Infos zu Elite/Eclat/Excel gesucht!

in 6years i´ve not came across a S1 car with an orginal chassis, where the rear corssmember was not rotten.

even those cars looked very nice, and most of them had a fresh british mot!!!

the most formative experience was my first eclat: i bought the car in UK from the first owner. the car had 30000 (original!!!!!!) miles and the chassis was replaced 2 years b4 my purchase. the car was 28y old. pictures where taken when the body was of for replacing the chassis. the rear crossmember was missing on around 70% (view from top), the coil-seats rotten through.

that opened my eyes...and every thorough inspection afterwards, of an original S1 chassis resulted in, more or less the same result!!!

NEVER,EVER buy a car with a non-galvanized chassis!!!

micha, i will make pictures of my car, <br>then you will see that there are some good s1 chassis left in the world,<br><br>maby you always get the worst cars to see.. i dont know, butt i know and beleave there are still many good cars around,<br>only they stay at collecters, <br><br>and yess i know also the rear crossmember is many times rotten, and when that part is rotten the chassis is rubbish,<br><br>when i have the car on a bridge i will make pictures (and also from the rear crossmember) <br>

Hello from Andorra!
I'm Jordi, my car is an Eclat s2.2 1980 Altair Green.
It is my first semi-classic car, I've purchased it a few weeks ago.
The car is complete, has been maintained under roof for many years. The family of its first owner maintained the car it in a "medium care" level until they sell it. So I'm the second owner.
I think because the age the car needs renewal of all filters and fluids, a complete brake rebuild, a new stainless steel exhaust system, new belts, thermostat, maybe new clutch. The heater is not working, the A/C system needs gas, etc.
Rigth now the car is in an auto-classic workshop specialist for the fist rebuild (brake system, exhaust, suspension busches...) and then I'll go for other easier thinks by myself.
I hope you Lotus enthusiast can help me in the process I begin!! I've found great usefull information on lotusforum.com!!
See you,

Jorge E
.....................
greetings Bauke

Hello bauke!
Thank you a lot for the advice on the cleaning!
So... you're the man wich came to Andorra interested for the Lotus last January or Febrary !!
In fact, the dealer told me "a german guy come to see the Eclat, seemed interested and wanted to buy it to take the car outside Andorra... "
I guess the asking price was too high for compensate export duties. Well, the price they ask was high anyway, and the car needed some immediate repair (exhaust, clutch and so on...). And also needs some exterior brigthwork to correct, maybe in the past a body repair not so much carefully was done.
As expert you are, and if you looked carefully the car, maybe you can give some tips or advice on it... I will be very thanksfull!! I'm not an Lotus expert!!
Wath a surprise, great that forum !!!!
And for the steering wheel... I agree with you to keep the car as when its first day. I do promise to keep the car as original as I can. If a mod is done, and the original part will be carefully stored and reversed in the future if needed.
Best regards,
(that guy where you???)

You got PM.