Talbot Sunbeam Lotus - What Makes it So SPECIAL? And Why Did We Buy It? | TheCarGuys.tv

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What Makes THIS Talbot Sunbeam Lotus So SPECIAL? And Why Did We Buy It? | TheCarGuys.tv
#talbotsunbeamlotus #rally #classic
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At last!
Two years after buying it at auction, and by popular demand, Jason finally takes the Talbot Sunbeam Lotus rally recreation out for an on-camera full-tilt Beans blast.
Why did he buy this incredible car? What’s it like to drive? What are its quirky features? Exactly how fast is it? And is this one of the best cars in the CarGuys garage?
All these questions and more will be answered in this week’s episode.
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3 окт 2024

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Комментарии : 360

@grayfool 2 года назад

Being somewhat senior in years to you two, I'm very aware of what these cars are. Chuffing brilliant. One of my hero cars. You should try and have a go in the Chrvette HSR too.

@nearlyretired7005 2 года назад

If you can find one! I am nearly 60,remember them well!

@dinointhetube7952 2 года назад

My dad got a brand new chevvett XMC 86T he also had a vx 490 in garage at same time.

@jamesblonde2271 2 года назад

not just me then😳

@russcattell955i 2 года назад

I had a HSR. Modest 180 ish bhp, but drove quite similar. A proper handful in the wet, a joy on moorland roads.

@robertmarr8991 2 года назад

It shows we never lose the big kid in all of us.The sheer enjoyment was written all over your faces.Cheers,very enjoyable.

@Richspjones 2 года назад

Bloody brilliant; Damian's reaction to the full Beans had me in stitches; priceless! When my 7 year old son asked what 'The Beans' really means on my TCGs t-shirt, I showed him the section from 19 mins... now he gets it! BEANS! Great stuff, guys, cheers

@TheCarGuysTV 2 года назад

😂😂👏🏻👏🏻

@bunter6 2 года назад

My first car back in 1991 was this car's little brother, a 10 year old Talbot Sunbeam 1.6Ti in the same colour scheme, silver stripe over black. I love that car even though it rusted as fast as it went.

@markgtrheyes 2 года назад

Good to see you guys back together making content

@leeandrews1072 2 года назад

I think you wee’d yourself when Jason drove.......the look of you flung back in that seat 😂 priceless

@TheCarGuysTV 2 года назад

😂😂

@theusefulchannel 2 года назад

Always a joy to see them together, great banter in an epic car.

@TheCarGuysTV 2 года назад

👍🏻👍🏻

@shanehnorman 2 года назад

I participated in a Brands Hatch event in autumn '79, where one of the turns was a few laps in the passenger seat of a race-prepared one of these. The driver was some sort of '70s Stig and it was quickly apparent that, for him, the thrill lay in scaring the s--t out of me. It bucked and skittered, rattled and roared. I was, in fact, terrified - but in a good way, like riding a roller-coaster. One crucial point, not mentioned by Damian and Jason, was that it was rear-wheel drive, an exception among post-Mini small cars.

@wainbanfield6775 2 года назад

Too true. That's what set this apart from the hatchbacks of the day was that it was rear wheel drive.

@adampark4612 Год назад

I used to work / volunteer is Wildlife Conservation and a Botanist had one of these in 1985.....

@daggidding4478 2 года назад

Yes yes yes. Jason is back. Now it is once again a car guys video. The two of you are just fantastic to watch!

@gerrywatson261 2 года назад

As an 18 year old the first time I had been in a car travelling at over 100mph was in Lotus Sunbeam! A friend of the family turned up one weekend driving a pre-production development car. He was an engineer and was doing contact work for Lotus (and later Delorean!) He took me and my dad for a "spin" down the A127 to Southend and I remember seeing 125mph several times on the journey much to my dad's disbelief!

@TheCarGuysTV 2 года назад

Wow!

