I drive my unreliable Lotus Elite on to a tidal marsh and hope it restarts
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- Опубліковано 21 чер 2021
- My 1976 Lotus Elite Type 75 has problems, so obviously I drive it out on to a tidal salt marsh so I can get some gorgeous drone shots with my new DJI Mini 2. And then hope it restarts before the sea comes in.
Here's how that goes.
Links to where I bought kit mentioned in the film (not affiliated or sponsored):
Radiator pressure testing kit: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/192790299375
DJI Mini 2 Fly More Combo: www.heliguy.com/products/dji-...
I am a qualified and CAA-registered drone operator and I support and follow the drone code: dronesafe.uk
This film was edited using Filmora X (affiliate link - if you buy the software I get points I can redeem against additional effects or stock images): filmora.wondershare.com/invit...
All music by Vinyl Silk: vinylsilk.bandcamp.com/ - Авто та транспорт
... the car reminds me of what an AMC Gremlin could have looked like (I guess it did share door handles with the Gremlin of the time ;) But in truthfulness, I think Lotus was going for the looks of an Espada - on a budget. I like anything with a wedge shape, so I would definitely consider it a keeper.
Love it. I had a red elite with a leopard skin headliner in 1987. It broke down constantly but was a fabulous thing to drive around in as a 17 year old
The drone shots if your iconic car in the middle of this beautiful, haunting landscape were completely wonderful.
That, coupled with the Schroedinger's coolant leak gag makes this my video of the day...and it's only 07:35.
Thank you!! That’s pretty surprising as I’m not famous for being at my best that early in the morning 😉
Watching this brought back memories of my own lotus . 1982 Elite 2.2 S2 in two tone blue and auto box from the factory. Totally stunning car and rebuilt it myself as a daily runner.
In a modern world of endless SUVs that all look remarkably similar the elite is a real delight to look at. A car with character and charm. I note the similarity of the profile to the amc gremlin but it’s much more sleek. But if the exterior wasn’t enough the brown wood panelled and leather dash is an extra treat. As 70s as a pair of flares and all the better for it.
Absolutely love the Elite/Eclat/Excel. Nearly bought an Excel 25th Anniversary back when they were still being sold new, but ended up with an Alfa 75 3.0v6 as my wife fell pregnant! Drove loads of them though as we used to do alarms and immobilisers for a Lotus dealer in Romford.
Some gorgeous footage of the elite, I'd be very happy to see this weekly 😀 I need to go and hug mine now!
If mine’s anything to go by, they seem to like the attention!
It's cars like this, the Eclát and the Excel that makes me wonder why people spend so much on Mk1 & 2 Escorts.
I completely agree!
they dont dare be different
This was in a different league to a 70s escort ,even the top spec twin cam ones
As much as I love old all Esprits and the model of elite featured here, the fact remains that Vintage escorts actually function most of the time, even now as daily drivers with almost zero maintenance - they had a massive rally following making them collectible and now crazy money … I’d love another S2 esprit or an elite but I’d hate to deal with that engine again or the wiring
@@Adam_T
One must suffer for one's art.
[ Coming from a former owner of an Elise who got fed up with it. 😆 ]
Leak spotted at: 2:04
Look at the bottom, left hand corner of your expansion tank. Dripping starts as soon as you build pressure.
I often drive my car to a tidal marsh when it's playing up, although I'm considering that a level crossing might be more exciting.
Good idea, I’ll try that next.
Brilliant! 😊
Loving the Lotus 😍
Recently just found your channel, some great filming and very interesting cars 👍
Thanks Nick, very glad you’re enjoying it!
Excellent. This is your first video to come my way. I’ll subscribe.
Thanks and welcome!
Nice car
Great to see it out and about doing what it was meant to with relatively little drama to it!
Really enjoying your channel .Thank you
Thanks Rob, glad you're enjoying it!
I have always loved these Elites, I shall have to watch the other videos on it.
Thanks, hope you enjoy them!
It’s sad but that headliner is a challenge to fit under 💔
Otherwise WHAT AN AWESOME work of art it is 💪💪💪🍀😍
i found your channel last night, i like the cut of your jib and the cars you have, very good stuff
Thank you! I’ve responded on Twitter too 😊
Nice one Martin and a new toy to play with.
