Classic Cars / Talbot / Car for sale

1981 Talbot Sunbeam Lotus Series 1

Sale price: £23,500.00 make an offer

Car location: Huddersfield, United Kingdom

Sale type: Fixed price listing

Technical specifications, photos and description:

Year:
1981
Doors:
3
Mileage:
85000
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1981 Talbot Sunbeam Lotus Series 1 for sale

Current customer rating: current rating for this car(2.1) based on 108 votes
1981 SERIES 1 TALBOT SUNBEAM LOTUS I've had this car for 10 years now. It had been stored in a garage for 8 years before that, but was complete and solid. I stripped out and cleaned the interior, replaced anything perishable, rebuilt the brake system with new brake pad/shoes/pipes, new Tyres, new CCW stainless exhaust, recon tensioner, new su electric fuel pump and repainted underseal. The car was back running with not much effort.I ran it for a year or so after that and the head gasket started leaking. I replaced this and did a few more hundred miles when one of the valves started leaking oil. At this point I decided that a full engine rebuild was needed.Unfortunately, hampered by work and home issues this took more time than I imagined. But over the next few years I  rebuilt the engine and did some more works besides. Below is a list, not full, of what was done:New main, big end and crankshaft bearingsNew Con rod boltsNew ringsNew Engine and gearbox mountsProfessional head skim and leak test incl. new outlet valves and guides (inlets were assessed good)New beltsWater pump refurbTensioner refurbCarb rebuild with new gasket setNew clutch plate and release bearing.New Magnecor HT leadsNew Radtec Radiator with SPEL fanNew Powerlite Starter motorUprated 65 Amp AlternatorNew BatteryRebuild loom engine and cabin sides.Welding to bottom of inner wings.Toad Ai330 alarm fittedRespray engine bayI finally got the car back on the road in 2019 and I've done about 2000 relatively trouble-free miles since then. The car is more or less standard other than the sensible modern alternatives listed above, Limited slip diff (fitted by previous owner), inertia switch to fuel pump and secondary oil temp/pressure gauges.I have just rebuilt the oil pump and cam tensioner with new gaskets, seals, pulleys and belt.The paintwork has always been the weak point. It is the original paint but its dull and has some micro blisters on the front half. I'm told it is because of how the car was covered and stored before I got it. Last winter I decided to look at respraying the car. I took off one of the front wings to investigate the blistering further. After stripping back the paint I discovered they were all the way through the paint so a full bare metal respray would be needed. That's something I just don't have the time to do so I rattle canned the wing and put on a temporary stripe on just to make the car drivable again. It doesn't look pretty but it got me back on the road for the summer.The car is very solid all round. There are a few bubbles at base of doors and around back arch but as far as I can see they are only surface deep. The bottom of the passenger door is the worst spot and will need some patching up but it's still very saveable without needing a full replacement. These were all the little things that I was going to do if I resprayed it.I've never been bothered for a concourse car, I bought it because I wanted a useable classic that was fun to drive. As I say I got the car 10 years ago before the values of these cars were what they are now. At that time it wasn't worth putting a lot of money and effort into the full restoration that it would probably makes sense to do now.It's a car that's ready to drive for another 5 years, as it is, relatively trouble free, solid, reliable but a little rough wearing all its history on its sleeve. Alternatively it's also a car you could strip down to the bare bones and restore to a very high standard with relatively little money and time as everything is there you need. The car also comes with a box of spare parts and some books/brochures I have collected over the years.I've just got the new V5 back after applying for historic vehicle status so it's tax and MOT exempt.The car runs and sounds mint. It's a thrill to drive as anyone who has ever driven one will testify. I drive it at least once every weekend and to be fair I still love it to bits. But I can't ignore the fact that they are now worth strong money and there are people out there with the time to do this exceptional car justice. I would also like a little more garage space for my other hobbies.Further photos can be supplied to serious buyers.

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