@ScoopDogg 4 месяца назад

compared to the cossie I think the Sunbeam has aged pretty damn well. I had fun in the sunbeam Ti with the same decals and alloys, always wish they had the rear spoiler on the lotus (for looks) had one back in the early 90's but getting parts was impossible. KUD 666V i think the reg was. would buy it back if its still alive, Would love to have bought another just to look at. And the hot hatch Vauxhall Chevette HSR into the Peugeot 205's too had one after the Talbot. then I got into LANDROVERS : ) MISS THOSE DAYS AND HER : ) Im talkling when we didnt have speed cameras either. fun days n great times and the rave scene to boot. what a time to have lived eh folks

@dollydiddums7889 2 года назад

The lotus sunbeam is to the corners what the lotus Carlton is to the straight 😎

@polmacdhomhnaill3021 2 года назад

I loved these cars. Growing up the older lads would buy the original lotus and we had all sorts of cars by me like the Tiger. 1986 I finally got onto a car body course and still couldn’t get on the mechanic course, and would love the standard sunbeam come in for pre MOT or a service. Great to see this car taken out and driven. Thanks for the video..

@TheCarGuysTV 2 года назад

You're very welcome

@stevehickling7435 2 года назад

Had the 1.6 back in the day and it was loads of fun. Wish I still had it. Great review lads and thanks

@1055Richard 2 года назад

I grew up near the factory where the body shells had their drivetrains installed and each one was road tested with enthusiasm on the open roads. At age 6-7 I can remember lots of rubber laid down all over the back roads where the test drivers obviously enjoyed themselves very much....

@TheCarGuysTV 2 года назад

Great to know

@veli-pekkaahlqvist3895 2 года назад

Late great Henri Toivonen won RCA rally 1980 with Talbot Sunbeam Lotus

@martinboulden4388 2 года назад

The only reason that rear window keeps opening is because Jason has Roger Bailey tied up in the boot and he’s trying to escape ! Another great video chaps. Could this be the most exciting way to reach the national speed limit on a country road ?

@bat33.12 2 года назад

Owned one of the last series 2 Sunbeam Lotus registered in '82 on a Y plate in Moonstone blue with a silver stripe and that was putting out 210bhp after head was gas flowed, cams, twin 45 webbers, 4-2-1 exhaust manifold and 2.5" exhaust system, etc. It was featured in CCC magazine back in the day as it had 4 pot front discs with alloy bells, rear disc conversion, bias valve, Quaiffe LSD in the rear axle, bilsteins, rear arb conversion, genuine magnesium minilites, and lots of other changes as it was used for hillclimbs and even circuit racing at knockhill in road saloons class. Fantastic car, needed plenty of TLC and liked a drink, best I ever managed taking it easy was about 24mpg, good job fuel was cheap back then 😁

@TheCarGuysTV 2 года назад

Sweet!

@bat33.12 2 года назад

@@TheCarGuysTV After watching the full video there are a few things different, mine ran on original 13" minilight wheels but was setup more for circuit or hillclimb than rallying so was set up softer than your car hence the rear anti roll bar, pretty sure they didn't have one stock but the one on mine was added when it was circuit racing. Mine had a smaller arch kit than the full Group 4 kit on yours but still could fit an 8.5" rear wheel rim, stock were 5.5" or 6". The ZF dog leg gearbox always was a bit hesitant shifting until it was fully warmed up and before I bought it had once blown first gear through the casing when driving in Edinburgh, needless to say it wasn't on the original gearbox 😂 Great drivers car, not as well known as an Escort RS2000 or Mexico but they had better sorted rear suspension from the factory and were a less sideways car to drive as the rear had more grip. Have you had your car 0-60 tested with timing gear? I'd have thought it was sub 6 seconds as a 2.4L with 240bhp as mine was able to do 6 flat as it could hit 60mph in 2nd due to the extra rev limit of a tuned car?

@kronkite1530 2 года назад

Though they were known for rallying they made great race cars. Do you remember the sub BTTC touring car championships in which Jonathan Woodward (also featured in the long lost CCC magazine) and Rob Beaumont battled forward the wins? We used to follow them around and saw fantastic races at Cadwell, Mallory and Donington. They seemed so fast and could beat tuned Rover V8s, Escorts, Scimitars, Alfa’s and the like.

@richardevens6575 6 месяцев назад

Could get over 30 mpg out of mine on an under 70 mph motorway run (even with windsurfers on the roof!) after the late great Skip Brown set it up on his rolling road. Though it was a nearly standard series one with a 2.5” exhaust giving just 155-158 bhp at the wheels.

