LOTUS CARLTON!!!!!

[ICEMAN]

There's a black one knocking around in Coventry, actually. See it quite a bit. As amazing as it might be it's still, y'know, a saloon...

As far as I know they only came in one colour... that dark green.

Amazing cars, probably one of my favourites ever made, I have a framed picture on my wall (sad I know!)

The story goes that the Police were issued with The Carlton GSI when they were first made, then shortly after Lotus produced their version of the carlton which was obviosuly a lot faster. The Police were annoyed and tried to ban them for being too fast.

I always see the same one each year at Harpenden and Croxley Green classic car shows. A very rare beast. And a beast in its own right, not to be compared to anything else IMO, especially not a MR2... completley different kettles of fishys

I've seen black and green,

They've always got a stand at the Enfield Pageant

I dont know how a MK3 can be compared with a Lotus Carlton
And as above They are a completley different kettle of fish to the mk2

[Antstarr]

Nuffin too special Jim lol

I spotted a Dodge Viper SRT10 on the M1 last month...hehe

[RichardPON]

I always see the same one each year at Harpenden and Croxley Green classic car shows. A very rare beast. And a beast in its own right, not to be compared to anything else IMO, especially not a MR2... completley different kettles of fishys

If it's the one with LLC on the number plate, then he is a local fella, and it's modified too!

I know cos I specced up both turbos for him! I've also driven it...... and it's fast. Very very fast.

[Charged]

I always see the same one each year at Harpenden and Croxley Green classic car shows. A very rare beast. And a beast in its own right, not to be compared to anything else IMO, especially not a MR2... completley different kettles of fishys

If it's the one with LLC on the number plate, then he is a local fella, and it's modified too!

I know cos I specced up both turbos for him! I've also driven it...... and it's fast. Very very fast.

Cant remember the plate... bearded chap, likes sitting in deckchairs...

Modified?? I dont think I'd bother!

[matt_mr2t]

They have 3 cats, take them off and you can get to 400-410bhp easily with nothing else.

xxxx evil cars, I would give a didget to own one. The aura, the reputation, the rarity, the brute power, the wow factor, the fact most people think it's just a carlton. I could go on and on.

As for heavy, bout the same as a Supra but more power, more torque and probably smaller lol.

I love them, normal Carlton GSi's arent slouches for what they are either. We had a very naughty speed out of a mates a few years ago

[jimGTS]

id defo rather own this!
super rare to, prob more rare!!!!!!

500bhp supercharger BMW..





http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z248 ... fault.aspx


or the more availble version, 380bhp

http://www.diseno-art.com/encyclopedia/ ... 0_csi.html

[Bobby (aka Shaggar)]

Nuffin too special Jim lol

I spotted a Dodge Viper SRT10 on the M1 last month...hehe

no offence but the lotus Carlton would slaughter the Viper, remember Lotus are gurus of handling as well as making thing go fast! =D>





Bobby

[Bobby (aka Shaggar)]

id defo rather own this!
super rare to, prob more rare!!!!!!

500bhp supercharger BMW..





http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z248 ... fault.aspx


or the more availble version, 380bhp

http://www.diseno-art.com/encyclopedia/ ... 0_csi.html

Looks like a door stop mate!

[Bobby (aka Shaggar)]

i found 0-60 of 5.2 and 4.8......
377bhp.....
1658kg's....
1/4= 13.5.....

4.8 would be impressive.....for such a heavy car

I definitely heard the 0-60 on these weapons was sub 5 seconds.

Surprised noone has mentioned yet that until a few years ago the Lotus carlton held the record for the Fastest production saloon In The World!

Nuff Said!


(bobby bows down in respect of the awe-inspiring beastie)




Bobby

[Bobby (aka Shaggar)]

Found this on Mr. Waddington's dedicated site................

The engine may retain the basic configuration of the GSi, but actual changes are legion. For a start, by increasing the stroke Lotus has upped the capacity from 3-litres to 3615cc, while the block is far stiffer than the standard offering, to withstand the enormous amount of power and torque developed by Hethel's heroes.

The original objective had been to extract 100bhp per litre from the engine - in the end, the final figure betters even that goal. The Lotus Carlton develops 377bhp at 5200rpm and an enormous 419lb ft of torque at 4200rpm. Even more impressively, almost 75 per cent of that is developed as low as 2000rpm.

