SA 1989 Claret Red

Roger Dilley · Post by **Roger Dilley** » Sun May 17, 2020 08:14

I’ve had it for over 6 years now and it’s been a fab bit of wedge.
It was MOT’d this month May 2020, passed first time.
I think it’s done about 90k miles it has had the speedo replaced and currently shows about 45k.
I’m looking for £7500.

The car was rumoured to be first owned by a Lotus Finance Director who sold it to a Lotus employee who sold it to a manager from Proton (when Proton briefly owned Lotus) from whom I bought the car from. He put 4 new Ozz alloys (still in fab condition plus the spare is also a good alloy with an ancient tyre) plus new wood for the dash.
From the condition of the car I think it has been garaged for most if not all of it’s life. It doesn’t let any rain in in a hard down pour. Apart from the intermittent variable wiper function and volt meter saying it's not charging when it is everything works including the cruise control, windows, mirrors and central locking. The Aircon works (R134a) but needs re-gassing most years, lasting the spring and the summer just fine. I’ve got a Workshop Manual and Parts Catalogue plus original sales pamphlets/brochures.
I’ve loved it since I bought it especially the wedge, in the process of changing it for a Silk Red Elan M100, as I fancy some wind in the hair whilst I still have some.
I can't work out how to post picks on the site so please send me your email by private email and I will send the pictures I took last year for the agreed valuation last year for £8,250.
Time for someone else to enjoy.
I live in sunny Weymouth if you are interested

HC180 · Post by **HC180** » Mon May 18, 2020 21:27

Here are Rogers photographs, looks very smart.

Sirclip · Post by **Sirclip** » Tue May 19, 2020 08:18

She looks lovely Roger - your WILL be sorry when it's gone.

Pete Boole · Post by **Pete Boole** » Tue May 19, 2020 13:04

Lovely car - worth every penny.

Pete

Alan_M · Post by **Alan_M** » Tue May 19, 2020 14:21

Looks great. Now if it was a manual i’d be very tempted

richardw · Post by **richardw** » Tue May 19, 2020 14:58

The auto drives beautifully - I never liked them either but the ZF4HP22 (as fitted to the SA) was the first auto on the market that had (just) enough ratios, a lock-up top gear, and didn't feel like a slushbox. Now I have one. Not so good for track days but great for parade laps! This car looks absolutely stunning.

Cheers Richard

alangs1200 · Post by **alangs1200** » Tue May 19, 2020 16:41

Looks fantastic. I'd love to talk to you about it. I've PM'd you.

BR
Alan

Hawaiis0 · Post by **Hawaiis0** » Tue May 19, 2020 17:29

richardw wrote: ↑
Tue May 19, 2020 14:58
...Not so good for track days ......

I beat an Esprit around Olivers Mount in mine so they aren't that bad!

Lotus-e-Clan · Post by **Lotus-e-Clan** » Tue May 19, 2020 18:59

Hawaiis0 wrote: ↑
Tue May 19, 2020 17:29

richardw wrote: ↑
Tue May 19, 2020 14:58
...Not so good for track days ......

I beat an Esprit around Olivers Mount in mine so they aren't that bad!

I remember Lotus/Chapman saying that the auto was /should be quicker off the mark than the manual. Anyway these days the auto makes more sense given traffic, gross-speed-shaming, dash-cam-grassers etc.

Roger Dilley · Post by **Roger Dilley** » Tue May 26, 2020 19:37

Happy to say that the car has now gone to a good home.

I hope the new owners have as much fun as we have had in the last 7 years.

Hawaiis0 · Post by **Hawaiis0** » Tue May 26, 2020 22:59

Glad to hear she'll be looked after. Good look with the elan project .
Stu

alangs1200 · Post by **alangs1200** » Tue May 26, 2020 23:16

She’ll be well loved by me and her new home is in Surbiton, Surrey. She’s in good nick, but of course there’s always a job to be done!

I’ve been looking for a while, having had a Celebration from new in 1991 that left us to accommodate kids. Now the kids have flown the nest .... and we’re scratching the itch!

Doubtless I’ll be along with some questions from time to time!

richardw · Post by **richardw** » Wed May 27, 2020 07:48

Congratulations and enjoy the car - you're now a member of the extremely niche Lotus Automatics Group!

Cheers

Richard

alangs1200 · Post by **alangs1200** » Wed May 27, 2020 08:55

Richard - the automatic wasn't an obvious choice (it sort of seems wrong) but when you sit and think about it, it makes sense on a 30 year old car. I'm unlikely to drive this the way I drove the brand new one we had in 1991 (both the car and I are older, wiser and a bit less "fit"), so I'm happy with the choice. I agreed with Roger who sold it to me that the auto box is also why the engine is so smooth after all these years and 90,000 miles plus, it's unlikely to be revved to the limit as much as a manual. And besides, I'm a lazy old sod now who only drives manuals when they're a cheap holiday rental! So it's a good club to join and it's always nice to be in such an exclusive group

DavidOliver · Post by **DavidOliver** » Wed May 27, 2020 10:52

Welcome Alangs1200 to the Forum.
Regarding the Automatic, I have been playing around repairing the same box from my XJ40, hence the comments.
Oil and filter change is normally easy and tells you the condition of the box. It might not be easy in the Excel.
The XJ40 has a transmission cooler within the engine coolant radiator, which leaked water into the box ... and wrecked it.
I don´t know if the Excel SA has a cooler but if so please not inside the engine radiator.
I have fitted a Mishimoto external tube radiator behind the engine rad, to date the fluid temperature has got to 80ºC. Any more
would begin to concern me.
For secondhand replacement boxes non-Excel you may find the gear change load/revs is different.

Dave the cog.

The Lotus Grand Tourers

SA 1989 Claret Red

SA 1989 Claret Red

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