@richardevens6575 6 месяцев назад

Agree a 240bhp car should be a fair bit quicker than the 6.5 to 60 quoted. The Motor magazine long term test car (series 1) was timed at 6.6 in their long term tests when well run in!

@richardcarter1000 2 года назад

I love the Sunbeam Lotus. Always wanted one after reading a magazine article back in the day with 'claws' as the headline. Great video. I may need to add a road version to my collection.

@steveberridge4648 2 года назад

What a car !! Always been one of my rallying favourites along with the original Alpine A110 and obviously a mk2 rallye escort. The standard car was pretty quick for its time. 0-60 in 7.4 in 1980 made it the fastest two wheel hot by miles!

@SFlightline 2 года назад

And the road tests were carried out in the wet!! I think 'Motor' did a test in the dry and the 0-60 was hovering around the 6.2 second mark... The V max was only estimated at 125 MPH, again because of the weather conditions and aqua plaining at he time of the road test.... I got caught in mine, in Belgum on the E5 in 1984, in a speed trap at around 143 MPH... I say around, as it was above the 'max speed tolerance of 140MPH (225kmh)' on the then state of the art system, and the picture taken missed my number plate and only got a blurred pic of the side of my car... Had a very stern talking to by the Police who found me at the Zebrugge docks having only just missed the ferry I was racing to catch... No fine, just a 'we will be looking for you' talk... Oh, the old days...

@mattburley333 2 года назад

One of my dream cars! I'm very jealous of this awesome car...although how can you talk about the Lotus Sunbeam's rally history without mentioning the legend that was Henri Toivonen???

@sickjohnson 2 года назад

Well, that was worth the wait guys!

@johngilbert7933 2 года назад

Re the starting procedure - in my Sunbeam Lotus some years ago - itself a Fast Road engine setup with different cams and carb jets and producing a healthy 210 bhp - I never used the choke. The usual method was to turn on the ignition, wait for the fuel pump ticking to start, then give the accelerator pedal one or two pushes and turn the key. With the feeble standard battery and high compression, you usually had two goes at starting before calling out the AA to jump start...

@thedownshiftchannel 2 года назад

I’m surprised you are saying no one knows them I’ve always loved them and assumed people knew

@butterfliesandtape Год назад

ohhhhh i laughed...... and i still want my neighbour's sunbeam. mould accepted graciously. thanks chaps!!

@TheCarGuysTV Год назад

You’re welcome

@richardevens6575 6 месяцев назад

Great cars, thanks for posting. Loved mine - LPH 287W where are you now! Bit twitchier than an Escort and prone to rust. Lots of fun and under-rated. At club lotus North Weald sprint FTD was between the 7s and Sunbeams. Though most had Skip Brown suspension and engine tunes.

@MrVinnyh 2 года назад

Someone's face done a Clarkson in the Aero Atom 🤣 When I was much younger I did have look at the Sunbeam Lotus, but told by the dealer not to buy one due to rust problems at that time (they was also flogging the the Alfa/Nissan Sunny)!! how I wished I hadn't listened 😒😒The Sunbeam would have lasted longer.

@DjNikGnashers 2 года назад

If you could draw the perfect 80's shape for a hot hatch, it would be this. Just perfect from any angle.

@BITTYBOY121 2 года назад

Just like the Peugeot 205 GTi !

@Jonoponomono 2 года назад

What an excellent video. So great to see you enjoying the car so much.

@TheCarGuysTV 2 года назад

👍🏻👍🏻

@jonathanvoss5168 2 года назад

They won the RAC in 80 (last 2wd winner) and the constructors world title in 81. For a long time they were very undervalued compared to Escorts etc but they’re starting to fetch very strong money now

@lukewaring2832 2 года назад

Cannt wait to watch this . Tuesday. Thought maybe you had sold it.. Going to be and interesting 12 mths seel how your garage looks for 2023. Thabks for sharing..👍👀

@alistairbell6728 2 года назад

Can you imagine this with Henri Toivonen on a charge..!!!

@evo5349 2 года назад

I helped my mate in Wales re shell a Lotus sunbeam and a great job it was as in full paint build and spent weeks on it and it was lots of fun.

