Lotus Carlton
#31
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They made around 940... The run was supposed to be bigger but they just couldnt shift the UK ones (we were just comming out a recession so most people couldnt afford a £48k vauxhall), as they always do Vauxhall made a great car at **** time Everything they ever produce that is any good they seem to have a knack of bringing to market at the wrong time! The Calibra which came out about the same time was far to forward thinking, to this day the car hardly looks dated but back then it just didnt fit in, the Monaro came to market just as fuel prices went through the roof and people wanted diesels and efficient cars.. And look at the new Antara, vauxhalls first SUV that isnt just a rebadge ISUZU, its actually a decent car but nobody wants 4x4's anymore, ****!
#32
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Yeah thats my old car..
I wouldnt go near one that had done 140k miles unless it was EL-CHEAP! 140km I'd consider though
I do know someone whos selling one a RHD at the moment but he wants more than 13k and its a minter!
Its actually 0.28..
The calibra was designed from the offset to be areodynamic, its got front and rear pans under the car to help with areodynamics too I think the carlton was more of a fluke, with its barge like features and massive body bodykit you'ed think it had the areodynamics of a house!
I wouldnt go near one that had done 140k miles unless it was EL-CHEAP! 140km I'd consider though
I do know someone whos selling one a RHD at the moment but he wants more than 13k and its a minter!
Its actually 0.28..
The calibra was designed from the offset to be areodynamic, its got front and rear pans under the car to help with areodynamics too I think the carlton was more of a fluke, with its barge like features and massive body bodykit you'ed think it had the areodynamics of a house!
0.28 thats bloody impressive! I wonder what the blob eye Sti's is A damn sight higher with the scoop and rear spoiler no doubt. The Impreza front scoop whilst being synonymous with the model must create huge drag, almost worth getting a front mount just to get rid of it!
#33
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The official the top speed at release was something like 174mph, but they actually do 186+ if you can find a long enough piece of road lol. Its the amazing drag co-efficient that gives the top speed, its quite astounding that a 377bhp car can go that fast! The Lotus Carlton looks like a brick but its one of the must areodynamic production cars ever produced.
#35
there isnt that many sub 20k cars that I would cross the street to have a good look at, but a lotus carlton is one of them
make no bones about it, the lotus carlon is special car indeed
taffy
make no bones about it, the lotus carlon is special car indeed
taffy
#38
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Used to have an ex police omega.. only payed a couple of hundred as it was rough.. Needed a new motor fast though so ended up with that. Went like stink
#39
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You expected to buy a Loyus Carlton for about £2,000: are you serious? In these infraction-aware times I struggle to articulate my opinion.....
#40
Normal road going RS200's go for £40-£50K. An evo version (2.1liter engine) goes for maybe £25-30K more.
As for the Lotus Carlton, fantastic piece of motoring history.
Last edited by NISFAN; 17 September 2007 at 03:43 PM. Reason: content added
#41
I remember seeing these at the Motor show when I was a kid when they were first launched. Awesome
I remember how impressed my brother and I were that I could fit my whole arm up one side of the square exhaust! ......kids
I remember how impressed my brother and I were that I could fit my whole arm up one side of the square exhaust! ......kids
#42
ill go get some pics the morrow theres one in a garage up the road from my house . hendersons garage in nairn , low milage last ever registered its on an R private plate ... RH99 is the plate on it i know its private but it must have been regd after that i was in the garage last week enquiring about it as you do , ive drolled over it for many many years and he was offered 40,000 for it and wasnt interested whatsoever !!
#43
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1 day i will have a lotus carlton.. (14k must be a crap 1 )
were did he go
YouTube - Swdish cops VS Lotus Carlton
were did he go
YouTube - Swdish cops VS Lotus Carlton
#44
#45
Scooby Regular
Think this video of Tiff from an old old Top Gear episode says it all...
YouTube - Tiff Needel tests the Lotus Carlton
Cos500 you obviously either have absolutely NO clue whatsoever about classic cars or your just trying to get negative reaction from proper car enthusiasts.
YouTube - Tiff Needel tests the Lotus Carlton
Cos500 you obviously either have absolutely NO clue whatsoever about classic cars or your just trying to get negative reaction from proper car enthusiasts.
#50
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1 day i will have a lotus carlton.. (14k must be a crap 1 )
were did he go
YouTube - Swdish cops VS Lotus Carlton
were did he go
YouTube - Swdish cops VS Lotus Carlton
#51
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These were for a long time the fastest 4 door family saloon ever produced weren't they - unsure if this still stands - was helped quite a bit due to audi bmw etc limiting their cars to 155mph (figures of 0-60 4.7sec and 174mph top speed).
