Lotus Carlton
15 February 2006, 07:02 PM
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Originally Posted by Bram
Noticed recently some of these cars making funny money. Even one lately at auction and it was not sold at £13,000 offered.
15 February 2006, 07:14 PM
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amazing machines, i know a bloke with one and its brilliant, very rapid, think its a 3.6 twin turbo striaght 6. 377bhp@5200 and 419ftlb@4200 175 tops and 0 - 60 in 5.1, nice machine, all figures are for the standard car...
15 February 2006, 07:32 PM
#4
Originally Posted by lightwave693
amazing machines, i know a bloke with one and its brilliant, very rapid, think its a 3.6 twin turbo striaght 6. 377bhp@5200 and 419ftlb@4200 175 tops and 0 - 60 in 5.1, nice machine, all figures are for the standard car...
Quite right guys these are amazing cars but also have a habit of going bang. If you do buy one find out if it has had a replacement engine as a lot were replaced under warranty. These were the original thunder saloons and capable of wiping the floor with pretty much anything around at the time.
Regards Maz
15 February 2006, 07:47 PM
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I know someone who is a Lotus Carlton specialist and he has just re-built an engine for one of these cars. He's told me in the past that these engines do not have a tendancy to go 'bang', it is just ignorance on behalf of the owners as to the way they drive the cars and don't look after them properly. He's also been on an advanced driving course for the Carlton and you really DO want to be in one of these cars when he is behind the wheel - AWESOME STUFF!!
Last edited by Crazy Chick; 15 February 2006 at 07:50 PM.
15 February 2006, 07:49 PM
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Originally Posted by banny sti
These were the original thunder saloons and capable of wiping the floor with pretty much anything around at the time.
15 February 2006, 07:58 PM
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Think people are a bit scared of the cost if anything does go bang, 'cos there's a few one-off / hard to get parts.
I wonder if, in 20 years time, they'll be worth 6-figure sums like other big-manufacturer rarities like Plymouth Hemi 'cuda convertibles, or Roadrunner superbirds?
I wonder if, in 20 years time, they'll be worth 6-figure sums like other big-manufacturer rarities like Plymouth Hemi 'cuda convertibles, or Roadrunner superbirds?
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15 February 2006, 07:59 PM
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Yep, when they were first sold the only car that could do 0-100-0 quicker was the F40 
Think most made about 400bhp as standard (vauxhall were a bit modest after all the negative press/parliament attention).
Engines are very strong and not liable to blow up at all (unless they've been fiddlled with) but timing chains can fail. Clutches are a week point though due to a bad design. Rust can be very bad too as most are 15 years old now.
Think most made about 400bhp as standard (vauxhall were a bit modest after all the negative press/parliament attention).
Engines are very strong and not liable to blow up at all (unless they've been fiddlled with) but timing chains can fail. Clutches are a week point though due to a bad design. Rust can be very bad too as most are 15 years old now.
15 February 2006, 08:03 PM
#10
Originally Posted by Crazy chick
And you'll probably find they are still capable of it today.
15 February 2006, 08:49 PM
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Going back a few years ago now my mate, while in training with Vauxhall, went to a rolling road session with GM. They had a Carlton chipped just to test the power and it was pushing out 550bhp at the flywheel and just over 470bhp at the wheels.
Apparently it was so powerful the back wheels just kept spinning through nearly all the gears.
Apparently it was so powerful the back wheels just kept spinning through nearly all the gears.
15 February 2006, 09:04 PM
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Love these cars, used to deal with a vauxhall dealer in the North West and they had one 
. Best I ever saw was a 911 turbo and a Lotus carlton playing at the lights in Italy - the Lotus won by a long way, I will never forget the sound and sight of two motoring goliaths burning the black stuff on a late summer evening in the early 90's .
On another note if I were to come into some serious amounts of money the LC would be on the top of my dream car shopping list along with many other exotica. The LC would purely be used as a shopping chariot
not.
I can dream I suppose.
GB
. Best I ever saw was a 911 turbo and a Lotus carlton playing at the lights in Italy - the Lotus won by a long way, I will never forget the sound and sight of two motoring goliaths burning the black stuff on a late summer evening in the early 90's .On another note if I were to come into some serious amounts of money the LC would be on the top of my dream car shopping list along with many other exotica. The LC would purely be used as a shopping chariot
not.I can dream I suppose.
