Going for an Sport160: tear drop plated interior?
Discussion
Hello chaps,
Being new to Lotus-owning (I longed for an Elise for ages), I found an ad for a Sport160. I looks stunning in the ad, and I'm going to see and test-drive her in the next few days.
What struck me on the pictures (will try and post them, but not succeeded in copying them on my Apple compu) was the main structural lateral alloy beams are covered under tear drop plates. You know, the beams on either side of the car which you have to crawl over to get in the seats. The familiar leather padding is there, and again from the pics it looks like the plates are in good shape/ nicely fitted. Not anything else is covered (the bottom plate or anything), just the main beams.
My questions (along a zillion other,but I'll come to that in the future, once I own a Lotus) are:
- where these plates a factory option? Have had a look around google, but could not find them at an 'accessory-shop'
- are they commonly used and/or an indication of a track day car? Together with the low mileage (+16k) in relation to the age (2000) that would be an indication for track-day-use, right?
- If anyone has those plates: are they easily removable without any residual damage (like mayor glue-spots, screw holes etc)
- If anyone knows the Y2000 black, with red interior Sport 160, with a Kings sticker on the rear-window and the tearplates, please inform me of any history you might have. The car is for sale in Holland, but I don't think there will be any history available. I will note the VIN and then hit google, to try and get any info.
Cheers,
Tom
Being new to Lotus-owning (I longed for an Elise for ages), I found an ad for a Sport160. I looks stunning in the ad, and I'm going to see and test-drive her in the next few days.
What struck me on the pictures (will try and post them, but not succeeded in copying them on my Apple compu) was the main structural lateral alloy beams are covered under tear drop plates. You know, the beams on either side of the car which you have to crawl over to get in the seats. The familiar leather padding is there, and again from the pics it looks like the plates are in good shape/ nicely fitted. Not anything else is covered (the bottom plate or anything), just the main beams.
My questions (along a zillion other,but I'll come to that in the future, once I own a Lotus) are:
- where these plates a factory option? Have had a look around google, but could not find them at an 'accessory-shop'
- are they commonly used and/or an indication of a track day car? Together with the low mileage (+16k) in relation to the age (2000) that would be an indication for track-day-use, right?
- If anyone has those plates: are they easily removable without any residual damage (like mayor glue-spots, screw holes etc)
- If anyone knows the Y2000 black, with red interior Sport 160, with a Kings sticker on the rear-window and the tearplates, please inform me of any history you might have. The car is for sale in Holland, but I don't think there will be any history available. I will note the VIN and then hit google, to try and get any info.
Cheers,
Tom
Do you have a link to the advert?
I seem to remember a couple years ago a Sport 160 up for sale which had this to disguise the fact the car had been in an accident and had damage to the sills. Was discussed on SELOC so I'll see if I can find the thread, or if you ask there some others may remember it.
Either way I'd proceed with extreme caution!
I seem to remember a couple years ago a Sport 160 up for sale which had this to disguise the fact the car had been in an accident and had damage to the sills. Was discussed on SELOC so I'll see if I can find the thread, or if you ask there some others may remember it.
Either way I'd proceed with extreme caution!
Be very careful, this sort of sheeting is used to cover side chassis damage. Some times i can be used on the fllor where the Lotus mats have been stuck down and this created a problem with the floor. Might be helpful to post up a link to the pictures too.
Great cars so would be a shame to buy a bad one. Scott Walkers did have one of these for sale a short while ago.
Great cars so would be a shame to buy a bad one. Scott Walkers did have one of these for sale a short while ago.
Didn't take long, thread is here (you'll need to be register user to view): http://forums.seloc.org/viewthread.php?tid=236883&...
Car is black with red interior, was a Cat C write off and the chequer plate is being used to disguise the sill damage. Also some nasty bodges in the engine bay and who knows where else.
Likely was sold to Europe as it means the car effectively loses its damage record. Avoid.
Car is black with red interior, was a Cat C write off and the chequer plate is being used to disguise the sill damage. Also some nasty bodges in the engine bay and who knows where else.
Likely was sold to Europe as it means the car effectively loses its damage record. Avoid.
JACK6284 said:
Be very careful, this sort of sheeting is used to cover side chassis damage. Some times i can be used on the fllor where the Lotus mats have been stuck down and this created a problem with the floor. Might be helpful to post up a link to the pictures too.
Mine has chequer plate covering the floor corrosion, but the floor isn't structural and is just bonded in to keep the outside out and your feet in 
.The chassis rails are an aluminium extrusion and should never have this.
Odd, works here.
Try this: http://forums.seloc.org/viewthread.php?tid=236883
Alternatively search for "Sport 160 chequer plate" and it should come up. WillB started the thread "'Cheap' 15,000m Sport 160 on Ebay".
Try this: http://forums.seloc.org/viewthread.php?tid=236883
Alternatively search for "Sport 160 chequer plate" and it should come up. WillB started the thread "'Cheap' 15,000m Sport 160 on Ebay".
Edited by Thorburn on Wednesday 7th September 15:47
Thanx Thorburn! Indeed, that is what it looks like! I thought it to be a bit... rude... to post the picture and ad of the car. However, the internet and this forum just saved me a lot of agony=money I think. I will go and have a look, even if it is just to see what a Sport160 looks like and talk to the seller.
I'll keep you guys posted!
(Guess if the seller reads these posts he might be a lot less enthousiastic in selling it to me...)
I'll keep you guys posted!
(Guess if the seller reads these posts he might be a lot less enthousiastic in selling it to me...)