Thanks! Yes indeed - looking forward to playing with it some more.
Cheers. Im at a similar age to you and can relate the cars you own .i have had alot and i like your no rush to pull apart casual methods . Quite of ten you do have to be gentle with these older cars. Great site
Lovely area’ that I know well 😊
Please keep this up. I used to have a 503 (in 1991 and it ended in disaster when the garage snapped the timing belt.) I would dearly like another go at it soon.
Ouch 😬
I came close to buying a bright yellow one of these that had a Rover V8 engine instead of the standard Lotus unit. My favourite Lotus model of all time :)
Beautiful scenery, car is such an oddball, really funky looking but that's part of it's charm. The paint issues? Patina. sweet to hear it start up again.
I used to own this exact same car (LYW 191P, Elite 503) between around 1982 to 1987 (ish) when I lived in Barnes. Loved it but there were large bills and it broke down a few times. The went to the other extreme and bought a 1953 Riley RMF. The an Elise Sport 190. Now own an Exige Sport 350 but I still really like the Oliver Winterbottom design. So pleased to see it still on the road with you!
Fantastic! Thanks so much for this, it’s great to hear from a previous owner! Did you get stuck with replacing the original mild steel chassis? I can imagine that would have been dissolving quite well by the mid-80s.
I’d love a Riley RM by the way - very different of course, but so beautiful. You have excellent taste, sir!
@@GrandThriftAuto The chassis was OK when I had it. The major problem was the gearbox which jammed on a holiday in West Wales (after going through the Gower where you did this film!). Had to be trailored to Christopher Neil in Norwich who did a terrible botch job and then had to spend £000s in London to rectify. And another holiday in Wales the clutch cable snapped and we could not find another clutch cable in the whole of Wales, so another trailer home. But when it ran, it ran beautifully. Spent a lot to keep it in good shape. Blue paint on bodywork was just starting to craze on the roof when I had it. The dash was a dark brown suede and seats were light fawn cloth originally, so someone has retrimmed in leather by the looks of things. So glad to see you take care of it and drive it!
@@hywelwilliams5802 Ouch, that does sound very frustrating. Interesting that it’s been to Gower before! And I’m delighted to learn about the original upholstery - the seats aren’t great, so I’d like to get them re-trimmed with good cloth; the dash and door cards aren’t too bad. Hmm. And it’s definitely going back to Lagoon Blue.
@@GrandThriftAuto Just two more things before I go: (i) given that you know the Gower salt marshes, you must try the salt marsh lamb if you can get some. It is expensive but out of this world. You can sometimes get it in the Burroughs market in London or the Abergavenny food festival, but shhh - you may find some locally (ii) I am now an active member of the Midland Owners Lotus Club and take part in organising the annual Lotus in the Peak event ua-cam.com/video/ghwg0lZDdQM/v-deo.html . Why not bring you Elite to next year's event - lots of older Lotuses there and there is a more leisurely historic Lotus run on the Sunday morning for the Elans and Elites and Esprits. Over 250 cars there this year - the largest Lotus event, so it is a pilgrimage you must take one day. Look forward to meeting you at some venue (mine is now a White Exige Sport 350 with red seats).
Great car, great scenery, some super aerial shots good work. Always look forward to your films. Out of interest what happened to the Dedra ?
Thanks! The Dedra lives on with a friend of mine and has been getting a thorough restoration - I hope to catch up with it soon.
Great drone :) I got one a few months ago
maybe the leak you noted before you did any maintenance was from a fuel pipe and not coolant, so replacing all those old hoses fixed the fault.
That’s a good thought, but it didn’t smell of petrol. Since making this video I’ve traced the leak to a poorly fitting coolant hose buried under the carbs; there’s another small leak that means the radiator has to come out too, which is a fairly big job I’ll tackle when the weather warms up a bit.
The very beginning of this video is way too sad. I missed a few minutes because that first bit made me cry, and I'm excreter.
Cripes! Now the end has started me off again.
Don’t cry Angus, all is well!
A lovely car. Apart from the parts bin door handles and mirrors the worst design element seems to be the handbrake. If you have a tunnel mounted handle (I prefer 'umbrella' handles by the right leg) then a RHD car should have the handle on the far left of the tunnel allowing an arm rest (opposite for a LHD car), Lotus being economical I suppose.
