The Lotus Grand Tourers

Offered as a last hope, my 85MY had a small hole drilled in the body, (by a very previous owner), 3 cm to the right of the boot lock, to use a rod and release the catch. Presumably it worked as that's the only damage. The hole had a rubber bung in it, not too secure, so I replaced it with a small do...

Don't know if already spotted, but the "active" Esprit is for sale on EBay ref.176248924857.
Can't quite afford it, but a great read. Jeff.

Thanks for the helpful replies, noticed the slight hump in the roof, wondered if it was deliberate to give some strength to a large thin flat(ish) panel made of resin? There isn't one on the Sunbeam. also resin, but that has a more rounded profile. Jeff.

Mine just pulled off the sticky pad after I had removed the screws (3?) through the base plinth into the chassis/floorpan. Maybe I was just lucky. Jeff.

Now several members have the model, I have a question. Do the small metal plaques underneath, in my case 001/120, refer to 120 in green plus 120 in red, or 120 total? My daughter is convinced mine is the first off the line, but I couldn't be that lucky? Also is the red one registered the same F135RP...

Hello Matt. I tried to send a private message, but it seems to have evaporated. My 82, Essex blue Excel will probably be for sale this spring, near Wakefield, Yorkshire. If you're interested, try PM to me with your contact details. Jeff.

Model arrived this morning, more than pleased with it, (despite Australian spec. Lotus badges). There was no tax hit, perhaps the list price was under the limit, now to put the Essex Esprit Turbo on EBay, (unless someone here is interested?). Jeff.

I bit the bullet and ordered a green one from Italy via EBay. Just under £150 inc. postage. Will keep you posted. Jeff.

Can I ask, if buying one of the "cheap" models from Europe, do we have to factor in a tax hit from HMG ? I'm sure I can fix the badges. Thanks, Jeff.

I used an export model Jaguar xjs high level brake light, which bolted to the boot lid under the rear window. Came in a full range of Jag colours and were for sale in large numbers at autojumbles a few years back, not expensive. I fitted it under the spoiler, (early car), was only visible to followi...

If you are considering a repaint, you may want to consider removing the side flasher and flushing the hole. The 85 MY didn't have them, (see the photos in the last post), mine's without, I didn't miss them. If you do change them, the securing bolts are a square head in a square hole through the flas...

If I'm reading their listing correctly, available 23Q4, should be at the end of this year, I hope so. Lacking room to keep the real thing, I have 1-18 scale models of most of the Lotus I owned. Elan, Elan Coupe, Sunbeam, Caterham, Cortina 1, Europa (T/C, JPS), nearest to the Excel is the Essex Espri...

Nothing to do with me, but they look like my Burroughs gauge, maybe someone knows if they will work on our engines. Currently £100.Ref.175753436835. Jeff.

No bids at £6,300 end of Jan. £3,000 bid, failed to reach reserve yesterday. good luck to him. Jeff.

Yes that's it, thanks for the link, just another thing I can't do. Jeff.