"Light damage" ... riiiigghhhhht - LotusTalk

Conan · 01-12-2009, 06:59 AM

{yes this is probably a repost. I searched and didn't find it}

I originally wasn't going to post this, but their description was pretty funny so I thought I'd share. The web site.

Quote:

Light Front & Rear dmg, Good Cooling & Bags, Blaupunkt CD player & Speakers, Targa Top, Lot Drives.

I'm sure this is an insurance co. lot. Anyone on here originally own the poor thing?

Valenz · 01-12-2009, 07:24 AM

Having almost completed the re-construction of a rear clam myself, I hate to see this kind of damage. I had to run out to the garage and gaze at my progress to reassure myself.

"Light damage" ... I'm not sure that I'd describe it that way. It looks like someone took a can opener to the rear clam. Maybe he locked his keys in the trunk and someone PM'd the wrong solution to him.

Being a chemist with experience in polymer science, I can work wonders with fiberglass repairs, but this one looks beyond my abilities. Ouch! Definitely new clam time unless the missing bits are still around and not too badly deformed, but this would be a tough one.

Yokozuna · 01-12-2009, 07:38 AM

Light damage? I don't see any LIGHTS at all!

Conan · 01-12-2009, 07:40 AM

Price is $8900 according to the website. Might be worth it to part it out (interior, brakes, etc) and keep the engine?

Sideoiler · 01-12-2009, 07:41 AM

Light damage as opposed to being dropped out of a plane maybe.

xtn · 01-12-2009, 08:51 AM

i'd buy it if it was $3K

xtn

Diesel · 01-12-2009, 09:52 AM

Someone has to say it . . . that will buff right out!

charliex · 01-12-2009, 10:31 AM

I've heard of rear panel deletes, but thats f'in ridiculous.

davecarama · 01-12-2009, 10:35 AM

Didn't look like there was an engine in there.

xtn · 01-12-2009, 11:16 AM

The pics on the web site clearly shows an engine in place.

That's going to be a $30K repair bill give or take. Not worth it as a rebuild. Don't know if one could make any profit on parts at $9K or not.

xtn

mjf · 01-12-2009, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davecarama

Didn't look like there was an engine in there.

It said it lot drives, but I imagine it doesn't drive lots!

charliex · 01-12-2009, 11:31 AM

*If* the chassis is intact might make a good 2-11 conversion project.

Monsi · 01-12-2009, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charliex

I've heard of rear panel deletes, but thats f'in ridiculous.

mjf · 01-12-2009, 12:07 PM

It's the same color as mine, if the price was lower, I'd be tempted to have it, just so I could park in the driveway and scare the crap out of my wife when she came home.

chapster5 · 01-12-2009, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjf

It's the same color as mine, if the price was lower, I'd be tempted to have it, just so I could park in the driveway and scare the crap out of my wife when she came home.

hahaha so cruel yet so cool

"treat 'em mean, Keep 'em keen"

oh and that car is toast, would that even be good for spares lol

Gizmo3000 · 01-12-2009, 01:37 PM

someone could even have 11.5 months to turn it into the worlds lightest Rose Parade float!

E_Swift · 01-12-2009, 04:19 PM

I've seen the car in person, in the lot in the pictures. I actually have a very small deposit on it right now to hold for 24hrs.

It is a salvage car from Illinois.

$30k repair bill? What if you always do your own fiberglass, paint, labor and prep? All the suspension mounting points are intact. Still a bad idea? You guys better talk me down!

excuse the formatting of this excel spreadsheet dump:

# part_Descr ESTA Lotus Garage RevzoSport Dealer? Used?
1 front clam 1528 3297 1200 2100
1 rear clam 1517 2362 1200
2 headlight 1145
2 front indicator
2 front grille side 54
1 front grille center 56
2 front fenders 300 234
1 crash structure
1 battery box 153
2 rear transom grille 25
1 frontemblem 43
1 rear lotus words 25
1 shifter knob 61
1 fan knob 20

E_Swift · 01-12-2009, 04:22 PM

Rather, explain to me how I won't be able to get this on the road for less than $17k. (don't forget, 100% free labor via sweat equity)

The only things I don't have prices for are the crash structure and the front indicator lights. Plus, surely some of these parts could be found used.

Car starts right up, no warning lights or apparent issues thoughout warm-up.

mjf · 01-12-2009, 04:33 PM

You could also pick up some carbon fiber panels replace the clams. There's some dealers that post here occasionally that make them.

The biggest worry about this, or any salvage elise is the damage you can't see. How is the frame & tub?

