Coventry Transport Museum

The Coventry Transport Museum holds a certain draw for the car people in the UK, at some point on the perusal through the web looking for information to get you classic/retro car running you’ll end up seeing pictures of a “meet” or “national club event” parked up right outside the entrance in the huge open space. At that point your interest in this place is subliminally placed in your mind popping back up every time you see another shot of a car in the square.

Lotus Etna

Could this have been the replacement of the legendary Esprit? Well this was a concept displayed at the Birmingham Motorshow in 1984 although it wasn’t a drivable at the time.

Lotus Esprit Saint Tropez

No it’s an orange or brown version of the legendary Lotus, but one that may help you get one!!! Paul Baron Bailey (PBB Designs) converted a limited number into drop tops, even a Turbo!!!!!! He had the experience often chopping Roll Royce’s as well as modifying Range Rovers at Glenfrome (here's some of their handywork).

What’s a sports car?

I know I’m opening up a can of worms with this one, but here’s my take on what is a sports car. Some would quote power figures and 0-60 times, don’t get me wrong there great but for me not the most important thing. For me it’s the feeling of driving, the feedback from the car a sense of fulfilment you have when after a “spirited” drive you park up with that sly smile on your face, tap the dashboard and say “well done” maybe even out loud.

Lotus Elite

 In the 1970’s Lotus decided to expand its potential market by adding a bigger car to its range. This car would comfortably fit 4 adults and still give that “Lotus” sports car experience. The result was the reimagining of the Elite a “saloon” with 4 seats and a hatchback. In its 8 year run from 1974-82 only 2535 were built. I suppose one of the main reasons for this was the image of Lotus, they built sports cars and people who went to Lotus for a car were looking for that. Another issue could have been the Eclat built between 1975-82, basically a fast back sportier looking version and still with 4 seats. Both were fitted with the same choice of engines including a turbo later on. So out of the 2 the natural tendencies of buyers would be for the Eclat. On the plus side for both, these days they are very affordable alternative Lotus’s, if you don’t mind the questions of “what’s that?” and “that’s not a Lotus”.

Lotus Carlton

Collaboration between car manufacturers are a fickle affair, particularly when it comes to sports car builders tie-in with the main stream ones. They usually ends up as a “sports” model that’s had a rebadging exercise, ie the MG Montego!!!!! Some time though is more than that, the “tweaking” to the standard model is more than the badge, sometimes it results in the car being lifted to another level. When its seen as more the sports car builders car than the donor manufacturer think about the Lotus Cortina.

The collaboration between Lotus and Vauxhall has produced some iconic cars starting with the Lotus Carlton. Fast saloon cars with a sporty edge had been around for years before this was released on the public in 1990. Most were homologation versions to allow a manufacturer to go rallying/racing (Ford‘s Cosworth‘s and RS‘s), but the Carlton was built as a fast road car as simple as that.

Lotus worked its magic on the executive car in the Vauxhall line up, a relatively dull run of the mill barge, turning it into an iconic car that set in urban myth.. Packing a 3.6ltr straight 6 with twin turbochargers strapped to it, it produced 377bhp and accelerated upto 177mph!!!!! That was supercar territory back then, giving it the deserved title of fastest 4 door saloon production car, which it held for a number of years, 10 to be exact!!! With only 950 built under the UK Carlton name and European Omega mantel with a price tag at the time of £48,000 this was one exclusive car.







For more information-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_Carlton