£11,250
offers 0
1985 Lotus Eclat Excel
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Highlights
- Nicely original and unrestored Lotus
- Exceptionally well preserved seats
- Original Monaco white paintwork in good condition
- One owner for last 30 years, with full history file
The Appeal
A development of the original Lotus Eclat appeared in 1982 as the Lotus Eclat Excel. The main improvement over the previous version was the galvanised chassis, Toyota sourced 5 speed gearbox, drive train and braking system. The later 2.2 litre 16 valve DOHC four cylinder (Lotus 907) engine put out a healthy 160bhp and consumed a lot less fuel than its contemporaries. Much praised by the motoring press in period the Eclat offered superb handling and good performance when compared to larger engine rivals from Ferrari, Porsche and Jaguar.
This attractive Lotus was purchased by the seller in 1993 as a 25th birthday present. He is the second owner and has looked after the car well for the past 30 years, with plenty of regular servicing and replacement parts when necessary. Garaged at his house it is in overall nice condition with wear and tear you might expect from a car of this age. He has kept all the paperwork so there is a full folder of invoices and receipts, and lots of old MoT certificates. A recent service has been carried out by Hendy in April 2023, and plenty of other work has been completed, including cam belts in May 2017, brake and clutch overhaul and a replacement exhaust. Apart from maintenance items the Lotus remains in original condition throughout.
History and Paperwork
- Manufactured and first registered in 1985
- Purchased by the Seller, the second owner, in 1993
- Always garaged regularly serviced
- V5c In Seller’s name
- Used sparingly
- MoT valid to 18th April 2024
- Large folder of invoices and receipts stretching back 30 years
- 21 old MoT certificates , earliest being 1988
- Original Lotus Owner’s Pack and Philips radio guide
- Thick lever arch folder Lotus Service manual
- 3 Sets of keys
The Interior
- Light blue leather and grey velour interior
- Grey Velour seats with light blue leather inserts in exceptional condition front and rear
- Pale grey carpet in good condition with minor age related marks
- Light grey roof lining showing some age, centre section missing and requires replacement
- Leather lined dash intact and undamaged with age related marks
- Three spoke Lotus steering wheel with Guigiaro design badge
- VDO gauges clear with no damage, appear to function correctly
- Some wear and damage around ignition keyhole
- Plastic centre console, switchgear and buttons in good condition
- Philips radio cassette looks to be original
- Blaupunkt speakers in doors and concealed beside rear seats
- Clean boot space with grey carpet
- Full size alloy spare wheel, jack and complete tool roll
- Overall the interior is in a well preserved and original state with age marks and wear, with only the roof lining requiring attention
The Exterior
- Monaco white paintwork in original condition
- Minor marks on bumper corners, and some stone chips on bonnet
- Paintwork could be improved with a good polish and detailing
- Original Lotus Excel graphics and pin striping
- All glass and lenses in great condition (one front driving lamp has stone damage)
- Pop-up headlights functioning correctly
- Smart fifteen inch Lotus alloy wheels with no rim damage
- Two wheel centres have some corrosion and lacquer damage
- Lightly worn set of Hancook Ventus tyres
- Dealer sticker in rear window from purchase in 1993
- The exterior is in excellent condition for an unrestored car of this age; nicely preserved but with scope for improvement
The Mechanics
- Lotus 2.2 litre 16 valve DOHC four cylinder (907) engine good for 165bhp
- Toyota derived 5 speed gearbox
- Disc brakes front and rear
- Clean and corrosion free underside
- Original engine bay with some road grime and age related marks as stains
- Camshaft belts changed in May 2017, just 1,705 miles since
- Carburettors and clutch all overhauled in 2018
- Brakes renewed in May 2022
- Full service performed in April 2023
- Reported to start easily (manual choke) and drive exceptionally well with good power and excellent handling
Summary
The final version of the Eclat,-the Excel was by far the best developed, benefitting from improvements to the drive train, brakes and chassis longevity, but despite this only 227 of the 2.2 litre Excel version were manufactured. Most of the earlier cars have long since rotted away so this example is one of few Eclat Excels remaining, and is quite likely to be one of the most original. With a well preserved exterior and excellent maintenance history it is a nice genuine example. Journalist John Bolster wrote in Autosport at the time ”Colin Chapman has taken the best things that have come out of racing and combined them in one package.” High praise indeed!
Notice to bidders
This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only. Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.
UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Car & Classic are run through an online HPI check. On the HPI report, this vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft. It is currently not covered by a finance agreement.
A non-refundable buyer’s deposit is payable on this item, refer to FAQs and T&Cs for the applicable percentage.
All bidding, buying and offers are subject to our Terms and Conditions.
Vehicle specification
- Year 1985
- Make Lotus
- Model Eclat Excel
- Colour White
- Odometer 89,408 Miles
- Engine size 2174
Listing Details
- Seller Type Private
- Town Southampton
- Location Hampshire
- Country United Kingdom
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