Absolute mint cars imo, up there with rs500's, 200's, e30 m3's, escort cossies.......imo
Biggest noticeable difference when people tried to copy Lotus Carltons with their GSI's was that the Lotus had rounded rear arches and GSi weren't shaped at all, just straight over the rear tyres - saw plenty f copies grace the pages of Max Power ack in teh early 90's lol!
Absolute mint cars imo, up there with rs500's, 200's, e30 m3's, escort cossies.......imo
Biggest noticeable difference when people tried to copy Lotus Carltons with their GSI's was that the Lotus had rounded rear arches and GSi weren't shaped at all, just straight over the rear tyres - saw plenty f copies grace the pages of Max Power ack in teh early 90's lol!
#52
I thought my M3 Evo (E36) was the business back then, until what looked like an old black Carlton taxi pulled up on my right at the lights one night and I thought "I'll show that cheeky ******". Not sure it was standard, but it absolutely annihilated me - made my shiny new BM feel like my old works Diesel Astravan.
A lot of money for an old motor, but I reckon if I dropped a few million on the lottery it'd be pretty high on the shopping list.
Deano
A lot of money for an old motor, but I reckon if I dropped a few million on the lottery it'd be pretty high on the shopping list.
Deano
Last edited by Beemer_Deano; 18 September 2007 at 12:51 AM. Reason: eeditad fur speeling.
#53
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Slow Police car! Only just crept over 200km/h ... eventually.
No wonder the LC got away!
TX.
No wonder the LC got away!
TX.
1 day i will have a lotus carlton.. (14k must be a crap 1 )
were did he go
YouTube - Swdish cops VS Lotus Carlton
were did he go
YouTube - Swdish cops VS Lotus Carlton
#54
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What ever the car can do or how ever rare the car is it looks rubbish and i would not spend 5G on it never the less 30 big one's!
There must be other cars you can get for that money!
£29.990
£30,000
£27.995
27.995
All IMOA of cause
There must be other cars you can get for that money!
£29.990
£30,000
£27.995
27.995
All IMOA of cause
#55
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ill go get some pics the morrow theres one in a garage up the road from my house . hendersons garage in nairn , low milage last ever registered its on an R private plate ... RH99 is the plate on it i know its private but it must have been regd after that i was in the garage last week enquiring about it as you do , ive drolled over it for many many years and he was offered 40,000 for it and wasnt interested whatsoever !!
#56
My dad had a 3ltr GSi 24v when they came out and it was fairly sharp but couldnt corner!
Apparently the Lotus Carlton (according to someone I know that owns one) is exactly the same. It goes faster in a straight line but can go through a hedge at the same speed!
If it was me I wouldnt buy one! For that money a really, really good 3 door cossie of good RS500 would be the ticket. They would have less miles on and have a much better chance of surviving being a tried and tested engine.
Apparently the Lotus Carlton (according to someone I know that owns one) is exactly the same. It goes faster in a straight line but can go through a hedge at the same speed!
If it was me I wouldnt buy one! For that money a really, really good 3 door cossie of good RS500 would be the ticket. They would have less miles on and have a much better chance of surviving being a tried and tested engine.
#57
Done a track day 2 weeks back at RAF Marham, with a load of carlton enthusiasts. Cars ranged from £200 carltons or senators to the full on Lotus Carlton.
Went out for a few passenger rides in a bog standard clarlton that was dynoed at just over book figures, and have to say was well impressed with the performance and car in general. We comfortably pulled 160mph down the straight with more to come if we hung on. It handled really well for a barge of a car, and shammed most cars on the car.
It was driven on the limts and took the punishment well, and even managed to drive home on the original set of tyres it came with (just).
I have every respect for these cars both for there rarity and performance.
You will still pay 6K for an OK saph cosworth and plenty more for a good one or a 3 door or Rs500. So 16K for a well looked after lotus Carlton seems about right to me.
Went out for a few passenger rides in a bog standard clarlton that was dynoed at just over book figures, and have to say was well impressed with the performance and car in general. We comfortably pulled 160mph down the straight with more to come if we hung on. It handled really well for a barge of a car, and shammed most cars on the car.
It was driven on the limts and took the punishment well, and even managed to drive home on the original set of tyres it came with (just).
I have every respect for these cars both for there rarity and performance.
You will still pay 6K for an OK saph cosworth and plenty more for a good one or a 3 door or Rs500. So 16K for a well looked after lotus Carlton seems about right to me.
#58
i seen a lotus carlton one morning last week on the M4 near Newbury and it was on the hardshoulder after being involved in a accident, front and back smashed in, not a nice sight