talbot sunbeam lotus

 Up for very reluctant sale is my iconic Talbot Sunbeam Lotus. I bought it at the start of the year after wanting one for many years to replace a DAC car I owned 20 years ago. She was sat in a garage for a few years before I recommisioned her. It was going to be a keeper and used as a rolling restoration so all the work I had done was to a very good standard. She is showing 63700miles which seem genuine. I have MOT's back to 1988 and she comes with the original Talbot service book with ALOT of other paperwork. Only selling due to moving house and starting a new business.

I have carried out alot of remedial work to enable to get an MOT which it achieved on 4th June 2013. It is also Taxed. The advisory on the mot was for the O/S/F headlamp refletor starting to delaminate. I ve found a company that will restore the lamp and will pass the info on. I wanted the car to have an MOT so that I could carry out a 'rolling restoration' as opposed to it sitting a garage for years without me getting round to restoring it!!

She has been welded underneath to a very good standard and is now soild only showing signs of age on the paint work with a a few dents and rust spots. There is a  dent on the drivers door. The drivers door is the main issue with the car as the gaps are odd and it needs a slam to close. I ve had the car on a jig and its straight and true BUT there is an issue I think with the roof hence the door gaps. I ve had a couple of quotes and the issues can be rectified for about £700. You can use the car as is with no problems at all. but if you want a concours winner then its worth spending the money.
 The worst rust is on the lower O/S/R 1/4 panel as shown in the photos. There are two hole in the front bumper from a previously fitted pair of spot lamps. She looks lovely from a distance. up close. a bit tired.

The engine runs sweetly with excellent oil pressure both hot and cold with no smoke. I ve replaced the thermostat. uprated rotor arm and cap. timing belt. cam cover gaskets. Just the carbs need setting up but she still pulls like a train. There are many receipts for work being carried out over the years including an engine rebuild to fast road spec. When I removed the carbs the head has definitely had some porting work done. and she is fitted with an Aldon performance distributor. perfomance exhaust and manifold. There is a Racetec oil pressure gauge. It does feel quick for a Lotus sunbeam.

The interior is slightly untidy. There are a pair of Cobra Monaco bucket seats fitted with Safety Devices 4 point harness's. My plan was to remove and sell these and fit a pair of Recaro's. The carpet has a tear where a potential buyer pulled the carpet back to look at the floorpan!!

The suspension has fast road springs with Leda front struts and Spax rear shocks. The tyres are good but probably need replacing to improve the ride etc  The genuine ZF dog leg 1st gearbox works fantastically well. selects all gears positively with do crunchs or whines from the transmission. The diff is standard none LSD.

This is a very reluctant but genuine sale. needs must. I wanted to build a rally replica with wide arches and this car would be a great basis for that. It can be driven away legally but I do have a trailer and could possibly help with delivery for long distances

I have described the car honestly and probably made it sound worse then it is. It is a project but a bloody good one. It sold once on ebay for  £5200 but the buyer didnt show up! Ive had a few people view it who wanted a mint car for pennies. I have dropped the price massively to sell it hopefully. to a enthusiast. I paid £4750 for it in Feb 2013 with no MOT or Tax!!!!!

Viewings are expected but I will answer any sensible questions or chat on the phone but I will ignore silly offers.

Please look at my positive feedback and bid with confidence

Also published at eBay.co.uk

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