@neilcook2587 2 года назад

Brought back some nostalgic memories for me, a friend had a sunbeam when I first met him which he rally prepared but was running the trusty ford pinto on webber twin 40's 👌 we went to watch an event that was on at the pembrey race circuit got there ok but broke down literally as we were leaving and had to be recovered by the AA 🙈😆🤣 great fun...

@oddjobtriumph1635 2 года назад

one of my fave cars growing up as a kid

@alexspeed960 2 года назад

Several friends had the Sunbeam of various specs tii included. One moved on to a Lotus . I think Skip Brown's being near by may have been 5he influence. Mid eighties and escorts were supreme as far as anyone else was concerned

@Zalamx 2 года назад

I saw this and thought it was a UK Dodge Omni/Plymouth Horizon. Very cool car.

@TheLRider 2 года назад

I had two about twenty five years apart and it had lost none of its waaaw factor. Heavilly influenced by my love of Henri Toivonen and Russell Brooks too. Easily get 200 bhp from that engine and the chassis is good with that with uprated struts and shocks. Brakes needed upgrading.. Absolute hoot and the more understated the better. Used to blow most RS twos away plus made VW golf's look very silly..

@fraserconnell21 Год назад

Saw these compete when I was a kid. Henry toivenen rac rally victory ✌️. The passenger seat looks pretty loose,dangerous in a bump. Love the channel ❤️

@jontheodore8450 2 года назад

Great video and It’s great to see the real first-hot hatch and it’s Not a Golf GTI… all you need now is the Vauxhall Chevette…

@anthonyhaigh365 2 года назад

Beautiful,in my eyes as nice as the mk2 escort and sounds just as good

@BITTYBOY121 2 года назад

Great car ! 👍👍👍 I don't know why but it reminds me of a MK1 Vauxhall Astra GTE (Opel Kadett MK1)

@dinointhetube7952 2 года назад

I had a Talbot sunbeam 3 door in orange only 1.3 but I was only 17 had so much fun in it. Pull down back seats and slept in it many a night with a few m8s. Rear wheel drive early hot hatch. 👍😂

@SharonD369 2 года назад

I used to own KKV34V, Mk1 in black and silver.

@kevinthompson8047 2 года назад

It would be nice if you can do the russell brookes opel manta that would be nice 👍

@bobuilt10 2 года назад

I had one of these in near standard trim back in the mid 80's and the random rear window openings happen with the glass window as well. You didn't need front or rear wipers as you were always looking through the side windows due to it's tail happy nature. Talbot build quality and Lotus reliability eventually forced me to sell it but would I have another? Absolutely!

@samson6001 2 года назад

Not watched your channel before but thought this video was fantastic as it brought back very good memories of when my brother owned one @ 1984 and I got to drive it a lot as I loved it. Great engine and gearbox but rubbish brakes. No one really knew much about it and always asked , why have you got a Lotus badge on the wing. I had to lift the bonnet and show people the engine as they would not believe me. Even a Lotus dealer once asked the question so he was obviously not very good at his job. I once owned an RS 3100 Capri back in the day.

@TheCarGuysTV 2 года назад

Great to have you watching, Shaun

@ingopaul67 2 года назад

At last, thought it had been nicked or sold. Who needs a 200k supercar.

@skylined5534 2 года назад

This and its lesser yet still capable sibling the ti plus the likes of the Chevette HS and HSR are still astonishing machines as even this far on they're genuinely still properly fast cars and still hold their own today. And that's before you count in the hairy chested way cars like this would grab the road by the scruff of the neck and subdue it. Plus, they sound utterly glorious! Looking back to around 1996 I was offered a really tatty Sunbeam ti fitted with an engine from an Esprit, and blue/black paint that looked like it had been buffed with a piece of toast. Basically a homemade Lotus Sunbeam. No interior save for a set of Recaros from an Astra GTE. I didn't want to sell my 1275 Clubman but tried to raise the 'whopping' 500 notes the owner wanted but failed 😔 I loved my mini but I wish I'd have sold it for the Sunbeam! I remember trying to keep up with it for a few bends out towards Chatterley, it got sideways lots and just progressively disappeared despite me left foot braking and heel-toeing like a mad man!