If you're looking at frame damage, you're essentially looking at a parts car.

If you have more time than money though, this might be an interesting project. Although, you would still need money too.

If you do take it on, keep us in the loop like this guy's thread of awesomeness.

Good luck!

E_Swift · 01-12-2009, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjf

If you're looking at frame damage, you're essentially looking at a parts car.

Agreed.

I'll be spending a few more hours looking over the front suspension attachment points, but it really doesn't look like there was much suspension involvement - at least based on the upper front mounting points. Tomorrow I'll have it up in the air with the wheels off.

And thanks for that link - interesting build-up. But the furthest I would go from OEM would be the clams and possibly alternative projectors in the stock headlight housings.

01-12-2009, 07:24 AM	#2 (permalink)
Valenz Next Exit 200 Lightyears Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: West Central Alabama Posts: 276 Images: 5	Having almost completed the re-construction of a rear clam myself, I hate to see this kind of damage. I had to run out to the garage and gaze at my progress to reassure myself. "Light damage" ... I'm not sure that I'd describe it that way. It looks like someone took a can opener to the rear clam. Maybe he locked his keys in the trunk and someone PM'd the wrong solution to him. Being a chemist with experience in polymer science, I can work wonders with fiberglass repairs, but this one looks beyond my abilities. Ouch! Definitely new clam time unless the missing bits are still around and not too badly deformed, but this would be a tough one. __________________ '68 Homemade - yes homemade ; '69 T-Bird Landau 429; '86 Mustang GT Ragtop 5L; '93 Ford F150; '06 Mercedes C-230 sw; Lotus Elise - 2008 California Ed., Saffron Yellow; '05 KG Elise Rebuild Project; 1964 Lotus (Caterham) Super Seven S3 Kubota L3010; Trek 5500; '86 Cannondale

01-12-2009, 07:38 AM	#3 (permalink)
Yokozuna Racing/Car Photographer Join Date: May 2005 Location: Krum, Texas Posts: 259	Light damage? I don't see any LIGHTS at all! __________________ 2002 Miata SE Titanium Gray, 6-speed, Bose 6-CD, Limited Slip (1 of 1491) 2007 CO Exige S, Track Pack, Touring Pack, Limited Slip, Traction Control, Star Shield - Useless Mirror Removed, Multivex Side Mirrors, Lotus Belt Pads, Sector111 Carbon Fiber Front Spoiler, Red Folding Front Tow Hook and Carpet Buttons, Chase Cam Mounts, JVC Everio 60GB HD Camcorder with Sunpak 37mm Wide Angle Lens and SanDisk 8GB MicroSD, 27% 3M Window Tint.

01-12-2009, 07:40 AM	#4 (permalink)
Conan with future lotus driver Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 2,069 Images: 24	Price is $8900 according to the website. Might be worth it to part it out (interior, brakes, etc) and keep the engine? __________________ Yes, it IS my real name. No, I don't look like him. I'm Polish. Polish barbarians are skinny nerds. 2006 BRG Lotus Elise (broken), 2009 Honda Fit (gas miser), 2007 Honda Odyssey (the wife's)

01-12-2009, 08:51 AM	#6 (permalink)
xtn McLareghini Bugatterrari Join Date: May 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 6,841	i'd buy it if it was $3K xtn __________________ 2006 McLareghini Bugatterrari, Storm Titanium... <mods> installed: air horn, Scroth 4-point ASM harnesses, Sector111 halon extinguisher and mounting bracket, Von Hep exhaust and rear panel delete, Pagid brake pads, red Volks CE28n wheels, Toyo RA-1 tires, Nitron SA coilovers, Sector111 (WorksBell) quick-disconnect steering wheel kit. awaiting installation: Scroth "pull-up" lap belts, Sector111 RTD Brace, Tony's heater bypass mod, and dropped steering rack mounting plates. </mods>

01-12-2009, 09:52 AM	#7 (permalink)
Diesel Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Sound Beach, CT Posts: 71	Someone has to say it . . . that will buff right out! __________________ '05 Storm/Red, Touring, Hard Top, Lotus Sport Ohlins and Adjustable Anti-Roll Bar, Lotus Sport Harness Bar, Trim Shop Seats, Schroth Profi II 6-Point Harnesses, 2Bular 7" GT3 Exhaust, Braille Battery, Cup Car Wheels w/ AO48s

01-12-2009, 07:41 AM	#5 (permalink)
Sideoiler Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Edmonton, Alberta Posts: 522	Light damage as opposed to being dropped out of a plane maybe.