To say that Lotus has achieved these phenomenal figures just by adding a pair of small Garrett T25 turbos to the package would be oversimplifying the case somewhat. True the twin turbos - smaller turbos react quicker ones to overcome the dreaded lag - are central to the power hike, but only meticulous development work has been able to ensure that the engines can cope.

The complete package includes new pistons, connecting rods, and crankshaft, a reinforced cylinder block, a new induction system, cooling manifold and throttle bodies, better cooler and better oil flow. The pistons are oil cooled from beneath and the twin turbos are charge-cooled, the Lotus name for its liquid intercooling system. Naturally major changes have been made to the electronic management system and, equally naturally, the Lotus Carlton features two closed loop catalytic converters.

Thanks to the cats, the Lotus Carlton has to run unleaded fuel and optimum performance is achieved with 98 octane 'Super' unleaded. It will run happily on 95 octane premium unleaded but the power loss is said to be around 40bhp

I actually remember when i was a teenager up in Milton keynes it ws on the Anglia news that a gang of bank robbers were hitting banks all over the region and using a Lotus Carlton as a getaway car. Appparently the police couldn't catch them as they just left em standing! hahahahahahahahahahahahahah. Never heard of them getting caught either. headcover, check for any crisp twenties down the back of the seats mate!

[matt_mr2t]

I'm sure I read some where that Lotus originally wanted to twin charge (or compound as I think it's also known) the engine. IE supercharger for low grunt and a big ass turbo for top end. But they couldnt get it to run totally smooth like they wanted so went for twin small turbo's instead?

Imagine sticking a pair of Tims GT turbo's on there

[jimGTS]

Looks like a door stop mate!

i like it still defo looks better than the charlton. imo of course.

[EarL]

I'm sure I read some where that Lotus originally wanted to twin charge (or compound as I think it's also known) the engine. IE supercharger for low grunt and a big ass turbo for top end. But they couldnt get it to run totally smooth like they wanted so went for twin small turbo's instead?

Imagine sticking a pair of Tims GT turbo's on there

If I recall, they did this to the Lancia Delta Group A rally car. As it was a homologation special, they had to also build a number for road use!

[matt_mr2t]

Your correct they did.

[S A Watt]

I was luck enought to get to drive one of these babes (Lotus Carlton) about 3 years ago

It is really spot on but i was unable to really try it out as i was taking a bride to a wedding in one

She was addicted to them and her father who is in the motortrade managed to get three for the big day.

Nice to see

[Bobby (aka Shaggar)]

Got any wedding pics?


certainly better than the three c classes my mate had at his wedding last month!

[matt_mr2t]

Those BMW 8 series really are for the big pocketted people.

They may be dropping in price in style right now but never forget they were ubber expensive when they came out.

A minor service costs £700 from BMW.

[JasonB]

I remember reading an EVO mag (I think) a few years ago when they tried to put togther a brace of mega saloons to travel to Germany to have a shootout with a big Brabus modded Merc.
When they announced they were taking the Lotus Carlton some new fella on the mag started on the old 'Why the hell take that old boat / they're only a souped up Carlton / Had they're dayetc. etc'
They ended up having a series of 70mph roll on acceleration runs on German autobahns. The old Carlton stuffed a new Holden RSV, A BMW M5, a Schnitzer 5 series something plus can't remember what else. the youngster was just amazed at the stomp they have for such a supposedly old hat car.
When they picked up the Brabus Merc though it did get beat. But I think that was tweaked to God know BHP with a 7 litre engine conversion and cost about £200K.
The Lotus Carlton is one hell of a car - and to pick up one from £15K (OK maybe an LHD Omega) is just crazy.

JB

[matt_mr2t]

Surely a modern day de-restricted M5 with 500 bhp would eat it for breakfast?

They break 200mph without the silly German restrictor on it!

Nothing really beats a Brabus IMO, they're pretty much made to break records. Think they hold fastest saloon, fastest hatch, fastest 4x4 among other records.

I even once saw a feature on a Brabus SRT-10!

[S A Watt]

Got any wedding pics?


certainly better than the three c classes my mate had at his wedding last month!

Sorry but i didnt think at the time so have no photos.

What i plonk i was.

One of the cars was taken out of a bubble just for the day and had only around 10000 miles