I just skimmed through this wondering what tear-drop plate was and then saw those pics and thought it looked familiar. Clicked on the seloc link and hey-presto there's the post from me and FuriousD - small world eh?
I'd forgotten all about that one. Surely not the same seller as before?
I'd forgotten all about that one. Surely not the same seller as before?
Well guys, I went to check out the Elise. The seller turns out to be a trader in all various items. So you got your Loti, in all varieties and conditions, a whole row of stretched Hummers, new chinese imported trikes etc etc.
The Sport 160 was all dusty etc (as most of the cars were). And for a 17k miles it looked rather dodgy. More like used over a ton and not taken care of. And even so: my car (Merc) has done 160k+ km's and looks brand new compared to the 160. Unused for a long period I think. Rusty stabilizers etc.
The trader was rather frank: he informed me there was no CoC and that is was very likely used for track days. As, in his opinion, most 160's where. Other than that he played the " i don't know much about Lotus cars' game. And to be frank, so did I. He did mention it most likely was very difficult to obtain a Dutch license for it, as there was only a V5C document. No other history was available. As I have no experience on that field, other than stories that obtaining plates is simple when you do have a CoC, I told him I couldn't use that car then.
Given the situation, and contrary to what I would expect, he wasn't an unpleasant guy, not pushy in selling or anything. Was willing to show me an S2 etc. A rather... emmm... not so slick guy, lets put it like that.
I did check out the teardrop plate: it was just foil, already the transparent layer was becoming yellow/tainted and working loose. Unfortunately not as much that I could check-out what lay underneath it. So couldn't check for any mayor repairs or anything.
Now, given the situation I was only able to take a picture of the VIN and the Kings license plate (W495YER). So if anyone indeed knows this car, please share on this forum... Would be nice, right?
If anyone wants the VIN, I can supply it. The sticker does mention type approval SCCGA, so I think it is an original RHD Sport160.
Or are you guys going to tell me there is gold there and I should get it as it is number "36 of 50"? Asking price is around 14k E.
The Sport 160 was all dusty etc (as most of the cars were). And for a 17k miles it looked rather dodgy. More like used over a ton and not taken care of. And even so: my car (Merc) has done 160k+ km's and looks brand new compared to the 160. Unused for a long period I think. Rusty stabilizers etc.
The trader was rather frank: he informed me there was no CoC and that is was very likely used for track days. As, in his opinion, most 160's where. Other than that he played the " i don't know much about Lotus cars' game. And to be frank, so did I. He did mention it most likely was very difficult to obtain a Dutch license for it, as there was only a V5C document. No other history was available. As I have no experience on that field, other than stories that obtaining plates is simple when you do have a CoC, I told him I couldn't use that car then.
Given the situation, and contrary to what I would expect, he wasn't an unpleasant guy, not pushy in selling or anything. Was willing to show me an S2 etc. A rather... emmm... not so slick guy, lets put it like that.
I did check out the teardrop plate: it was just foil, already the transparent layer was becoming yellow/tainted and working loose. Unfortunately not as much that I could check-out what lay underneath it. So couldn't check for any mayor repairs or anything.
Now, given the situation I was only able to take a picture of the VIN and the Kings license plate (W495YER). So if anyone indeed knows this car, please share on this forum... Would be nice, right?
If anyone wants the VIN, I can supply it. The sticker does mention type approval SCCGA, so I think it is an original RHD Sport160.
Or are you guys going to tell me there is gold there and I should get it as it is number "36 of 50"? Asking price is around 14k E.
Hi guys,
A few days ago, I went to check out the car. As mentioned, it is up for sale at a non-dealer in Holland.
The car looked tired. Dull interior, corroded linkages etc. The tearplating is just foil. The foil apparently consists of two layer: a metal foil which provides the metal look, and transparent layer. The transparent layer is discolored to yellow and the foil has lost its grip to the structural beams. I couldn't take it of or have a look underneath it to check out the beams. So I don't know if there is any covering up.
The seller did inform me that is has no COC as it is SVA-ed. The status of SVA was also indicated on the VIN-sticker. And according to the seller, it is not a done job to get a license plate for the car, due to the missing COC.This issue is to me a deal breaker, albeit that if the car was a minter, I would do some additional research. Then again, the car wouldn't have been for sale that long or have the history as appears from the postings in this topic.
I walked away. I am reluctant to post the sellers' name or business name on any public forum. Especially since the seller wasn't a bad guy to me. I can inform you guys the VIN ends with 30636, so I guess this is car # 36 of 50?
Should any one want the info about the seller then pop me a personal message.
A few days ago, I went to check out the car. As mentioned, it is up for sale at a non-dealer in Holland.
The car looked tired. Dull interior, corroded linkages etc. The tearplating is just foil. The foil apparently consists of two layer: a metal foil which provides the metal look, and transparent layer. The transparent layer is discolored to yellow and the foil has lost its grip to the structural beams. I couldn't take it of or have a look underneath it to check out the beams. So I don't know if there is any covering up.
The seller did inform me that is has no COC as it is SVA-ed. The status of SVA was also indicated on the VIN-sticker. And according to the seller, it is not a done job to get a license plate for the car, due to the missing COC.This issue is to me a deal breaker, albeit that if the car was a minter, I would do some additional research. Then again, the car wouldn't have been for sale that long or have the history as appears from the postings in this topic.
I walked away. I am reluctant to post the sellers' name or business name on any public forum. Especially since the seller wasn't a bad guy to me. I can inform you guys the VIN ends with 30636, so I guess this is car # 36 of 50?
Should any one want the info about the seller then pop me a personal message.
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