Highlights

Extensive mechanical overhaul including full engine rebuild
Only 59,503 miles from new
Two UK keepers since arrival in 2003
Factory standard car in good overall condition
Fantastic opportunity for the right collector to complete

The Appeal

In the early 1990s, there was one rule of the road that everyone followed: if you saw a dark-coloured, wide-bodied Vauxhall Carlton ease up behind you on the outside lane of the motorway, you moved over as quickly as possible.

Those signifiers were the only clues that you were being followed by Lotus’ heavily tweaked version of General Motors’ executive saloon. And you needed to get out of the way, because with close to 400bhp on tap from its 3.6L straight six, equipped with two big Garrett T25 turbos, the Lotus was as quick as anything on the road.

Just 950 were built, of which 630 were the European Omega-badged versions like this one. It is car 472 and arrived here in 2003. It has covered less than 500 miles since in the hands of its two keepers. The second of those, who acquired it in 2014, has set about a truly comprehensive mechanical restoration that has touched virtually every area of the car’s running gear, including a full engine rebuild. The car is cosmetically and mechanically standard.

There are a few jobs to complete, but for the right enthusiast this is a fantastic - perhaps unique - opportunity to capitalise on someone else’s blood, sweat, probably tears and certainly finances, and get one of motoring’s greatest super saloons back on the road.

The vendor says:

“This is a car that requires some work but has had thousands spent and hundreds of my own as well as paid hours in very problematic areas with these cars. The engine oil dips golden clear from its fully re-built motor and idles silky smooth. It’s a great opportunity for someone to carry on the torch and get this car back to it’s original glory.”

The History and Paperwork

First registered in Germany in 1993
Original German Fahrzeugbrief (log book) included
First registered in the UK on 01/12/2003
Registered to the first keeper on 1st April 2004
Acquired by the first keeper from specialist Alan Carrington Motors
Acquired in 2004 with 95,155 kms on odometer
Acquired by the second keeper showing 95,761 kms (59,503 miles)
Acquired by the second keeper on 30/04/2014
All original DVLA registration paperwork present
Receipts for all parts and work carried out are included
Last tax disc expired on 31/05/2004
MOT expired on 20/11/2004 and has not been renewed
Car in dry storage with first and second keepers
1 key and one separate key for ignition
Various spares as shown in photos

The vendor says:

“My father-in-law and I first caught wind of the vehicle for sale when we were told by a mutual friend that someone he knew was selling off some old American cars that they had in storage. As avid American muscle car enthusiasts we went along to see what he had and if there were any light projects that might interest us. Unfortunately, although the collection was quite vast lots of the cars had been left in terrible condition to deteriorate beyond what we wanted to take on. In amongst these vehicles in an old hay barn lay K120 WKJ about an inch thick in dust. The story we were told is that it had been driven in there many moons ago and forgotten about. It seemed like it was worth saving and knowing the history of these cars seemed like it might be fun to own for a while before we moved onto the next project. A deal was struck and we set about with very rose tinted glasses on what we assumed would be a light recommission to put K120 WKJ back on the road after what at that time was 10 years.

“Unfortunately for us they car had suffered from quite a common problem with a failure of the auxiliary water pump solenoid leading to heat soaking and ultimately cracking the cylinder head for a water jacket of the number 5 cylinder. This lead to a very comprehensive mechanical rebuild over a very long period of time. My father-in-law and I spent a lot of time researching parts and repairs but as quite often happens life gets in the way and there was never really a requirement or rush to get the vehicle back up and running. Over the years we have simply worked on it when we have had time and as we have collected parts or organized work to be carried out.

“Receipts for all the parts and work have been kept and are present with the vehicle. This is still a project for someone to take on but is now a running driving vehicle with a good foundation for someone to finish what we have started.”