GB
15 February 2006, 09:05 PM
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Originally Posted by Crazy chick
Going back a few years ago now my mate, while in training with Vauxhall, went to a rolling road session with GM. They had a Carlton chipped just to test the power and it was pushing out 550bhp at the flywheel and just over 470bhp at the wheels.
Apparently it was so powerful the back wheels just kept spinning through nearly all the gears.
Apparently it was so powerful the back wheels just kept spinning through nearly all the gears.
15 February 2006, 09:18 PM
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Yeah, a lot went NLS (no longer serviced) from Vauxhall many years ago. When they get enough demand for a specific part they may make a batch though. A while ago it was impossible to get rear shocks i think as well as some part of the clutch assembly 
16 February 2006, 08:23 AM
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Originally Posted by banny sti
Yep, side by side Lotus and M5 400 bhp model steady 70, foot down in both and the bm is left for dead. The lotus carlton was a result of a big company letting two talented guys (simon wood and tony shute) develope a car capable of beating a ferrari whilst having four doors and a boot. At the time bmw hit back with the alpina b10 bi turbo but it was still eclipsed by the lotus.
What year did the Lotus Carlton come out??
What was its top speed?
16 February 2006, 08:30 AM
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Originally Posted by fatscoobyfella
Really????????
What year did the Lotus Carlton come out??
What was its top speed?
What year did the Lotus Carlton come out??
What was its top speed?
Top Speed was sposed to be 170something.
Autocar got Richard Noble to test theirs but they ran out of runway at about 165 or close - I think they reckoned you would need a long
motorway or somewhere like Nardo to see the 175-177 it was calculated they topped out at.
16 February 2006, 08:34 AM
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Good site - www.lotus-carlton.co.uk
Some of the performance figs on there are wrong though. Evo mag shows a real tested time of 4.8sec 0-60mph and 10.6 0-100mph.
Some of the performance figs on there are wrong though. Evo mag shows a real tested time of 4.8sec 0-60mph and 10.6 0-100mph.
Last edited by Nat; 16 February 2006 at 08:36 AM.
16 February 2006, 08:40 AM
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There's a classic article in Car magazine from 1990, where Russell Bulgin (RIP) takes one to Germany to see if he can hit top whack on an autobahn.
He only got to 167mph before rain stopped play
He only got to 167mph before rain stopped play
16 February 2006, 05:05 PM
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The B10 Bi tubo E34 Alpina was released in 1988.I had one on an F plate.They had a top speed of 188mph..So i dont think that the carlton held the title of the fastest saloon..And the B10 was released before the carlton..
Both brilliant cars BTW..Just thought that BMW set the benchmark and not GM..
Both brilliant cars BTW..Just thought that BMW set the benchmark and not GM..
16 February 2006, 05:43 PM
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Quote from Autocar....
The changes to the original show car are subtle and its powerplant remains untouched. The 3638cc straight six, with 4-valve heads and twin turbochargers, produces its maximum 360bhp at 5800rpm. More importantly, its staggering 376lb ft of torque is produced at 3800rpm. It's rumoured that even at idle, the mighty Lotus Carlton produces more torque than Vauxhall's 24-valve Carlton at full revs.
360bhp at 5800rpm. More importantly, its staggering 376lb ft of torque is produced at 3800rpm...
My saab 2.3T produced 447lb.ft at 3500 and 350hp at 4500rpm with a rev limit of 6000rpm (wheels started spinning on rollers) so its better than staggering then...
The changes to the original show car are subtle and its powerplant remains untouched. The 3638cc straight six, with 4-valve heads and twin turbochargers, produces its maximum 360bhp at 5800rpm. More importantly, its staggering 376lb ft of torque is produced at 3800rpm. It's rumoured that even at idle, the mighty Lotus Carlton produces more torque than Vauxhall's 24-valve Carlton at full revs.
360bhp at 5800rpm. More importantly, its staggering 376lb ft of torque is produced at 3800rpm...
My saab 2.3T produced 447lb.ft at 3500 and 350hp at 4500rpm with a rev limit of 6000rpm (wheels started spinning on rollers) so its better than staggering then...
16 February 2006, 06:15 PM
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Originally Posted by Mark in Ireland
Quote from Autocar....