@TheCarGuysTV 2 года назад

Fantastic to hear

@jahseantenn4574 2 года назад

Great video, loved the commentary!

@TheCarGuysTV 2 года назад

👍🏻

@bernardleclerc1046 2 года назад

I worked on one in the early eighties. But as it s so short he was tricky to drive. The driver discribed it : "on slippery roads it's like you try to handle a cube". But it was really impressive.

@paulpobsanderson6219 8 месяцев назад

Best cars I ever had. All 3 of them.

@stevep9739 2 года назад

its a series 1 chrysler sunbeam not series 2 talbot,my mum had a 1.3 my dad took me for my 1st driving lesson in it and compared me to Stig Blomqvist a very proud moment!

@alphabetaxenonzzzcat 2 года назад

It was the first "hot hatch". With rear wheel drive - that is it's USP. It's an epic car. Just a shame that I have heard that it's not that reliable.

@details78 2 года назад

It was a pleasure watching all 27 minutes of this video ......(again 😁). I maintain that when you redo your introductory video montage, that 15:53 makes the cut!

@Marc-qp4br 2 года назад

Great episode guys!! Damian are you considering getting rid of some of your supercars and getting something like this? Smiles per miles close to the speed limit in something like this seems like great value!

@tankthelord1178 2 года назад

I had one of these...(just a shame it was only the 1.1 version....).

@gee6940 2 года назад

That smile on Jason’s face throughout this episode. He’s never selling this. Ever. Haha! Awesome.

@R-Tap 2 года назад

Best stripe on a car EVER Stanced beautifully.

@S2000Y 2 года назад

Not sure who owns Talbot Sunbeam ( could be PSA group) but with time running out for ice cars someone needs to do a 2023+ version of this, ( like the reincarnation of the A110) Put me on the waiting list please. Nice video guys.

@jasonmeehan1269 2 года назад

Back in the days when a hot hatch was RWD and not a FWD shit box.

@timewilltell3098 2 года назад

If I was going to do rallying only three cars I would drive number 1 mk2 escort 2 kp Toyota starlet 3 lotus sunbeam

@66meikou 10 месяцев назад

I was after an RS2000 after my RS 1600i was totaled. I found a dealer in TRing who had a black Rs 2000 so I did the deal. After I did the deal, I noticed a Black and silver Lotus Sunbeam and I kicked myself for not taking it out for a drive. If I had, I would have probably bought it instead.

@911aircooled5 2 года назад

What a fantastic 'drivers' car, nice one Jason. Loved "the beans", 240Hp in 850kgs! Awesome!

@thattoolguy9432 2 года назад

Looked like you both had fun, but one of the worst lotus's i have ever owned, terrible on a motorway (London -Edinburgh) and even worse round Brands ... felt like you were doing a million miles an hour until you realise everything is lapping you 🤣 best lotus derivative was my old mk1 Lotus Cortina .. best car of that era i owned although a little later was the Delta Integrale , just a shame it was never made rhd , fantastic on country lanes, awful in in the city trying to overtake.. good to see a Lotus Sunbeam again.. it;s a fun car if you don't have to drive it too often

@davidkirk6249 2 года назад

Used one of these for road rallying in the mid to late eighties...what an epic car...the equal of escorts and chevettes alike.

@charliecroker7380 2 года назад

GNN111V was mine. The car I regret selling, despite 18mpg.

@timlawrence2232 Год назад

Agree. Mine was XRV 100V. Sold mine when i moved out of country. Wish i took it with me.

@markjarvis1600 2 года назад

Hi Guys, did you know that the Manchester / cheshire police had a few of these, plane clothes with popup lights etc

@TheCarGuysTV 2 года назад

We did not

@neilpatching7443 2 года назад

Jason loved it. The Damian "Squeal" was something to behold. Laughed a lot with this one guys. Thank you 😊

@TheCarGuysTV 2 года назад

👍🏻👍🏻

@thecornwall125company6 2 года назад

The police in Stockport had them as unmarked police cars in there day 👍👍

@TheCarGuysTV 2 года назад

Amazing

@johnschofield6675 2 года назад

Mate had one new it got nicked and crashed within 2 miles! GMP bought 6 as cop cars they wrote the lot off in 3 months..... very fun to drive

