Description
For sale is my 1992 Lotus Excel SE. Confirmed as the 14th last ever built, plus one of only a handful with the very desirable Calypso Red and Lotus Gold perforated leather combination. Bought new from Station Garage Taplow on the 9th November 1992. It was later owned by Bell & Colvill, prominent Lotus dealers in Surrey in the early 2000's, hence the dealer license plates.
I have owned the car since February 2023 when i bought it from Tottenham Hale in London and drove it home to Northern Ireland and have done 7000 miles since. I had the car of the road for the first year of ownership as I undertook an extensive recommissioning. This included new carpets, both front seats, gearstick and handbrake gaiter all retrimmed, all other leather work redyed (properly! liquid masked stitching, prepped and sprayed), new wood facia's, new windscreen, drivers door rebuilt inc. door beam, new door seals, door handles repaired, Stainless Steel seat belt brackets fitted, re-cored radiator, new power steering pump, all belts replaced and tensioner, cam covers redone in red crinkle paint, new SU fuel pump, new speedo cable, all filters, all oils, reconditioned rear brake caliper, new track rod ends and gaiters, full set of new Vredestein tyres (original Goodyear Eagle ZR50 sourced for the spare), genuine Cobo indicator lenses, new waistline trim with correct finishers, perished breather pipe in boot replaced, restored boot floors, rebuilt petrol cap..... amongst other things. The car also has a full stainless steel exhaust system fitted in 2015 amongst a major mechanical overhaul done at the time.
Within the past months, the most dreaded job, that is the exhaust manifold was undertook due to a blow... removed, sandblasted and replaced with new gaskets, stainless steel studs and copper coated locknuts. The carbs have also had an overhaul, not a full reconditioning but taken apart and replacing what was needed, tuned and balanced.
It is a lovely car to drive and runs well. It has had a full respray just prior to my ownership. The paintwork is presentable but it does have minor defects such as crazing and microblisters on the C-pillar trim passenger side, cracking on the spoiler and very slight blisters on the bonnet, meaning they can only be seen in a certain light.
The air-con has never worked throughout my ownership. I've never had a car with A/ C, so it was not a priority to set right. As the saying goes, you never miss what you've never had.
It will be sad to see the car go, but recent personal circumstances means the car must be sold.
Willing to oblige were possible regarding pickup, I have brought many cars including this one out of mainland UK and have flew over and drove home or had cars transported over, all very easy to do.
Extensive history folder and service book present.
More photos can be accessed upon request.
