Description
Lotus Excel SE.
Manufactured in 1990.
Jupiter red exterior, with pale grey leather interior.
Miles: 99532 as of 02 Aug 2024.
Great car, fun to drive, with room for four adults and their bags!
Last full service included cam belt and ancillary belts (August 2023.)
Recently changed battery (Jan 2024).
New MOT: 02 Aug 2024, expires 01 Aug 2025.
Currently taxed.
Note: car was SORN'd before the pandemic and covers Nov 2018 to July 2023. Consequently there's an apparent "gap" in the service history from 2018 at 97530 miles to the last service in 2023.
Other work over my ownership include:
Steering rack replaced (2017.)
Headlining retrimmed, pale grey as before (2015)
Wheels refurbished by Wheelworx of Colchester (2018).
Fitted with Pioneer stereo radio / CD Player with USB port (2014?)
Run on E5 petrol.
Stainless exhaust fitted (as described by sales agent in 2012.)
The paint has the expected signs of deterioration due to it's age. (For the future owner, this may be a consideration.)
The car was initially kept outside for nearly two years (approx 2012 to 2014), mostly with a Stormforce cover (which is available.) The cover has been the cause of wear of some of the lacquer, especially over the rear quarters. Other places where lacquer is missing is more noticeable on offside front light housing, and in front of the windscreen. The Excel has been garaged since 2014 (dry.) Other chips to the paintwork are apparent when close to which may not be clear in the photos. The paint appearance is perhaps to be expected on (mostly?) original paint on a 34 YO car. The front bumper area has accrued a few chips over the years.
Some micro blistering on the top flat part of the nearside door panel. The roof has been painted in the past, but the blistering - well, more like micro cracks - has since reappeared some time after I bought it (see last photo, with lens cap in it.).
Some delamination of front windscreen - just visible in the photos. Minor on driver's side, but more evident on nearside.
The walnut facia is cracking where retained by the fasteners.
If the car is left standing for more than a few weeks at a time (such as three or more) oil trapped in the cam box can seep past the gasket onto the exhaust, so best to use it regularly. How much the leak is I don’t know as I’ve never seen it on what little of the headers are visible. However, the engine oil level barely drops between servicing; no oil drips on the on the floor, though there is a minor mist of oil on the underside, especially across the nearside passenger area.
The aircon will need checking. Though this was serviced soon after I bought the car, it’s essentially never been used since.
Car jack and wheel nut wrench included, but not shown in photos. (Full size wheel.)
Please contact me to discuss any other points and/ or for further information.
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Back in 2012 I had been thinking of buying an Elan 2+2. However, not only were the prices a bit higher than I'd wanted, but also, perhaps more importantly, I wanted a Lotus with rear seat space for an adult passenger/ s for longer journeys which the 2+2 doesn't really offer. In fact when I got into this Excel the rear seat was the first seat I tried and was amazed. Cosy! I’m about Colin Chapman’s height, and size so I was surprised (or perhaps not so, considering his design criteria) that it was not uncomfortable, albeit very snug. Someone somewhere apparently stated that with the Elite / Eclat / Excel cars Chapman wanted a GT car suitable for four adults, with enough space in the boot for two (or was it four?) sets of golf clubs.
The Excel, by contemporary reports of the time, was great to drive as a GT car, especially for spirited cross-country driving. As it’s four valve per cylinder, the engine needs to be spun to get any decent acceleration. At the time of production the Excel's performance was described by the press as "brisk".