Interesting point about the handbrake. I can't say it's really bothered me, but now you've pointed it out it'll probably start to annoy me!
The factory mirrors are Cromodora items as also fitted to certain Fiats, and are hard to come by. I need some, mine has horrid modern generic ones.
Door handles: yes I know, Morris Marina etc. But they work well, are pretty unbreakable and fit flush for better aerodynamics.
@@GrandThriftAuto Fit flush yes, but they're inset in a sort of blister standing out from the body itself? What's that all about? Couldn't they fit the handles straight into the body? It looks like a half measured solution to me, "We couldn't make it proper so this will have to do" mentality.
Great video, lovely shots with the drone, your car really doesn't look as bad as you say it is! Watching this your channel reminds me of the old SD resolution classic car shows that used to be on the Discovery channel UK in the late noughties when I was growing up, not entirely sure what gives me that impression, I think it is the clear voiceover style that really does it. I look forward to seeing this Drone in action!
Thank you! I’m fairly old-school all round, really 😊
Nice aerial shots. Good to see the Lotus out in the sunshine. How many of this series are left now?
Thanks 😊 The DVLA (via howmanyleft.co.uk) reckons 79 wedge Elites on the road in the UK and a further 207 registered off the road; about three quarters or so of these are series 1 Type 75s like mine.
Of course there are some around in other countries too, notably the US, but the UK was the biggest market.
@@GrandThriftAuto getting rare then. Mind you, apparently there are only 13 Clio William 3 still on the road. Doesn't seem possible.
love your videos. I came across your channel because I'm interested in buying a 76Lotus Elite. But One company which restores Lotus says that it is impossible to get parts for the early cars. He says glass you can't buy, transmission parts and rear end is very difficult and expensive as well. Do you have any experience with parts availability in the UK and maybe a couple source for parts you could suggest to me? Thank your very much for your time and your fun videos
Glad you like the videos! I can definitely recommend LotusBits as a parts supplier (and workshop, though they’re busy). Best to phone them, they’re not great at email. Details at lotusbits.com
There’s also a wealth of knowledge and friendly support at www.thelotusforums.com/forums/forum/215-elite-eclat-excel/
Really happy you’re enjoying the videos! New Lotus one coming soon. I hope it doesn’t put you off, they’re brilliant cars but ‘characterful’ at times…
@@GrandThriftAuto thank you very much for that fast replay and very helpful links. I love characterful, thats why I'm here. The company in Los Angeles scarred me big time, whit him saying parts are unobtainium for the earlier cars. Your response gives me hope! Thank you very much and I'm looking forward to your next video. Btw: loved the Bitter video too, they are cool cars
Did the Lotus share the same rear cluster of lamps as the Rover SD1?
Yes, the Series 2 did - the rear lights on these earlier ones are shared with the Aston DBS/V8 and Reliant Scimitar and I’m not sure what else. (Sorry I missed your question until now!)
Which one of Vinyl Silk's audio tracks did you use for the drone shots of the car?
Hi - it’s this one: vinylsilk.bandcamp.com/track/what-once-seemed-ours-forever
(It wasn’t previously published.)
tengo problemas con mi lotus elite 1978 las pestañas de la luces se quedan arriba como si estuvieran prendidas las luces me puedes ayudar
that rad cap looks a bit "pre-owned!" could it be it is not 9lbf any more?
It absolutely could, yes. In fact I bought a replacement but it didn’t fit (I left that bit out of the video though as it was too dull for you and too irritating for me). I’ll have another attempt though, as I agree the current one has put in a good shift 😊
@@GrandThriftAuto what about a temporary catch bottle for the overflow pipe for monitoring porpoises?
Think you might need to treat yourself to a new radiator?!
You’re right, I do. Even if that’s not what’s leaking, it looks very secondhand.
I’m currently working out whether it’s possible to change it without taking the engine out or cutting the nose of the car off.
The rad cap does not look up to much
You could probably say that about the whole car, and you wouldn’t be the first.
What a bloody noise!
Why aren't you presenting Top Gear?
Good question!🤔😉
I take that back
06:09 "punk...?"
Well do ya? 😉
Nice seats and interior but not a nice looking car being a boy from the 70s