1987 Excel SA

Eclat or Excel parts for sale.

Moderator: Board Moderators

Post Reply
mrpmarchant
Junior Poster
Posts: 33
Joined: Fri Sep 26, 2014 11:00
Model: Excel SA
Colour: Black A2
Year: 1987
Location: Tonyrefail, South Wales

1987 Excel SA

Post by mrpmarchant »

ANYONE ON HERE INTERESTED IN THIS PLEASE
For Sale : 1987 Lotus Excel SA
Sold as a project/rolling restoration, with MoT, so driveable, road worthy, and not a barn find.
Automatic (with no gearbox problems).
Later model with wider body arches, and with 7 spoke Ruote OZ alloy wheels all in good condition
Tyres good for a while, including that on the matching spare wheel
Registration is D915 ELE
Black paintwork with red leather interior, only specimen ever made in this colour combination.
Manufactured by Lotus in Hethel in 1986, and first registered on 1 November 1987
The car has had seven registered owners in total, inclusive of me since 1 October 2014 (six years ago)
Currently Mot’d until May 2021 with a couple of advisories.
Some history, but no handbooks present
2 Keys available
Extensive rebuilding work to engine head and front brakes undertaken at 47,146 miles on 1 December 2008, costing £4k and the invoice for that is available
Had new rear suspension springs in 2014 just before I got it.
Sale includes Carburetor refurb kit bought from Lotusbits, which I never got round to installing, and a Lotus service notes CDRom is also included.
During my ownership I have investigated some difficulty in starting, installed a starter button, regularly changed the oil & oil filter, & air filters, changed sparkplugs, periodically adjusted mixture on carbs, installed new distributor cap and leads, installed second hand replacement driver door latch, installed new adjustable rear shock absorbers, installed new coil, and installed replacement windscreen wiper motor,
Replaced both dash fascias with matt black.
Odometer stopped working on 24/06/16, showing 49,117 miles, and still shows that today, so actual mileage will be slightly higher than this.
Breather pipework from fuel tank to rear has been replaced with modern materials.
Passenger door window gear removed and replaced
New rocker cover gaskets installed,
New heavy duty battery.
New cables to bonnet operating mechanism.
May 2020 installed replacement both front springs for MOT test.
Also replaced brake discs and pads to both front wheels.
Also replaced steering rack gaiters to both front wheels.
Also replaced starter motor with an expensive upgrade model, improving the car’s starting reliability.
Some work to be done…
Odometer to be repaired, or connection corrected.
Air conditioning doesn’t work, possibly linked to only one fan working and the “fan fail” warning light showing, (which has never troubled me).
Rear heated screen stuck on, probably needs new switch
Central locking not working (all operational but just needs setting up)
Roof has been painted and lacquered but now needs polishing.
Bonnet has engine heat blisters and needs respraying
Paintwork in good condition for age but generally needs touching up
Leather trim needs some attention, but seats are not ripped at all and are good for their age
Headlining is good, but would benefit from a clean
Dash binnacle needs recovering as original cover in poor condition
Door latches need adjusting.
Window frames are good for their age, but would benefit from some tlc
New door seals might resolve some water ingress experienced in heavy rainfall.
In Conclusion
This car should be an enjoyable rolling project and investment for someone who has more time than me (a new granddaughter has taken all my spare time), grandma’s wheelchair now makes it impractical, and I shall be sorry to see her go. If you have read this far you will hopefully know about Excels and classic cars already, and realize the commitments to a car of this age before bidding or inspecting it.
Lotus Excel SA 1987
Lotus Elan M100 SE Turbo 1997
BMW M3 2005

User avatar
Hawaiis0
Senior Poster
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: 1987 Excel SA

Post by Hawaiis0 »

Hi MrP

You mentioned bidding. is it advertised somewhere so photos can be viewed?
Nothing is fool proof. Fools are clever!

mrpmarchant
Junior Poster
Posts: 33
Joined: Fri Sep 26, 2014 11:00
Model: Excel SA
Colour: Black A2
Year: 1987
Location: Tonyrefail, South Wales

Re: 1987 Excel SA

Post by mrpmarchant »

Hello,
No, this was a draft wording I put together in the expectation I would probably end up putting it on a bid site, but popped it on here first in the hope of avoiding that hassle.
I would be delighted to email pictures to you if you are interested and if you let me have your email address
regards
Peter
Lotus Excel SA 1987
Lotus Elan M100 SE Turbo 1997
BMW M3 2005

mrpmarchant
Junior Poster
Posts: 33
Joined: Fri Sep 26, 2014 11:00
Model: Excel SA
Colour: Black A2
Year: 1987
Location: Tonyrefail, South Wales

Re: 1987 Excel SA

Post by mrpmarchant »

Sold =0)
More time for granddaughter now
Lotus Excel SA 1987
Lotus Elan M100 SE Turbo 1997
BMW M3 2005

User avatar
barker_001
Senior Poster
Posts: 905
Joined: Mon May 07, 2007 19:50
Model: Excel SE
Colour: Calypso Red
Year: 1990
Location: Cardiff, South Wales

Re: 1987 Excel SA

Post by barker_001 »

Was the new owner local, Peter?

Enjoy your time with the grandkids, I have another one on the way next month!
Bryan

1990 Excel SE

"Look, there's a Ferrari..."

User avatar
Hawaiis0
Senior Poster
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: 1987 Excel SA

Post by Hawaiis0 »

Already on Ebay by the new owner
Nothing is fool proof. Fools are clever!

mrpmarchant
Junior Poster
Posts: 33
Joined: Fri Sep 26, 2014 11:00
Model: Excel SA
Colour: Black A2
Year: 1987
Location: Tonyrefail, South Wales

Re: 1987 Excel SA

Post by mrpmarchant »

Thanks Bryan.
I didn't want the hassle of eBay myself, so Googled classic cars wanted on Saturday, spoke to a gent that lunchtime, sent pictures, got an offer by 5pm that same day, accepted it on Sunday, and they collected it Wednesday mid morning in exchange for cash.
I wanted a quick sale and no come backs!
Lotus Excel SA 1987
Lotus Elan M100 SE Turbo 1997
BMW M3 2005

User avatar
Hawaiis0
Senior Poster
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: 1987 Excel SA

Post by Hawaiis0 »

No harm intended Peter. Just trying to highlight the missed opportunity for members only to be snaffled by a wide eyed dealer

Did you get my email address message out of curiosity?
Nothing is fool proof. Fools are clever!

mrpmarchant
Junior Poster
Posts: 33
Joined: Fri Sep 26, 2014 11:00
Model: Excel SA
Colour: Black A2
Year: 1987
Location: Tonyrefail, South Wales

Re: 1987 Excel SA

Post by mrpmarchant »

Hi HawaiisO
No problem!
I don't think I did get your email but will check on my laptop later.
As I said above, I didn't want the hassle of a face to face with a buyer, so a dealer was the answer for me.
I spent 6 quite enjoyable years with it taking one step forward and two back, until the list of things needed became overwhelming, and in one day last week it took ages to start after filling up with petrol at the pumps (very embarrassing after the joy of basking in the admiring looks) and then a fixing on the bonnet hinge snapped, so my mind was made up.
It is a fantastic looking car, but suffers from being automatic, and it became difficult for me to get my wife out of a wheelchair into the passenger seat with the limited door opening. We don't get that problem with the Elan.
Regards
Peter.
Lotus Excel SA 1987
Lotus Elan M100 SE Turbo 1997
BMW M3 2005

Post Reply