29 replies to this topic

[Giraffe]

I thought I could recognise most if not all Lotus models, but this one escapes me, spotted in the paddock at Spa. Help please?

 

[elansprint72]

Lotus Excrete?

[David Beard]

Nothing looks very Lotus at all, does it? Except that might be a 900 series engine?

[Kingsleyrob]

Nice one Pete! 

 

It's a new one on me too, though I've never adopted the position of Lotus expert. Does the owner have a sense of humour - or nostalgia - with that registration? 

 

OAP? 

 

722??

 

Rob

Edited by Kingsleyrob, 25 March 2014 - 13:12.

[Slurp1955]

Nice one Pete! 
 
It's a new one on me too, though I've never adopted the position of Lotus expert. Does the owner have a sense of humour - or nostalgia - with that registration? 
 
OAP? 
 
722??
 
Rob

Maybe he bought it with his Pension Pot, JohnP

[David Lawson]

It looks like a kit car mini Lotus 30 with a roof to me.

 

David

[Michael Ferner]

Why didn't you ask Mr. Daniels?

[Bloggsworth]

It looks very prototype-ish, aluminium dashboard and toggle switches. I wonder if it's a rebodied Esprit? Forward of the windscreen it reminds me of the Nomad Mk1.

[Peter Morley]

Belgian O registrations are for classic cars (not sure what the definition is but probably over 25 years old) so it is registered as an old car.

[Mistron]

I have a funny feeling it's built on a replica 23 chassis. Possibly something to do with the Noble / Auriga 23 which eventually became the Xanthos?

[Slurp1955]

And it has different Lotus badges front and rear ?

[RTH]

Only the engine & badges.

[Manfred Cubenoggin]

Lotus Excrete??? 

[Joe Bosworth]

It shows all of the signs of being a re-bodied Esprit.  Likely to be 1977ish vintage Series 1 mechanicals and backbone frame.

 

If Giugiaro saw it he would likely have a schmoo. 

 

Regards

[Kingsleyrob]

It shows all of the signs of being a re-bodied Esprit.  Likely to be 1977ish vintage Series 1 mechanicals and backbone frame.
 
If Giugiaro saw it he would likely have a schmoo. 
 
Regards

Never mind Giuigiaro, Joe, what would 007 think if Q had presented this Lotus to him instead of his white Esprit??



Rob

Edited by Kingsleyrob, 25 March 2014 - 20:31.

[Tuboscocca]

..reminds me of a Ferrari Dino 206S with  aDP(Daytona Prototype)- glasshouse???

 

Michael

 

[David Birchall]

I wonder why there is a blister in the panel above the drivers feet-does the owner have gout?

 

It is not as bad as some out there-and it can't be a 23-it only has four wheel studs... 

[elansprint72]

Is that the fuel tank right behind the driver's head?

[proviz]

This appeared on the French Autodiva site's Quiz-thread a couple of years ago, but then had a twin-plane rear wing. I think it had been photographed in Spa even then. It could not be identified.

[GreenMachine]

Rebodied/reshaped Europa?

Looks like the Vauxhall 2 litre twin cam ...

[gommaire]

It could maybe be a modified Apal GT?

[Peter Morley]

I just saw this car at a demonstration at the industrial park where Nivelles circuit used to be.

 

There was a sign on the windscreen that says:

Prototype Lotus unique example

Chassis: Esprit from 1977

Motor: Lotus 2 litre in aluminium

Power: 170 CV

Weight: 800 Kg

Box: SM Maserati 5 speed

Bodywork entirely hand made in polyester and polycarbonate.

 

Which doesn't really tell us much more than has been deduced so far.

It was too wet to hang around for the owner to ask him who had made it etc.

[elansprint72]

I suspect that the word "prototype" might not have translated too well!

[Pat Clarke]

I quite like it!

 

Pat

[Glengavel]

I suspect that the word "prototype" might not have translated too well!

 

'Polyester' bodywork sounds a bit unlikely as well but apparently it's also a form of GRP.

[Peter Morley]

Prototype probably as in Sports Prototype rather than precursor or design study?

 

Polyester would be the French for GRP, I did think about translating it as such but didn't bother.

 

I found something on a French forum where someone had apparently been told it was built a Lotus employee.

[BRG]

 

Polyester would be the French for GRP, I did think about translating it as such but didn't bother.

We were mildly amused to hear Darrian rallycars described as 'made of polyester and Teflon' at the Monteburg Rallysprint in Belgium.

[Glengavel]

We were mildly amused to hear Darrian rallycars described as 'made of polyester and Teflon' at the Monteburg Rallysprint in Belgium.

 

At least it wasn't Bri-Nylon.

[elansprint72]

We were mildly amused to hear Darrian rallycars described as 'made of polyester and Teflon' at the Monteburg Rallysprint in Belgium.

Did they stick to the road at all? 

[GMACKIE]

Did they stick to the road at all? 

Very funny, Pete TFE