The Lotus Grand Tourers

Actually I was never away. Sold my Excel just over nine years ago, but have been lurking in this forum ever since, checking it at least weekly. Creepy eh?
The new play car was going to be an Evora, then an Esprit, but then a nice Excel Celebration came up, in Calypso Bright Bright Red. Drove it from York to Newbury today without missing a beat.
Met Angus loitering in a university car park on the way but these things happen.

Hooray!

I think I saw a red cele advertised recently but I can't remember where.. ..Was it on Car and Classic?

It was a strong price IIRC?

I can't remember the colour of your old Excel ...getting old. Was it Claret?

Yeah it was probably the most expensive Excel I've ever seen. However I looked at a very nice '92 Silk Red Excel last summer, for many thousands less, but in the end we were £1k adrift between what the seller thought it was worth and what I thought it was worth.
This time I would have paid more than what I actually got it for.
It's only done 36,000 miles.... just run in.
My previous Excel was Silk Red. Some people who should know better called it burgundy or claret.

hodders wrote:Yeah it was probably the most expensive Excel I've ever seen. However I looked at a very nice '92 Silk Red Excel last summer, for many thousands less, but in the end we were £1k adrift between what the seller thought it was worth and what I thought it was worth.
This time I would have paid more than what I actually got it for.
It's only done 36,000 miles.... just run in.
My previous Excel was Silk Red. Some people who should know better called it burgundy or claret.

Good buy!

My Calypso Red 89SE had done just 38K when I bought it. I paid 'top-ish' money at the time (6.5K in 1998) but top money was not a lot because the wedge shape was VERY out of fashion. It was worth it getting a good one. Clutch plate and PAS hose failure signalled the first significant expenditure more than 10 years in. It's around at 70K miles now.... headlining is the worst aspect atm...but they all suffer this at some point.

I recall the car and it looked lovely. So, great purchase and arguably better than an Esprit, cannot comment re the Evora.

Welcome back Hodders!! ISTR that selling your Silk Red Excel was something you didn't really want to do, so pleased you're back with another! Photos needed of course!

Pete

Hodders, welcome back dude nice to see that you chose an Excel again. I saw the adverts for that car and its a cracker.

Bash
Ps, Dont get tempted to sell again, be a reformed stalker instead.

Welcome back Hodders

Got my Club Lotus valuation back today, valued at more than I paid for it

Super nice!

Has the headlining been done?

Mine is nice apart from the headlining.

Got a quote last week for £600 to replace the headlining from Heritage classics on Teesside. Was thinking of doing it myself but as values of Excels have improved recently, getting it done professionally now seems sensible (and it's a PITA to do by all accounts).

Headlining is fine, only issue is the sun visors where the material is getting thin. My wife says she can re-cover them, once I remove them, there's a link in the forum somewhere.

Fabulous car Hodders!

I'm hoping a few of us can get together at the Club Lotus track day on Saturday 23 May at Castle Combe - it would be great to see you & the Excel there.

Cheers, Richard