1987 Lotus Excel

We always spend some time chatting to the owner of each and every car we sell. We just love talking cars. The owner of the Excel SE that we are delighted to be selling is a confirmed petrolhead and has owned a variety of interesting cars. In fact, he has a number of lovely vehicles in his current collection.

The Excel was bought privately in December 2021, the vendor having spent a good deal of time searching for his first Lotus. Drawn to the Excel’s striking looks and relatively affordable pricing, he found the car he wanted, and it is one that has been the subject of considerable expense in recent years. Engine rebuild, uprated cooling system, coilovers… You get the idea. A pre-purchase inspection confirmed this was a good car.

Once purchased, the Excel was put into his dry storage facility. Everyday life soon got in the way and the car has remained undriven, so the decision was recently made to allow someone else to enjoy the delights of the car. Cars are meant to be driven, especially ones as engaging as this exciting Excel.

The Excel looks resplendent in a delightful shade of pale blue, a subtle colour which undoubtedly flatters. We assume the paintwork is all original, but we cannot be sure.

Considering 36 years have passed since the car rolled down the production line at Hethel, it still presents really well. Yes, there are some marks here and there from its adventures, but we would expect nothing less.

You will find chips and some small scratches on closer inspection, so we suggest studying our photo gallery intently or why not inspect the car in the metal? Pictures 74, 82 and 90 are examples.

The car’s previous owner had the wheels powder coated as recently as 2020 and these are still in lovely condition. The last MoT test reported that three of the tyres fell into the ‘slightly damaged/cracking or perished’ category. Budget for a new set we suggest.

We have also spotted that the nearside front of the windscreen has delaminated ever so slightly.

With the rather subtle exterior shade, opening the Excel’s doors will come as somewhat of a surprise. Whilst the seats are covered in a grey/blue cloth, the door cards, seat backs and the dash are a rather vibrant red.

On the whole we think the interior has stood the test of time well, but look closely and there are some small signs of wear here and there (see pics 179 and 206 as examples).

The back seats are ideal for children or as an overflow space for luggage. Adults will struggle both to get in and sit comfortably.

The front seats are far more accommodating and the driving position rather splendid.

A splash of wood veneer adds some visual interest to the dashboard, the latter containing a raft of instruments. A Phillips radio/CD player provides the tunes.

The boot is a reasonable size for the type of car and houses a full-size alloy spare wheel, with a Goodyear tyre.

We always like to include plenty of pictures of a car’s underside and that is the case here. Pause a while and take it all in. Yes, there is light surface corrosion to the springs and other metal components, but all told it is easy to tell that this Lotus has likely been a fair-weather car, used sparingly.

The perfectionist might have some fun fully detailing the area, touching up in a few places.

The engine bay looks quite presentable, though the sound deadening material on the underside of the bonnet has seen better days.

Our seller reports that the car starts and drives, but has been unused during his 15-month ownership, so it is possible some gentle fettling may be required.

Since purchasing the Excel, the vendor has not had time to use the car, nor has he carried out any maintenance or repairs. That is not to say that this car has been neglected, far from it. In our picture gallery you will find an assortment of invoices detailing work done in recent years.

Most significant is a whopping invoice from November 2018 for a full engine rebuild. The princely sum of £7,494.52 was paid to Dave Brooks in Nantwich, an engine specialist.

Also worthy of note are the following:

• November 2017 – new cam belt and tensioner. New coolant header tank. New front discs and pads. New bonnet damper.
• January 2018 – new radiator and fan kit. Powerflow stainless steel exhaust, rear section.
• August 2019 – new clutch master cylinder.
• March 2020 – Avo coilover with Eibach springs fitted. Wheels power coated.
• November 2020- service and handbrake adjustment (86,149 miles)

It should be noted that the Excel was last MoT tested in November 2021 at 86,474 miles. The odometer now reads 86,504.

It was noted that a couple of track rod end covers need replacing as soon as possible, whilst there were advisories for tyre condition, slight corrosion to brake hose ferrules and some sub frame corrosion.

There is no current MoT, so the car’s new owner will need to get this done before driving the car on the public highway. A raft of old MoT certificates is displayed in our gallery.

The handbook for the car is present and correct and there are two sets of keys.

The sale of this desirable Excel is an excellent gateway into Lotus ownership. Cool looks, a plush interior and the full engine rebuild are all plus points.

Handling is classic Lotus and will excite the enthusiast, but the ride won’t shake your fillings out either.

A little light recommissioning may well be the order of the day, but the result will undoubtedly be worthwhile.

We estimate the car will sell for between £6,000 and £10,000.

Viewing is always encouraged. The car is located at our Abingdon headquarters; we are open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm and to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing to make an appointment. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.