Wooden gear knob

[cyberface]

Just browsing a review of the Europa SE linked on another thread, and came across this:



Now I'm not sure if it's Lotus taking the piss out of Porsche and the Carrera GT balsa wood gear knob (which has its roots in reality, a weight saving measure in the Le Mans-winning 917 racer), but I think it looks cool.

It also looks like a 'common component' shape and may fit in my Exige, replacing the ally gear knob (which is fking freezing in these condition) with a lighter, warmer wooden knob. It'd be a bit out of place, but hell, it was out of place in the 917, it's out of place in the Carrera GT and it'd be a bit of fun...

Anyone know whether you can get them from Lotus and whether they fit the Exige gearstick?

[CooperS]

Ooo i want one too!


I'm sure a your local dealer but how much?

[21TonyK]

Yes you can, I fancy one as well, but £80+ !!

Bell and Colville have got them listed.

http://www.bell-colvill.co.uk/LotusShop/Details.as...

[tertius]

I love the contrast of wood with a plastic/ally car - I'd really like one for a K series car, which out to be dead easy I suppose. Would prefer just wood without the inseet if anyone has any leads.

Edited because I can't spell ally (which in this context isn't even a word, should have used ali ... or alu ...).

Edited by tertius on Tuesday 22 December 20:09

[S Works]

GLOL, had it four days and already modding.

FWIW I think they look cheap and tacky. I think they're in the Jim Clark SC Elise too, really out of place, and I doubt any 'warmer' than the metal ones. Leather would be better IMO.

[cyberface]

S Works said:

GLOL, had it four days and already modding.

Sorry

However at £98.19 from B&C inc VAT - my idea of 'a bit of fun' is twisted into 'taking the piss' !!!! I'm not paying £100 for a polished ball of wood.

I wonder if I could make one myself? Could be fun

[21TonyK]

My old man makes a lot of wooden "things", ie. rocking horses at £3K+ each so I'm sure he could make something but I suspect it would be minus the metal bits like the top and and tap for the stick to screw in to.

If anyone could provide the correct metal pieces he could make the woodenen bits around them.

[rdodger]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MGF-WALNUT-GENUINE-MOMO-GEAR...

A bit cheaper, screws straight on and has the correct gear gate for a PG1.

Also in leather

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BRAND-NEW-genuine-MGF-TF-Lea...

Edited by rdodger on Tuesday 22 December 21:53

[TIPPER]

I rather like the wooden Lotus gearknob and reckon it loks great in the modern leather lined and carpeted Elise/Exige. Wouldn't suit my S1 though.
Bear in mind that I think GT cars should have walnut dashboards, leather club chairs and wire wheels

[L100NYY]

S Works said:

GLOL, had it four days and already modding.

FWIW I think they look cheap and tacky. I think they're in the Jim Clark SC Elise too, really out of place, and I doubt any 'warmer' than the metal ones. Leather would be better IMO.

Nope, the one in the Type 25 SC is an exact replica as used in the Elan and is totally different to the Europa one.

[kambites]

The certainly will feel warmer than the metal ones - far lower conductivity. I'm sure I'm going to get chilblains on my hands from the aluminium bits in the Elise one of these days.

[Mr Sea]

L100NYY said:

S Works said:

GLOL, had it four days and already modding.

FWIW I think they look cheap and tacky. I think they're in the Jim Clark SC Elise too, really out of place, and I doubt any 'warmer' than the metal ones. Leather would be better IMO.

Nope, the one in the Type 25 SC is an exact replica as used in the Elan and is totally different to the Europa one.

I concur, there is no alloy in the centre either, just a nice warm Lotus badge to put your thumb on.

Edited by Mr Sea on Wednesday 23 December 17:28

[S Works]

Mr Sea said:

L100NYY said:

S Works said:

GLOL, had it four days and already modding.

FWIW I think they look cheap and tacky. I think they're in the Jim Clark SC Elise too, really out of place, and I doubt any 'warmer' than the metal ones. Leather would be better IMO.

Nope, the one in the Type 25 SC is an exact replica as used in the Elan and is totally different to the Europa one.

