It's alive! Yays!

I finally got this thing back on the road, after over five months in the shop. Feels so nice to be driving again.

No more public transport! The weather's been perfect for topdowneity too.

What could keep a lotus in the shop for 5 months? Oh right, its a lotus.

maroon92 wrote: What could keep a lotus in the shop for 5 months? Oh right, its a lotus.

That's exactly what I was going to say!!

Looks nice, even though I do prefer them in green. Nice plate, too.

Weren't those front wheel drive using an Isuzu motor or something? Man, over the years there sure has been some strange collaborations between car manufacturers.

BoxheadTim wrote: Looks nice, even though I do prefer them in green. Nice plate, too.

I do too. An eventual respray is in order. I'm thinking either BRG (with silver racing stripes depending on how obnoxious I feel), black, or Pacific Blue. I reckon around half of all these Elans are red so I don't really care about keeping it original.

Heh, for the plate I tried to get "LM 100" but some schmuck had already claimed that one. Probably on an Opel Corsa or something. This was my second choice though. I just got lucky to walk in there when they were assigning L numbers.

Feedyurhed wrote: Weren't those front wheel drive using an Isuzu motor or something? Man, over the years there sure has been some strange collaborations between car manufacturers.

Yep, this car is 100% classic Lotus parts-binning. Engine & gearbox are from the Isuzu Impulse rally car, and throughout there are bits from Isuzu, GM/Opel, Renault, Rover, Lucas >:( , and who knows who else. The chassis and suspension are pure Lotus though. Best FWD I've ever driven (and I like FWD.) My only compaint is it could use some kind of FLSD, it does spin the inside wheel a fair bit.

Also, the top leaks like a proper British car should.

Jay wrote: Also, the top leaks like a proper British car should.

Ahem. That is not a leak.

Lesser cars only have fresh air circulation in their environmental controls, while British cars circulate fresh air, water, and occasional electrical smoke.

And, if you're unfortunate enough to be caught in a softtop MG B in a snowstorm, you get snow in your left ear. With the top on, of course.

My Buddy's defender did that....except it was the right ear if you were sitting in the passenger seat. Good to see you have it back. What was wrong with it.

Jay wrote:

That shot makes it look almost clown-car tiny.

Very cool car! I hardly ever see those!

I just did some research and found the only Lotus ever mass produced that didn't have a number in it's name and didn't start with the letter E, is the Lotus Carlton.

Sorry about the thread jack.

There were a couple of those at the Donington Lotus Show I went to in April. Seriously cool cars.

If I needed to have a four-door...

Im very glad you got your metro back on the road.

oh wait...what?... oh I meant lotus yeah lotus

Just kidding man, its been perfect weather here in Cinci for some top down shenanigans...75 today and no humidity. VERY rare for aug/sept here!. Hope you enjoy it. That is a cool car fo sho!!!

(and I like FWD too)