1991 Vauxhall Lotus Carlton

Lot details
Registration No: J212KLR
Chassis No: 1062157
Mot Expiry: Oct 2012

Every now and again the best of the major manufacturers produce a series of low volume cars that become almost instant collectors' items - think Mercedes 500E, BMW Z3 Coupe, Ford GT etc. GM's Vauxhall and Opel divisions have rarely stepped up to the plate, however, which makes the Lotus Carlton especially memorable. The project commenced four years into Vauxhall Carlton/Opel Omega production (1990) and was intended to be a run of 1100 cars - in the end just 950 were completed (320 Vauxhalls and 630 Opels). As reworked by Lotus, they gained a rear spoiler, bonnet air intakes, Lotus badges on the front wings and a bodykit with considerably wider wheel arches. Each example was finished in the same very dark shade of British Racing Green. A new, stiffer block of 3615cc formed the basis of the 377bhp engine, which was topped off by a pair of Garrett T25 Turbochargers. The unit was mated to the six-speed ZF gearbox from the Corvette ZR-1. The suspension was considerably upgraded, larger AP brakes installed and suitably wide 17-inch Ronal wheels squeezed under the arches. The result was a large, luxury, four-door Saloon that could launch to 60mph in 5.2 seconds and reach 177mph flat out, making it the world's fastest such car for many years to come.

Lotus Carlton No.134 was acquired by the vendor in July of this year in lieu of unpaid garage rent. He admits he's not a car collector and feels the 1991 Lotus should be enjoyed by somebody who is - hence the sale. It comes complete with V5, spare keys, an MOT into October 2012 and two history files - one up to 2000 that includes the fully stamped service book, invoices, old MOTs etc, and one detailing the significant degree of work carried out between May 2009 and November 2010 (at a cost in excess of £5,000). Since then, 'J212 KLR' has been placed on SORN and stored under a dust sheet in a heated factory. The vendor rates the bodywork, paintwork, trim, engine and gearbox as "all good". The odometer currently shows an unwarranted 76,800 miles. For obvious reasons, Lotus Carltons rarely come to market these days. The bidding could be fierce!

PLEASE NOTE: The vendor has informed us that the radio is not working.