Comments by "g simpson" (@GSimpsonOAM) on "Number 27" channel.

  1.  @Lightw81  Reference is to RAC HP rating. That is why there was Austin 7, 8, 10 12 etc. Was based on bore size
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  2. I had an HPE VX for 13 years as my everyday driver. One of the last, registered in 1985. The later models had the bonus of galvanised shells so no rust issues. A great reliable car. Made a good tow car with lots of torque in the mid range. Its happy range was 1800-4000rpm. The secret of the gear change is to get the right oil. Took it on track days at Ruapuna. Curiously for a FWD car it breaks in to oversteer on the limit. The way to counter this is to put the foot flat. A lot of fun. Brake hard, provoke a little oversteer and drift out of the corner under power. The car had 320,000km on it and was still going strong. The car is still on the road with the new owner. I sold it as my wife wanted a more practical 5 door car. I got a FIAT Stilo Abarth. Looking at selling that after 12 years. It has been a solid reliable car too. Track day next week.... Its replacement is an older car. A Rover Tomcat. Less practical and the wife doesn't like it but she lets me have my toys.🥰 Had a cool plate on it too "HPE VX"
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  3. I have 1978 Esprit and service & repair costs are low as most parts are normal off the shelf parts. Even the Lotus specific parts are reasonable.
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  4. Prototype was based on Vauxhall block but Lotus went on to develop their own Aluminium block. There was the Lotus 906 then 907 Engine used in Esprit. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_900_series
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  5. My S2A was built in 1971 so one of the last of that series. Cab chassis with a wooden deck. Roverdrive overdrive makes it much quieter and economical. Takes a lot of stopping. Will go almost anywhere.
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  6. I have just sold my Stilo Abarth after 12 years as my everyday driver. Still going strong. The only things to fail were crank position sensor, a coil and thermostat. All easy fixes. Timing belt much easier to do on Stilo.
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  7. I got the car cheap because it had 87 errors on the computer. It turned out all that was wrong was a loose battery clamp and a cheap battery. Fitting a new clamp and decent battery solved the problem.
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  8. The 5 cylinder has a unique sound and is very smooth. I have a more boring Stilo 2.4 but it is a practical 5 door car that goes well even if the styling is not as daring as the Coupé.
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  9.  @jean-charlesweyland129  Had mine 13 years and was a quick car on the track. Had a new exhaust manifold made up. The car had 320,000 km on it when I sold it 12 years ago and it still survives.
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  10. Wonder how it would go with VX engine? That engine pulls strongly from low revs thanks to the supercharger.
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  11. My brother has an identical looking Esprit S1 but has a fuel injected Toyota engine with Yamaha heads. (original engine) Lotus took note of engine cooling and updated the arrangement in the S2. An S2 is really an S1 with the bugs ironed out.
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  12. I have a 1995 Tomcat and a 1997 416 both ex Japan. Quite a few ex Japan Rovers ended up in New Zealand
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  13. I learned to drive in one of these and was my student transport. Got very good at double declutching. Especially as the city I lived in has very steep hills. Dunedin, New Zealand which has steepest street in the world.(didn't test 500 on that) Later fitted a big bore kit to it that improved performance. It broke down on the day of my driving test and had to take my fathers 4.1litre Ford Falcon estate instead!
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  14. My Dad bought a 1300 30 years ago. We fitted a FAZA cam and a carb off a 1600 Lancia. It went well. Still in the family as my sister has it now. Paint a little faded but no rust. A fun car to drive. Quick and nimble. I have a Lotus Esprit of the same year (1978) which is an interesting comparison.
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  15. Got a thorough cat scan done then?
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