The Condition

Factory standard car in dark green
Factory standard black leather interior with some light wear typical of low mileage
Retains many of its factory features as shown in photos
Switchgear, carpets, trim and dashboard all in good order
Door cards with Alcantara inserts appears to be in good, clean condition
Headlining presents well with no reported sagging and only light marks to note
Specification includes glass electric sunroof as shown and in working order
Light wear to oft-used components such as driver’s seat and handbrake gaiter
The driver’s seat shows a small tear and light discolouration of squab in photos
Vendor states that the car is generally in nice condition with no rips or tears to the seats
All electric windows function correctly we are told that one or two central locking modules not working
Master door module needs to be replaced as it is causing lights for the window switches to stay on
There is no radio fitted
Air conditioning has no gas and is still the old R134A so will need to be adapted
New old stock clock fitted
Car has been cleaned, washed and waxed
Rust blistering around front and rear windscreens
Rust hole around the size of a golf ball to both rear inner arch skins
Rust blistering to some areas of the door seals and lower corners of the rear doors
Surface rust to the running gear
Vendor reports that car would ideally benefit from a complete re-paint
Original wheels refurbished 20 years ago, still look good with some scratches
Front tyres part worn with 6mm tread, rear tyres brand new
Supplied with space-saver spare wheel
Tool kit and first aid kit in original wrapping as shown

The Mechanics

3,615cc straight-six General Motors engine redeveloped by Lotus
Equipped with twin Garrett T25 turbos and delivering 385bhp
6spd manual gearbox
Comprehensive mechanical and running gear rebuild detailed below
There are some tasks to complete to get the car back on the road as noted
Comprehensive engine rebuild, including new pistons, bearings, and seals
Turbos rebuilt with new components and balanced
New stainless steel exhaust system with catalytic converters
New cooling system components, including radiators and water pipes
New ignition system components, including coil packs and sensors
Braking system overhauled with new discs, pads, and stainless steel pistons
Fuel system updated with new pump, filter, and injectors
Original suspension with some components needing attention
Car is reported to run and drive but requires further work to complete

Details of work completed so far:

Engine:

Stripped and pressure tested and refaced
All water ways checked and flushed
Cylinder liner fitted to cylinder 5 and all cylinders honed
Crank journals polished
New ring sets fitted to all pistons, gapped correctly and ring groves modified for correct fitment
New main crank bearings
New big end bearings
New front and rear main seals, pump housing cover and sump gaskets
New Replacement Upgraded timing chain, tensioner and guides
Genuine second hand Lotus cylinder head with Lotus specific combustion chamber and auxiliary water passage sourced and pressure tested
Cylinder head resurfaced
Valve guides found to be in perfect condition so retained
New valve stem oil seals fitted
New reproduction head gasket and head bolts fitted
New inlet and exhaust gaskets fitted

Turbos:

Both turbos completely re-built buy Turbo Rebuild Limited
New compressor wheels
New bearing houses
New Seal Plates
New upgraded 360 degree thrust bearings
1 x New Turbine shaft and wheel
New bearing seals and fasteners
Machined and balanced
Vacuum pipes replaced

Exhaust System:

New BTB stainless downpipes and catalytic convertors
Secondhand Scorpion CAT back stainless system
Rear muffler modified to suit standard exhaust tips
Hangers and seals replaced where required

Cooling System

New Impeller for charge cooler pump
New thicker Radtec aluminum radiator with welded end tanks
New aluminum charge cooler radiator
New old stock clutch fan fitted
New stainless water pipes for turbo cooling system and banjo fittings

Ignition System

New coil packs x 3
New HT leads
New Camshaft position sensor
New Crank position sensor
New Spark Plugs

Auxiliary Engine Components:

New replacement alternator
New auxiliary vacuum solenoid
New Bosch Lambda sensors
New battery
New auxiliary belt

Brakes:

Calipers stripped and cleaned
New fluid and dust seals for all callipers
New OE brake disks all-round from the company that originally made these for Lotus
New EBC yellow stuff pads front and rear
New brake fluid
New stainless steel pistons for all callipers to replace the original chrome-plated steel GM versions that rust and fail

Fuel System:

New fuel pump and fuel filter fitted
Replacement second hand fuel rail and fuel pressure regulator
New Injectors

Clutch:

New replacement clutch slave cylinder
New pilot bearing
New friction disc
Flywheel, pressure plate and release bearing cleaned

Suspension:

Still fitted with its original suspension
The front drivers spring has one broken coil
Rear air suspension compressor and sensors still work however, air drops out of the rear struts over a few minutes, so likely leaking

BEFORE YOU BUY

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