Grand Tourers Register

A place to reflect on the history of our cherished cars

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Hawaiis0
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Posts: 4130
Joined: Sun Jun 30, 2013 18:39
Model: Excel SA (No 3); Elite 504
Colour: BRG; Dirty White
Year: 1986
Location: West Oxfordshire

Re: Grand Tourers Register

Post by Hawaiis0 »

Hi Tony

One for the file. You can make out the VIN plate here

https://themarket.bonhams.com/en/listin ... 1&slide=48
Nothing is fool proof. Fools are clever!

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MetBlue
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Posts: 1401
Joined: Sat Mar 24, 2018 21:00
Model: Elite 74 & Excel 92 (SEish))
Colour: Metalic Blue
Year: 1974
Location: Northampton

Re: Grand Tourers Register

Post by MetBlue »

We had a few visitors at the show last weekend sharing some car details for the register. - Thanks if you are one of them.
I now have sight of approaching 400 cars on the register:
Elite 102, 43 on the road
Eclat 61, 19 otr
Pre SE excel 53, 22 otr
MY86 68, 38 otr
MY89 39, 11 otr
Celebration 40, 12 otr
Post Celeb'n 34, 15 otr

The plate history Don provided also cleaned the data slightly. E1NMK was on Stu's list as a Sold car, but was untraceable, now showing as a Land Rover. - I now know which car it is. :D

Tony
What goes together.... Must come apart.

Jean Pierre Lunie
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Posts: 30
Joined: Fri May 14, 2021 21:47
Model: Excel
Colour: Glacier Blue
Year: 1986
Location: Leicestershire

Re: Grand Tourers Register

Post by Jean Pierre Lunie »

Hi,

This advert on ebay for a Sunbeam Lotus has a photo of an excel bought as a replacement engine donor (with reg nr visible E838RBD) which may or may not be on your register but is obviously not going to be coming back on the road:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/134079143169 ... SwyDthyz4R

Peter
It's not what you've got, it's the way that you drive it :D

Oi_Oi_Savaloy
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Posts: 90
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2021 22:59
Model: Excel SE
Colour: Green
Year: 1987

Re: Grand Tourers Register

Post by Oi_Oi_Savaloy »

bash wrote:
Wed Feb 09, 2022 23:27
Heres an SA that has ceased to be, expired, gone to meet its maker (colin), snuffed it, etc.
Image
Image
Bash

Any idea if that's being broken for parts? Need passenger door frame and door latch and bits and pieces....! Could do with a dash too actually.

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bash
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Posts: 2210
Joined: Thu Nov 03, 2005 15:34
Model: Se, V8
Colour: white
Year: 1986
Location: Doncaster
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Re: Grand Tourers Register

Post by bash »

Sorry, the photo is about 20 years old.
Bash
Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.

Oi_Oi_Savaloy
Junior Poster
Posts: 90
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2021 22:59
Model: Excel SE
Colour: Green
Year: 1987

Re: Grand Tourers Register

Post by Oi_Oi_Savaloy »

That's scuppered that idea then! :)

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MetBlue
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Posts: 1401
Joined: Sat Mar 24, 2018 21:00
Model: Elite 74 & Excel 92 (SEish))
Colour: Metalic Blue
Year: 1974
Location: Northampton

Re: Grand Tourers Register

Post by MetBlue »

Update on the latest status of the register.
For Elite / Eclat:
Image

And for Excel:
Image

Currently 458 cars visible. Keep those pictures or details of known registrations coming.
I do still have over 50 plates Stu provided through past sales, so in effect, definitely over 500 visible.

