properly, but it is too unreliable to consider transplanting into anything. Weak timing chains, prone to misfires, easy to cook number 6 cylinder.
If you want cheap horsepower, chuck in a Chevy small block V8 - something Lotus and Vauxhall should have done to the Carlton, but which GM is finally doing with the Holden etc.
Sorry to be negative, but I owned an LC for 18 months and my friend B'Stard Child on these forums owns one at the moment. It is a labour of love and luck to run and own one.
domster said:
They are worth feck all.
I could get you a delivery miles one, LHD admittedly, for 15k GBP. They will never sell the one in the showroom for 37k.
The problem is that there are a substantial number of essential components that are no longer supplied, and Vauxhall and Lotus have disowned it. You have all the service support of someone running a Facel Vega or Subeam or somesuch. If your flywheel goes pop - you'd better get one made as scratching around for a used part is about your only possibility - and the prices for those are increasing as the owners hoard them.
On mine, I had to source new head bolts for the engine myself - and this is a turbo engine where head work is quite common. Useless situation.
If you have anything to do with a Lotus Carlton these days, you need to be very brave, very 'in the know', have very good contacts, have your fingers crossed and be ever so slightly
That said the engine was quite good when running properly, but it is too unreliable to consider transplanting into anything. Weak timing chains, prone to misfires, easy to cook number 6 cylinder.
If you want cheap horsepower, chuck in a Chevy small block V8 - something Lotus and Vauxhall should have done to the Carlton, but which GM is finally doing with the Holden etc.
Sorry to be negative, but I owned an LC for 18 months and my friend B'Stard Child on these forums owns one at the moment. It is a labour of love and luck to run and own one.
Damn, and double damn. They will be importable to Canada in the next year or two (15 years old), and I would love to get one as a 'family' car. Not that I have a family yet, but hey, a guys gotta be prepared.
I knew parts like brake rotors, head bolts were getting hard to find, but I didn't know that Vauxhall and Lotus aren't making any parts anymore.
Of course, that said, I am
enough to own one and work on it myself. I might be looking you up in a couple of years to find me one!
Gary
The other downer is the engine's size and weight. I ran a 3 litre 24V Carlton GSi for a while - basically the same unit as the Lotus carlton's but the Lotus' was bored and stroked to 3.6 litres and turbocharged. I had to remove the engine once to cure an oil leak - it is huge and weighs a ton. It would seriously upset the handling balance of anything much smaller or lighter.
As has previously been posted, spares availability is becoming a *serious* problem, too.
The idea is sound, but why not think in terms of the engine/running gear from, say, the current BMW M5. More powerful, no spares problem, probably lighter (all alloy)and availability is no problem since, as we all know, BMW only sells them to Merchant Bankers who can't drive and stuff them into ditches backwards on a regular basis! ;-)
As has previously been posted, spares availability is becoming a *serious* problem, too.
The idea is sound, but why not think in terms of the engine/running gear from, say, the current BMW M5. More powerful, no spares problem, probably lighter (all alloy)and availability is no problem since, as we all know, BMW only sells them to Merchant Bankers who can't drive and stuff them into ditches backwards on a regular basis! ;-)
I am just going to wave the flag for the LC - We (myself and farther) have been running one for 2 years now and have had no problems with it - regular maintance, no track days and upgrading of key components keep it reliable.
I agree with Domster it is very much a "specialist" car - more so even then TVR`s etc because of the unique nature of the parts.
However, they can be sourced and re-made - the main owners clubs - Autobahnstormers - has owners who have remade many of the parts to over and above the original specifictions.
Just a quick note about the engine, It is NOT a enlarged GSI lump
- The head is modified GSI but the block is all new for the LC, headbolts are unique as is the headgasket, the chargercooler is based on Esprit SE tech but a different casing from Behr. Turbochargers are Garrett units with mechanical bypass valves. Some of the internals are new but not others.
And on a final note..... Any LC oweners would be horrified to find the engine in their car being but into a "kit" car because the item is so rare and should be used in a LC
Rock on!
Haz
I agree with Domster it is very much a "specialist" car - more so even then TVR`s etc because of the unique nature of the parts.
However, they can be sourced and re-made - the main owners clubs - Autobahnstormers - has owners who have remade many of the parts to over and above the original specifictions.
Just a quick note about the engine, It is NOT a enlarged GSI lump
- The head is modified GSI but the block is all new for the LC, headbolts are unique as is the headgasket, the chargercooler is based on Esprit SE tech but a different casing from Behr. Turbochargers are Garrett units with mechanical bypass valves. Some of the internals are new but not others. And on a final note..... Any LC oweners would be horrified to find the engine in their car being but into a "kit" car because the item is so rare and should be used in a LC
Rock on!
Haz
Hazzer said:
Just a quick note about the engine, It is NOT a enlarged GSI lump
Haz
Sorry Haz, I oversimplified - the basic configuration, external size and weight of the engine are the same as the 24V unit in the GSi, though, and what I was trying to get across is that it is way too much of a boat anchor to put into a lightweight 2-seater. I agree with you - best left where it was intended, in the mutha of all supersaloons!
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