@crazyvideos4104 Год назад

No Black Original LOTUS stickers on each front wing… instead he has Shell stickers instead. What a plonka

@caeserromero3013 2 года назад

We had a red Talbot/Chrysler Sunbeam early 80's. Unfortunately, the car seemed to be doomed. It had 3 accidents. We assumed the body work was magnetic as everybody seemed to hit us. Got rear ended twice (I lost a tooth the 2nd time as I was sat in the back (no rear seatbelts) and hit the front passenger headrest). It finally had the front taken off by an old guy who had crashed into us after having a heart attack at the wheel. It was written off and instead Dad bought a Fiat 127....that died after Dad tried to use it to tow a caravan. We then gave up on caravaning and he bought a black Astra GTE MK2. That thing made me feel like Knight rider when I was in it. Probably because of the digital dash :)

@jamesfairmind2247 2 года назад

As a kid I went out on a test drive in one of these because my mother was considering buying one as her everyday car (she was a serious driver). I clearly remember wandering around the back of the dealership and seeing a brand new one that had just been delivered on a transporter earlier that day and no exaggeration at all, there was a massive rust spot underneath the fuel cap where the paint had literally bubbled up and totally separated from the paint which in turn was falling off. Inspecting the rest of the car there were many more such disasters. I told my mother about it and she decided not to buy it. I should have just stayed silent. I know for a fact that many of these cars had to have an entire replacement body replaced under warranty because the 'Sunbeam-Talbot' shell had been given literally zero rust protection at the factory and some kind of industrial action had left hundreds of these shells (which were common to the normal shopping car versions) rusting outside the factory. I wish I had kept my mouth shut though, I really do! It went like hot shit off a chrome plated shovel, 7.2 secs was quick in those days! It sounded glorious and handled and stopped really well as the nervous salesman came to appreciate during my mothers test drive! Note the weight, 960 KG, not 1960KG like any such car today. Says it all.

@mynature110 2 года назад

I worked in the bodyshop of a Talbot dealership when these came out and we sold a couple of them. Both were riddled with rust when they arrived and the spot welds around the tailgate aperture were all blown allowing massive water ingress through into the boot. I remember the paint coming off around the fuel caps as well, it seemed that spilled petrol would lift the top coat from the primer as there was very poor adhesion. Most of the of the paint faults were indicative of bodyshells being left outside in only the primer. Not at all unusual to find coffee machine cups inside the doors along with piles of dropped and abandoned clips and screws. Appallingly built car as were all the Linwood built Talbots at the time and such a shame as mechanically it was a beast..

@jamesfairmind2247 2 года назад

@@mynature110 Thank you for confirming that. It was so bad that it was beyond belief. I know Rally guys bought new shells and re-built the whole car from scratch. The actual engine gearbox and running gear was very reliable.

@mynature110 2 года назад

@@jamesfairmind2247 The running gear was pretty good because I'm sure the Sunbeam was basically a rebodied avenger which had been around for years. I've got a feeling that the sunbeam was the last model from Linwood and presumably the remaining employees had lost interest in what they were building by then because I don't remember the Avengers being as poorly built. To be honest I'm surprised there are any left as they come from a period where even the commonest cars seem to have evaporated. I see more cars from the 30s and 40s on the road these days than I do from the eighties and nineties. It's all getting a bit hazy now as it was a frighteningly long time ago, but your post struck an immediate chord.

@jamesfairmind2247 2 года назад

@@mynature110 I noticed the same thing re cars from 80's and 90's.

@avancalledrupert5130 2 года назад

I thought everyone knew about these and the chevet and the old Carola starlets . Last rwd hot hatches . I'm only 38 and I fan boyed these as a kid .

@adegill9468 2 года назад

I had a 1600 ti model which was black with silver decals....it was great....then had one which was really spec with a 2.1 pinto with twin 45s.....that was full off fun.... a bit to handle in the wet...love them....

@JamesThomas-zl9er 2 года назад

Did you mention that Bristol police had these to test? I know this bc I was pulled over on the M5 going too quickly, and the officer involved had had one… and drove mine that night (no, I didn’t get to drive his)

@TheCarGuysTV 2 года назад

No way!