01-12-2009, 10:31 AM	#8 (permalink)
charliex OSX Black hat Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Las Vegas , NV Posts: 9,935	I've heard of rear panel deletes, but thats f'in ridiculous. __________________ Black Exige S - http://goth.am 265 Mule / Elan M100.ECU Tuning, http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39660 West Coast Lotus Meet - Las Vegas - November 6-9 2009 http://www.westcoastlotus.com/

01-12-2009, 10:35 AM	#9 (permalink)
davecarama Driving it every day! Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 842	Didn't look like there was an engine in there. __________________ Vision without execution is a hallucination.

01-12-2009, 11:16 AM	#10 (permalink)
xtn McLareghini Bugatterrari Join Date: May 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 6,841	The pics on the web site clearly shows an engine in place. That's going to be a $30K repair bill give or take. Not worth it as a rebuild. Don't know if one could make any profit on parts at $9K or not. xtn __________________ 2006 McLareghini Bugatterrari, Storm Titanium... <mods> installed: air horn, Scroth 4-point ASM harnesses, Sector111 halon extinguisher and mounting bracket, Von Hep exhaust and rear panel delete, Pagid brake pads, red Volks CE28n wheels, Toyo RA-1 tires, Nitron SA coilovers, Sector111 (WorksBell) quick-disconnect steering wheel kit. awaiting installation: Scroth "pull-up" lap belts, Sector111 RTD Brace, Tony's heater bypass mod, and dropped steering rack mounting plates. </mods>

01-12-2009, 11:31 AM	#12 (permalink)
charliex OSX Black hat Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Las Vegas , NV Posts: 9,935	If the chassis is intact might make a good 2-11 conversion project. __________________ Black Exige S - http://goth.am 265 Mule / Elan M100.ECU Tuning, http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39660 West Coast Lotus Meet - Las Vegas - November 6-9 2009 http://www.westcoastlotus.com/

01-12-2009, 12:07 PM	#14 (permalink)
mjf elf Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Bellevue, WA Posts: 1,315	It's the same color as mine, if the price was lower, I'd be tempted to have it, just so I could park in the driveway and scare the crap out of my wife when she came home. __________________ 2007 Elise Type 72D #6 of 50

01-12-2009, 01:37 PM	#16 (permalink)
Gizmo3000 Register Abuser Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sherman Oaks Posts: 962	someone could even have 11.5 months to turn it into the worlds lightest Rose Parade float! __________________ 2005 Starlight Black Elise, -hardtop/touring/black interior/sector111 carpet buttons! 1991 300ZX 2+2 1974 MGB Roadster

01-12-2009, 04:19 PM	#17 (permalink)
E_Swift Back to Basics Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 314	I've seen the car in person, in the lot in the pictures. I actually have a very small deposit on it right now to hold for 24hrs. It is a salvage car from Illinois. $30k repair bill? What if you always do your own fiberglass, paint, labor and prep? All the suspension mounting points are intact. Still a bad idea? You guys better talk me down! excuse the formatting of this excel spreadsheet dump: # part_Descr ESTA Lotus Garage RevzoSport Dealer? Used? 1 front clam 1528 3297 1200 2100 1 rear clam 1517 2362 1200 2 headlight 1145 2 front indicator 2 front grille side 54 1 front grille center 56 2 front fenders 300 234 1 crash structure 1 battery box 153 2 rear transom grille 25 1 frontemblem 43 1 rear lotus words 25 1 shifter knob 61 1 fan knob 20

01-12-2009, 04:22 PM	#18 (permalink)
E_Swift Back to Basics Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 314	Rather, explain to me how I won't be able to get this on the road for less than $17k. (don't forget, 100% free labor via sweat equity) The only things I don't have prices for are the crash structure and the front indicator lights. Plus, surely some of these parts could be found used. Car starts right up, no warning lights or apparent issues thoughout warm-up. Last edited by E_Swift : 01-12-2009 at 04:28 PM.

01-12-2009, 04:33 PM	#19 (permalink)
mjf elf Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Bellevue, WA Posts: 1,315	You could also pick up some carbon fiber panels replace the clams. There's some dealers that post here occasionally that make them. The biggest worry about this, or any salvage elise is the damage you can't see. How is the frame & tub? If you're looking at frame damage, you're essentially looking at a parts car. If you have more time than money though, this might be an interesting project. Although, you would still need money too. If you do take it on, keep us in the loop like this guy's thread of awesomeness. Good luck! __________________ 2007 Elise Type 72D #6 of 50

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