1987 Lotus Excel SE

Highlights

  • Full service history
  • Mechanically reviewed by current owner
  • A classic ready for daily use

The Appeal

A sports coupe shape, pop up headlights and four comfortable seats, the Lotus Excel is surely a worthy rival to the better-known family sportscar from the 1980s, the Porsche 928.

Finished in white with a body still in good condition and having undergone plenty of work mechanically since 2019, this is surely a very useable model. Used as a commuter car for a few years by the current owner, it supposedly very rarely had issues and was able to go on long road trips across the UK.

With full service history and relatively low miles, this is surely a great example of the British sporty coupe.

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History and Paperwork

  • First registered in 1987
  • Previous owner kept it in storage for a decade
  • Bought by current owner in 2019
  • Mechanically overhauled almost immediately after purchase
  • Used briefly as a daily driver
  • Full service history
  • MOT until April 2023
  • Owner’s handbook included in sale

The Interior

  • Fair overall condition
  • Aftermarket CD player
  • Replaced headlining
With soft, plush seats, we can understand why the current owner briefly used this 1987 Lotus Excel as a daily driver. Both the front and rear seats seem large enough to engulf any human making for a relaxing experience.

Furthermore, combining grey upholstery and black plastic for the dashboard, the interior spec is delightful. 

1980s electronics are certainly not known for being the most reliable and with the interior lights and electric mirrors seemingly faulty that does appear to be the case in this car too. The speedometer is also not working as it should while the rear seats, parts of the dashboard and the steering wheel are showing signs of wear and tear.

In the boot you’ll find a slightly worn carpet and a spare wheel in need of a new tyre.

Look closer at the centre console and not only will you spot a touch of wood with the elegant shift knob, but an aftermarket radio has been fitted enabling CDs to be played. Additionally, sagging original headlining was replaced by the current owner.

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The Exterior

  • Repainted in its original Monaco white
  • Galvanised chassis is safe from corrosion
  • Excellent wedge-shape styling
Lotus cars from this era all follow a similar design philosophy as the styling team seemingly drew great inspiration from the objects holding their doors in place. The infamous wedge shape combined with pop-up headlights is truly a great look on Lotus models such as this Excel and finished in Monaco white, the car certainly stands out. 

That specific white colour may be the colour chosen for the car from the factory, though it has been repainted in the past meaning it looks excellent for the most part bar a few imperfections on the corners. The passenger wing mirror also suffers from a small crack.

Underneath, the owner reports the chassis as being in excellent shape thanks to galvanised metal protecting the car from any corrosion. The vendor also claims the tyres will need changing soon.

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The Mechanics

  • 2.2-litre inline four cylinder engine
  • Five-speed Toyota-produced manual transmission
  • Plenty of work done mechanically by current owner
Mechanically, this car shines having been very well cared for especially by the most recent owner. A full service history file and plenty of invoices prove the amount of work that’s gone into keeping this car running on a day-to-day basis.

Since 2019 alone, parts such as the brake pads and discs, all the filters and fluids imaginable, the clutch slave cylinder, cam belt and tensioner have all been replaced among many others. Along with a replaced exhaust back boxes due to the original ones looking, in the vendor’s words, like they had spent an afternoon at John Wayne's shooting practice, the car now drives excellently. In fact, the vendor points out the engine’s smooth sound.

Start up supposedly requires a choreography of throttle pumps, though this is to be expected in an older car and gives it a sense of character. As does the switch manually operating the fan on the steering column. Despite these idiosyncrasies, the car never fails to get going even after sitting for a while.

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Summary

Great styling and a mechanical condition that trumps the motoring community’s amusing LOTUS acronym, this 1987 Lotus Excel is sure to be an excellent daily driver that stands out from the crowd. Furthermore, bring it to any event and it will attract just as much attention as any supercar from the period.

The interior, although entirely useable could benefit from some TLC opening the possibility for the perfect light project.

Notice to bidders

All items in this listing are sold on an “As Is - Where Is” basis. Photos and listing descriptions should be used as a guide only.  Although every effort has been made to verify the accuracy of the information in this listing and Car & Classic performs a level of due diligence prior to the auction, we do not warrant the accuracy of the listings. The seller assumes all responsibility for this listing. Inspection is highly recommended prior to bidding. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion.

Please take care when making a bid as once your bid is placed, it cannot be withdrawn and will not be cancelled. If you are unsure do not bid as no refunds will be given.

A nonrefundable buyer deposit is applied to all items won at auction. Please see our FAQs and T&Cs for further details.

All bidding is subject to our T&Cs. By registering and bidding you agree to the terms. Please ensure you clearly read them alongside the special terms and conditions contained in this listing.


Consulta le nostre FAQ qui e i nostri Termini e condizioni qui

Domande frequenti sulle aste
Specifiche del veicolo
  • Anno 1987
  • Marca Lotus
  • Modello Excel SE
  • Colore Monaco White
  • Chilometraggio 86,177 Miglia
  • Cilindrata 2174
Dettagli d'asta
  • Tipo di venditore Rivenditore
  • Città Sheffield
  • Posizione Yorkshire
  • Paese Regno Unito
Storico delle offerte
11 offerte da 7 offerenti
  • do•••• £7,100 02/10/22
  • ca•••• £7,000 02/10/22
  • he•••• £6,900 02/10/22
  • do•••• £6,700 02/10/22
  • he•••• £6,500 02/10/22
  • Ho•••• £6,000 02/10/22
  • he•••• £5,500 02/10/22
  • Ho•••• £5,000 30/09/22
  • re•••• £3,500 29/09/22
  • da•••• £3,100 27/09/22
Invia messaggio a team Aste di C&C

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