1986 Lotus Excel

Lotus Excel 1982 to 1992

When the Lotus Excel was unveiled in 1982, it was more than just an updated Eclat. Although based on that model, (and its predecessor the Lotus Elite Type 75), the new Lotus Excel also incorporated a great deal of knowledge gained through Lotus's association with Toyota in the development of the Supra. The result was a competent performance car with great handling thanks to a 50:50 weight distribution.

Based on a galvanised steel chassis clothed in a vacuum-injected resin body, the Lotus Excel was launched in October 1982 as a 2+2, two-door fixed-head coupe. It used the 2174cc Lotus 912 inline four-cylinder DOHC engine producing 160bhp. Disc brakes all round were fitted as standard, as were alloy wheels and a five-speed manual gearbox. Power steering and air conditioning were optional extras.

In January 1984, the car gained two louvres behind its pop-up headlamps and colour-coordinated bumpers and sills, and in October of the same year, a new body was fitted with inbuilt fog lamps, and fluted details above the wings. Inside, the cockpit was updated with new instruments. Minor modifications continued until the model was discontinued in October 1989.

In October 1985, the Lotus Excel SE two-door coupe was launched. This featured a high compression version of the engine producing 180bhp, gained PAS as standard and a walnut veneer fascia. In October 1986 the Excel SA offered an automatic four-speed ZF gearbox for the first time. In 1988 the cars received minor updates including leather and tweed interiors as standard, and the model was discontinued in 1992.

Today, the Lotus Excel is a rare and interesting model. A combination of Toyota's reliability and Lotus's handling and performance is a great mix, and yet the model tends to remain one of the more affordable sports cars of the era. Clutches tend to be expensive to change, body damage requires specialist repair and headlamp mechanisms can stick, but otherwise owners report them to be good, usable classics. The more powerful SE model demands an approximately 10% premium over the standard model.