I concur, there is no alloy in the centre either, just a nice warm Lotus badge to put your thumb on.

GLOL. Whatever. One hundred quid for that is a joke.

[cyberface]

OK then, with the Lotus-supplied £100 bit of wood out of the question as the price is quite clearly taking the piss, can anyone answer me a simple question?

Is the gear knob on the Exige I've got actually a removable *knob* or is it all part of the same shaft? The knob has a collar underneath it, is this part of the knob assembly, or part of the shaft? Can I unscrew the stock aluminium knob, and fit whatever takes my fancy - or is there something Lotus-specific to this (like an extended length assembly with collar)?

I quite fancy a plain wooden one (maybe made myself), or that Reverie carbon knob (but that's similarly silly money to the Lotus wood item).

Just think of all those grams I can save!!!!!

[Mr Sea]

Just think of all those grams I can save!!!!!


[/quote]
I am a carpenter, I could make you one, in oak, or 'wood' that be too heavy?

[Mr Sea]

S Works said:

Mr Sea said:

L100NYY said:

S Works said:

GLOL, had it four days and already modding.

FWIW I think they look cheap and tacky. I think they're in the Jim Clark SC Elise too, really out of place, and I doubt any 'warmer' than the metal ones. Leather would be better IMO.

Nope, the one in the Type 25 SC is an exact replica as used in the Elan and is totally different to the Europa one.

I concur, there is no alloy in the centre either, just a nice warm Lotus badge to put your thumb on.

GLOL. Whatever. One hundred quid for that is a joke.

Mr S works, please, this business about knobs is serious, I give mine a good spanking every time I

[niki265]

L100NYY said:

S Works said:

GLOL, had it four days and already modding.

FWIW I think they look cheap and tacky. I think they're in the Jim Clark SC Elise too, really out of place, and I doubt any 'warmer' than the metal ones. Leather would be better IMO.

Nope, the one in the Type 25 SC is an exact replica as used in the Elan and is totally different to the Europa one.

I think it also replicates the gear knob in the original Type 25 race car

The wooden knob is certainly considerably warmer than the aluminium one of my old S2... Have to say I preferred the feel of the rounded aluminium one though.

[dlkoiter]

What does one hour of labour cost in England? Here a good carpenter will set you back 50 to 55 euro's ex VAT at least!! You will have to shape and glue different pieces of wood together and when dry shape it to the a ball. Than it needs to be sanded and varnished. Also the aluminium insert needs to be made on a CNC machine. The parts need to be put together, and most likely even an aluminium collar needs to be put in the bottom piece to screw it on the gearstick.

I know it is expensive, but when you think of all the work that needs to be done, the price is OK.

But I dont care for it... I like the aluminium one thats on it now better that this..

[S Works]

cyberface said:

Is the gear knob on the Exige I've got actually a removable *knob* or is it all part of the same shaft? The knob has a collar underneath it, is this part of the knob assembly, or part of the shaft? Can I unscrew the stock aluminium knob, and fit whatever takes my fancy - or is there something Lotus-specific to this (like an extended length assembly with collar)?

Assuming they're still the same as the ones before (it's a Lotus, so no reason to think it would be), I believe you can loosen the collar and then unscrew the knob. You might want to use mole grips and something to protect it from getting scratched. They can be a bit hard to get off sometimes.

[junks]

S Works said:

cyberface said:

Is the gear knob on the Exige I've got actually a removable *knob* or is it all part of the same shaft? The knob has a collar underneath it, is this part of the knob assembly, or part of the shaft? Can I unscrew the stock aluminium knob, and fit whatever takes my fancy - or is there something Lotus-specific to this (like an extended length assembly with collar)?

Assuming they're still the same as the ones before (it's a Lotus, so no reason to think it would be), I believe you can loosen the collar and then unscrew the knob. You might want to use mole grips and something to protect it from getting scratched. They can be a bit hard to get off sometimes.

They do come off but with the lift up reverse function the collar needs to be able to be pulled into the gearknob, there is a recess for this on the Lotus ones - not saying that isn't possible to replicate though