The changes to the original show car are subtle and its powerplant remains untouched. The 3638cc straight six, with 4-valve heads and twin turbochargers, produces its maximum 360bhp at 5800rpm. More importantly, its staggering 376lb ft of torque is produced at 3800rpm. It's rumoured that even at idle, the mighty Lotus Carlton produces more torque than Vauxhall's 24-valve Carlton at full revs.
360bhp at 5800rpm. More importantly, its staggering 376lb ft of torque is produced at 3800rpm...
My saab 2.3T produced 447lb.ft at 3500 and 350hp at 4500rpm with a rev limit of 6000rpm (wheels started spinning on rollers) so its better than staggering then...
The changes to the original show car are subtle and its powerplant remains untouched. The 3638cc straight six, with 4-valve heads and twin turbochargers, produces its maximum 360bhp at 5800rpm. More importantly, its staggering 376lb ft of torque is produced at 3800rpm. It's rumoured that even at idle, the mighty Lotus Carlton produces more torque than Vauxhall's 24-valve Carlton at full revs.
360bhp at 5800rpm. More importantly, its staggering 376lb ft of torque is produced at 3800rpm...
My saab 2.3T produced 447lb.ft at 3500 and 350hp at 4500rpm with a rev limit of 6000rpm (wheels started spinning on rollers) so its better than staggering then...
It's 377BHP@5200 and 419lb/ft at 4200
Plus Like i said earlier, standard cars have produced around 400bhp on rollers, vauxhall were modest.Anyway, can we stop discussing it now or i'm gonna end up buying one and making my parents hate me becuase it'll be left at their house all the time (i live in town centre and it wouldn't last One night parked here!)
Last edited by Nat; 16 February 2006 at 06:17 PM.
16 February 2006, 07:41 PM
#23
Originally Posted by fatscoobyfella
The B10 Bi tubo E34 Alpina was released in 1988.I had one on an F plate.They had a top speed of 188mph..So i dont think that the carlton held the title of the fastest saloon..And the B10 was released before the carlton..
Both brilliant cars BTW..Just thought that BMW set the benchmark and not GM..
Both brilliant cars BTW..Just thought that BMW set the benchmark and not GM..
Regards Maz
16 February 2006, 09:16 PM
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The literature with my B10 stated 188mph top speed..I did see an indicated 185mph in mine when in Germany..
Im sorry that i ever sold my Alpina,but just couldnt afford to keep at the time.
Around £10,000 will buy you a nice example with a some choice Alpina mods
Im sorry that i ever sold my Alpina,but just couldnt afford to keep at the time.
Around £10,000 will buy you a nice example with a some choice Alpina mods
17 February 2006, 11:04 AM
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Had a play with one once - me driving my custom Opel Manta (4 x 4 cosworth running gear, approx. 300bhp). Whilst testing my car at about 150mph I thought I was doing well when this Lotus Carlton came up behind me, pulled along side, nodded, smilled and then left me for dead. I think he was impressed with my Manta doing 150, but not as much as I was with his car. One very nice car, I'd love to own one, but could be a real money pit.
17 February 2006, 11:55 AM
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Originally Posted by banny sti
The Lotus Carltons top speed was verified by a magazine, at nardo as someone already has stated. It was 176 mph achieved in fifth gear not sixth (44 miles/1000 rpm!). The Alpinas top speed was claimed at 180 plus unless you can correct me. Both cars indeed awesome and you are lucky to have had the privilege of owning the b10.
Regards Maz
Regards Maz
Yep, that would be 176mph driving round a circle. On a straight it would probably crack 180mph
17 February 2006, 12:09 PM
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I want this one: ( third car down)
http://www.hmco.co.uk/GetDealer.do?did=22065&pageid=1
Now does anyone know where i can get twenty grand quicky
http://www.hmco.co.uk/GetDealer.do?did=22065&pageid=1
Now does anyone know where i can get twenty grand quicky
17 February 2006, 08:12 PM
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My mate was testing one years ago around Millbrook test track, flat our all night, when a pheashant made a visit through the windscreen at 160mph.....LOL, He shat himself
Cheers
Colin
Cheers
Colin
17 February 2006, 09:05 PM
#30
Originally Posted by Gangsta Smurf
Lotus Carlton is one of my all time fav cars. Def will have one in my garage one day ... would be after I get a Lambo Diablo though 
Diablo still one on my fave cars though.