1982 Lotus Excel (prototype)

The Type 89 Lotus Excel, built from 1982 to 1992, is a front engined, rear-wheel drive sports car designed and built by Lotus Cars. It was based on the design of the earlier Lotus Eclat, which itself was based on the earlier Lotus Elite IIToyota engaged Lotus to assist with development work on their new Supra, and during this period, Toyota became a major shareholder in Lotus, later giving up their holding when General Motors moved in to take control some time later.

Part of the deal between Lotus and Toyota allowed for the use of many Toyota mechanical components in Lotus' cars and the original Excel (aka the Eclat Excel) used the W58 manual transmission, driveshafts, rear differential, 14x7" alloy wheels, and door handles from the Supra Mk II. The engine was the familiar all-aluminium, DOHC 2.2 L Lotus 912 Slant Four (which was used in the Lotus Esprit S3).During its lifetime, the Excel received two major upgrades. With the introduction of the Excel SE, a 180 bhp engine was fitted (up from 160 bhp) and in October 1985, the bumpers, wings, dashboard and the interior were changed. In October 1986, the Excel SA with automatic gearbox was introduced. Further facelifts in 1989 saw Citroën-derived mirrors, as featured on the Esprit, and 15 inch OZ alloy wheels to a similar pattern as the Esprits.The Excel is also known for its high cornering power and excellent handling thanks to 50:50 weight distribution.In 2014, 415 were still registered in the United Kingdom, but at that point 240 of them were SORNd (Statutory Off Road Notification). James May purchased one on the television show Top Gear in the fourth episode of season 15. Top Gear also used a Lotus Excel in the James Bond 50th Anniversary Special and converted it into a submarine. This was done to prove the Lotus Esprit used in The Spy Who Loved Me wasn't science fiction.

The current vendor, purchased this car at the NEC a few years ago and after doing some research on YAH 865X and talking with Lotus Cars directly, stumbled across the fact that this chassis number 1144 was indeed the first prototype Excel, known as the M55 project and later to become project 89. This makes YAH a very special car. It was at this point that Brian decided that the car was certainly worth completely rebuilding due to its rarity factor, so the car underwent a complete nut and bolt restoration and it was during this time that other facts came to light confirming his findings. The nearside interior door card once removed, revealed markings "M55 First Off Jig", and other panels had "First Off Master " to name a couple. Over a period of time the body was stripped back and was completely painted Red including the bumpers, however it has now gone back to the original Graphite coloured bumpers as it was when it left the factory. The interior has been given new seat coverings, head lining and all new door cards.

Mechanically, again all aspects have been rebuilt using brand new components with many coming via Lotus Bits, including the rear axle, prop shaft and the Toyota gearbox.

Considering the amount of time and money he had poured into this restoration, the vendor decided he did not want to drive it in case it was damaged, so it has spent the last two years of its life being admired by many in a Museum in Scotland. He has now decided to offer this on the open market for someone else to enjoy and although not MoT'd, the Lotus has been re-commisioned for the road, including a new cambelt, and all the fluids have been changed .