The Lotus Carlton replica

[Johnny A]

This question was raised on another forum, I am building an LC replica that will be close to the original bar the colour and wheels, and I do intend to have 'LOTUS CARLTON' written on the back. Like a friend of mine says 'its your car and you can do exactly what you want to it, fuck what others think', and I will. But what are others peeps views on this?

Feel free to be honest about it, I will be doing it regardless, the only people on the other website that seem to have a problem with it are the peeps who are a bit jealous because I have such a cool looking car (theory).

John.

[blippi]

tbh m8 i thought bout this myself but i think if its obviouslly a replica whats the point of going to the expense of badging it as somat its not? but thats just what i think an i'm not knocking u for doing somat i personally wouldnt

'its your car and you can do exactly what you want to it, fuck what others think', is somat i personnally agree with if ur gonna spend ur hard doe u should get what u want

[mapblue]

Go for it m8 my LC replica was badged when i got it and i got Fed up getting asked how's the lotus and having to explain it was a gs with a lotus kit ,so i removed the badges and guess what i still got asked hows the lotus,

so my point is, people who know the diffrents in the cars don't ask and people who don't know the diffrents and think its the real deal humour them till they go away.

[chrismec]

Totally agree, u put wotever u want on it.At the end of the day I'ts ur car!!!!

[Scatmancraig]

I agree, to a pooint with the above.  It's your car, therefore your choice what you put on it. 

My personal opinion is to de-badge it altogether.  My ex-Police Senator 24v has no badges on the back & that's the way i like it.  Keeps people guessing what is under the bonnet.  If i was doing your conversion i wouldn't want a Lotus badge on the back, purely because it isn't one!!  I have to say that my own personal taste in cars is of the "wolf in sheeps clothing" approach as it gives me more of sense of satisfaction when i've blown someone into the distance in a plain looking Carlton, leaving people wondering what the hell you have under the bonnet!  Best example of this is Carltontoys Lotus engined Omega, can you imagine the fun you could have in a 2.0 badged Omega with 377 bhp under your right foot!!!!!

Good luck with your ongoing conversion by the way, it'll be interesting to see how the 4-pot turbo engine will perform in the Carlton!!!

[Pedro]

Badge it as yo uwant it badged, John.

I badged mine as an HSV Holden Carlton to get it away from the "Is that a Lotus?", but it didn't work, as I've been asked so many times. I just say yes now!

BTW, Holden didn't do the Carlton, let alone an H@SV badged one.............

[bstardchild]

fark know what I should badge mine as 

[Matt]

You do what you want - my opinions/point are:

- Its a replica, which by definition is supposed to look like the original. The original has the badges, so a true replica should have badges.
- It will be however a different colour to an actual LC and have different wheels, which is not true to the word "replica" but there is also a real LC that has a union jack in vinyl stickers on it.
- It's your car, you do what you like!
- I've seen plenty of replicas, in all different colours, and only one didn't have lotus and carlton badges. (one had sticker badges, but you had to look closely to tell)
- Most people don't realise that LCs are only green and have certain features that nothing else has, so whats the point in keeping everything exact to the nose?

At the end of the day, it is your car and you can do what you like to it, you don't have to listen to other people and what they say you "should" and "shouldn't" do. Hell, most of my mates keep telling me that my car is old and crap and I should buy a newer car for my business, but I love my car and wouldn't dream of not having my GSI as a daily driver, especially since I've spent so much money on it, including the LPG conversion, which was all in aid of the amount of miles I drive in it....

[Pedro]

Very well said, Matt!

[carlton_mad]

Hell, most of my mates keep telling me that my car is old and crap and I should buy a newer car for my business

this is ok if you want a car that costs a fortune every time an electrical problem raises its ugly head ,is likely to be front wheel drive, and by the time it has left the showroom is worth around half what you paid for it

[Johnny A]

Thanks for the input guys. Have any of you taken a close look at the new Zafira B and Astra H badge font? Sorta diamond cut edged lettering. Managed to put together the words using various badges off these two models.

To make up LOTUS CARLTON is about £35 tho... and thats the prices I pay for working there! its about £50 for a normal customer! A cheaper option is to make up CARLTON which is about £20 and have the '2.0TURBO' badge from the Zafira B GSi on the other side for £5.

If anyone wants the part numbers required let me know, can also do it in the older chrome font, this is cheaper too.

John.

[blippi]

Thanks for the input guys. Have any of you taken a close look at the new Zafira B and Astra H badge font? Sorta diamond cut edged lettering.

u got pics of the lettering on the badges as i havnt seen it yet

[Johnny A]

nope sorry, if I remember I will take a picture of some at work on monday.

[blippi]

 thx m8

[Pedro]

Cheaper than Citroen badges guys.

I was going to use the newer CITROEN RELAY van badges just for the CARLTON script, but that was gonna cost around £70 + VAT.

So that was a 'no', then!

[Johnny A]

think I will stick with vauxhall stuff!

[munsterbigfeet]

the subject of replicas, my V8 has Lotus badges, wheels, interior, dash, clocks etc etc, most would thinks its real until it starts. I wanted my "replica" my way, yes it draws peoples attention, certainly drew a crowd at the factory when I unloaded it to get its hoses made last week! One guy said he didnt realise the LC was V8...... I agree the route of your money, your car have it the way you want. From experience those who nit bit or grumble have nothing better to do. Stand your ground and just be you. Free country I think still?

[mrchaz]

Do you have any pics of your car munster?........especially the engine

[chrismec]

Do you have any pics of your car munster?........especially the engine

Yeah i'd like very much 2 see that

[munsterbigfeet]

sorting some for my website at the moment! once its back will put some on here!!! how much for silicone hoses? MUMMY!!!!!

[Johnny A]

Nice 1 munster! So far a have a complete genuine kit minus the spoiler which is a fake one, genuine dials (converted rev counter internals to run on 4-pot lump and white LEDs) and genuine bushes for the suspension.

Wouldn't mind a set of genuine alloys but there isn't much chance of finding them cheap!

[Pedro]

Rears can be found, but fronts are like gold-dust, and, having the word 'Lotus' preceding the words 'Carlton' or 'Omega', are priced accordingly!

Personally, I think 18" + fill the arches better!