@JamesThomas-zl9er 2 года назад

@@TheCarGuysTV that’s what they told me, and had a go in mine… summer of 87 ish… then told me off for driving very quickly There’s a lot of history in the Sunbeam Lotus, test bed for the 2.2 that went into the Esprit? I think…

@cerealkiller4248 2 года назад

My best mate had a few back in the day, a standard series 1, then a tuned series 2 with approx 190bhp at the wheels. He used to buy up cheap donor cars - 1.0L versions to use the diff for the the acceleration- for about £100. Nothing could beat the tuned one, Audi Quattro, Sierra Cosworth, 911’s, nothing. We used to race bikes, the only things that could keep up, until it topped out on max speed due to it having the aerodynamics of a brick. I was on his insurance and drove it lots, it was such a sleeper car and embarrassed many 80’s sports cars owners in front of their girlfriends. I’ve many fond memories of this car, it really slipped into oblivion for some reason, but not by anyone who had been in one…………….. EDIT - the steering wheel was flat.

@JamesThomas-zl9er 2 года назад

I had an Avon version, it was glorious but mad… spun it on a roundabout in town on day one 😂😂 It was my daily driver for several years…

@TallDrink911 2 года назад

What an epic and fun car

@dinointhetube7952 2 года назад

Could have been so much better for Talbot if they had put this in production as a hot hatch. Subbed 👍

@keithcarpenter5254 2 года назад

Like to see it up against a 2.3 chevette!

@fishbert17 2 года назад

A wonderful car. for me, cars like this are far more interesting than your typical supercar exotica. And I’m guessing they are possibly more fun to drive as well.

@dm8520 2 года назад

Guess this is why it disappeared last week?

@EtonieE25 2 года назад

Back in the day (early 1980’s) l had a 911 and my m8 had one of these n l can honestly say on a twisty back road he left me for dead 😆😆😆

@Stewss47 2 года назад

Hi guys I used to look after the tyres on this car. Is it still running the continental tyres. I know mark personally who used to own this. 👍

@kennedysingh3916 2 года назад

First knew about them via Motor magazine, still have the mag. but sadly never saw one in Jamaica.

@scottcowan6798 2 года назад

De ja vu.. I watched this last week and then lost it half way through watching it.. was it released too early? No matter, great to see the full episode though! Awesome stuff!

@steviemac8075 Год назад

It’s a shame at one time when I was young these were everywhere now they are nowhere. Seem to have all been scrapped on the same year 🤷🏼‍♂️

@SpontaneousEvolution 2 года назад

Loved it! Great little car, that's a keeper. A welcome break from the Ferrari stuff.

@TheCarGuysTV 2 года назад

Yes indeed!

@KM-qx6nh Год назад

Bloody brilliant showmanship chaps ! Now..... whats so special about it ?

@dariodelolmogarrido4045 2 года назад

Yay, this is the sort of content I've been waiting to see. Thank you guys. Can you do a travel trip together? Bring the missus or whatever but take one of Damian's cars and go to France..

@tonysag9626 2 года назад

My best mate had a Skip Brown tuned one back in the day. It was a handful to say the least especially around a wet roundabout but what a car on a good B road. He still takes about it all these years later

@DL-ls5sy 2 года назад

Belle vidéo, merci. je suis français et je n'ai pas tout compris. Je possède une Talbot Sunbeam Lotus de 1981, en version route. C'est une voiture très attachante en effet. On voit un voyant rouge allumé..bizarre...c'est quoi, au juste ?

@pkworld 2 года назад

I miss mine 😞

@lonewarrior1543 2 года назад

The most genuine petrolheads on the tube...by a country mile!

@secretsamaritan187 2 года назад

I had a W reg one of these, bought about12-18 months old. Fantastic car, it would eat VW GTIs and could be driftted with the tail out at 90 mph on a wet motorway curve. I sold it and bought a blue one, DAC 5Y and the worst thing I ever did was sell that car. Correction it was the 2nd worst thing I ever did, I then bought a BMW 323, how dumb was that?

@TheCarGuysTV 2 года назад

I don’t blame you - the 323 would’ve looked unbeatable at the time.