Tony
What goes together.... Must come apart.

richardw
Moderator
Posts: 2224
Joined: Wed Feb 06, 2013 15:06
Model: Elite S2.2 Automatic
Colour: Essex Blue
Year: 1981
Location: Worcestershire

Re: Grand Tourers Register

Post by richardw »

Tony, not sure if you’ve seen this but here is my post with a collage of picures of all the Elites, Eclats and Excels I could find at the Lotus 70 event at Hethel back in 2018. Just in case you’re bored this afternoon!
richardw wrote:
Thu Oct 04, 2018 20:41
Here is a set of collages showing all the Oliver Winterbottom Lotus partygoers I could find at Hethel - a grand total of 34, made up of 7 Elites (including 1 Riviera), 4 Eclats (including 1 Sprint and 1 Riviera), and 23 Excels (including 1 narrowbody, at least 1 Celebration, and at least 1 SA):

Image
Image
Image
Image

ATB Richard
Image

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MetBlue
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Posts: 1401
Joined: Sat Mar 24, 2018 21:00
Model: Elite 74 & Excel 92 (SEish))
Colour: Metalic Blue
Year: 1974
Location: Northampton

Re: Grand Tourers Register

Post by MetBlue »

Spooky business..
I now have 500 cars on the register. Just so happens it is exactly 200 Elite / Eclat and 300 Excels !!
210 are ( or have been within the last year) on the road. 50 Elites, 25 Eclat and the rest Excels.
Tony.
What goes together.... Must come apart.

Pete Boole
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Posts: 3711
Joined: Tue Apr 04, 2006 21:28
Model: Elite
Colour: Monaco White
Year: 1974
Location: Nottingham

Re: Grand Tourers Register

Post by Pete Boole »

I'm amazed how many Elites there are! That's great.

Pete

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bash
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Model: Se, V8
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Year: 1986
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Re: Grand Tourers Register

Post by bash »

How many left shows 114 on the road and 286 on sorn ?
( Eclat Excels that is )
Bash
Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.

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MetBlue
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Posts: 1401
Joined: Sat Mar 24, 2018 21:00
Model: Elite 74 & Excel 92 (SEish))
Colour: Metalic Blue
Year: 1974
Location: Northampton

Re: Grand Tourers Register

Post by MetBlue »

How many left shows 114 on the road and 286 on sorn ?
( Eclat Excels that is )
Bash
The problem "How many left" has is that Lotus played loose with the model naming for the Excel.
Of all the Excels I have on the register (300), only 50% have "Excel" in the DVLA naming ( either Eclat Excel, or just Excel).
So best estimate would be that the How many left figures need doubling to get nearer the real figure.
Also explains why HML reports such large numbers for the Eclats on the road or SORN - A lot are Excels.
Tony
What goes together.... Must come apart.

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Crowman30
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Posts: 37
Joined: Sat Feb 27, 2021 15:38
Model: Excel SE
Colour: Calypso Red
Year: 1987

Re: Grand Tourers Register

Post by Crowman30 »

I have come into contact with another Lotus Excel SE owner in my neck of the woods.
I have informed him of our forum, so I am hoping he takes advantage of it.
He uses the same garage as me for any work on his car.
His Reg no. is D263XRB.
I hope this helps with the register.

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MetBlue
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Posts: 1401
Joined: Sat Mar 24, 2018 21:00
Model: Elite 74 & Excel 92 (SEish))
Colour: Metalic Blue
Year: 1974
Location: Northampton

Re: Grand Tourers Register

Post by MetBlue »

Thanks for posting that reg Don.
Hadn't got it on the register until now.

This addition takes us to 550 cars, 339 Excels, 132 Elites and 79 éclat.

My sources of new cars to add are drying up now, so please all keep posting reg plates you may find.

You never know, I might even register on that Face-plant site nonsense one day. I'm sure there are pictures hitting that that don't frequent these proper sites 😀👍.
Tony
What goes together.... Must come apart.

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Tanz
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Posts: 2071
Joined: Thu May 03, 2007 22:05
Model: SE
Colour: Calypso Red
Year: 1988
Location: Wolverhampton

Re: Grand Tourers Register

Post by Tanz »

Have you got this one?

Image
Cheers, Phil
Never take life seriously, nobody gets out alive anyway!

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