Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis? - Jalopnik Comments

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

mr.chophoppers — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 00:50:56 EST

Lotus. I think I could be convinced to buy it by the fact that the Éclat already made it to 140,000 miles.

Plus, I am born in 1977 and turned 30 less than one hour ago, so I am feeling nostalgic.

And the fact that people would look at a Bianchina and love it and want to speak to me. The Lotus will never engender [u]any[/u] desirable response in anyone. That includes its previous owner, no matter how pristine it may be now.

mr.chophoppers

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

NovaloadMissesPolar — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 16:55:58 EST

@SeanKHotay: w00t! I pwn trivia!

NovaloadMissesPolar

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

SeanKHotay — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 06:16:31 EST

@Novaload: Respekt [finger-slap snap]

Tatiana: "And the Lector uses....Oh, James, will you make love to me all the time when we get back to England?"
Bond (impatiently): "Yes, yes...day and night. Now, please describe how [the Lector] works!"

Oh, and the gypsy girl fight? Borat's brain would've exploded.

"Russian clocks are always cor...[BOOOOM!]"

SeanKHotay

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

NovaloadMissesPolar — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 20:31:40 EST

@SeanKHotay: From Russia with Love. Daniella Bianchi, played Tatiana. FTW!

NovaloadMissesPolar

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

PaulE — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 19:11:30 EST

@SeanKHotay: I'd have to use the third Bianchi as I unholstered a .40 cal Glock, and filled the trio of Bianchis (the cars) with slugs, out of the obvious frustration of this particular PCH choice.

PaulE

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

GrandMarquis_de_Sade — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 11:36:39 EST

You can't even SEE the third Bianchi... where is it.. all over the yard?

GrandMarquis_de_Sade

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

skloon — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 11:32:08 EST

The Bianchis for me, after all the Lotus has been looked after by a real mechanic and has lots of support from other delusioned soles out there. What fresh hell can Italian bodywork be after all ? Reminds me of a friend who traded a working and redone Mini for one semi working lowered & lightened slalom car and three parts cars and had to park all of them on the street bumper to bumper with on plate on the front of the first and one on the back of the last. The worst thing is that after writing off the runner in a multi vehicle head on accident he sold the wreck to my brother to rebuild his mini after a t-bone with an f250, and both of them walked away. the spirit and parts of all these cars now doze in Winnipeg, brought out for picnics and commitment hearings.

skloon

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

SeanKHotay — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 10:53:01 EST

@Novaload: Wasn't my intent to make it a guessing game, but can anyone name the missing Bianchi? Two have already been identified...

There's a prize if you can...

SeanKHotay

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

FЯeeMan is slowly cЯawling out of the new commenting system — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 10:31:25 EST

Man, that was a tough one.

A Lotus named after a French pastry that's already had some portions of the Dark Prince excised, but that's been 'tinkered' with.

Or 3 rusted out, ultra rare clown cars manufactured by a bicycle company posted in the Phoenix Craigs List, but located in San Diego.

I had to go Bianchi's. My dad rode one (almost into the Olympics), and there's the perpetual hope, yet unachievable goal, of turning each one into $40 large some day.

FЯeeMan is slowly cЯawling out of the new commenting system

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

FLB — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 10:08:42 EST

@brandegee: Chapman always wanted lightness rather than silly things like reliability, endurance and longevity.

FLB

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

brandegee — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 09:54:34 EST

I love that a Lotus Racing ex-pat recognized that the gearbox (probably Renault) was crap and replaced it with a stout Toyota 5-swapper. Says a lot that Lotus *continued* using French gearboxes up till the Esprit died.

Sorry a British fastback wins over Italian penalty boxes every time. See, I'd like to enjoy myself at the end of PCH when the car is ready. PCH does end, doesn't it?

brandegee

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

Elhigh — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 08:34:57 EST

The Bianchis move me in a way the Lotus never would. To wit, with my knees in my ears.

Bianchis all the way. I used to have a Bianchi bicycle, in running condition these would be nearly as powerful.

Elhigh

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

jakay11 — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 08:10:24 EST

No contest...
every try to get a NICE Lotus running for more than 5 min? That's hell right there...

As for 3 Bianchis? well, that's 2 (rusty) parts cars!

jakay11

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

poxpopulus — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 07:55:45 EST

The Lotus was a purpose built parts car.

poxpopulus

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

Stoatmaster — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 07:27:00 EST

Father-in-law had a blue Eclat Riviera.

This chap had an inspection pit in the garage, built his own milling machine, and was, you know, pretty switched on, engineering wise.

And even his never really worked completely asit should.

Personally, I got stuck at the British Leyland interior door handles.

Stoatmaster

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

NovaloadMissesPolar — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 06:53:53 EST

@SeanKHotay: I can name those serial killer set in one guess--Bianchi as in Ken, half of the Hillside Stranglers, with his cousin, Angelo Buono.

NovaloadMissesPolar

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

billboot — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 06:18:36 EST

Eclat is the past tense of Eclair. Which is why the ones you see are all half-eaten.
Some nerdish facts: That Supra gearbox swap is almost historically correct because the later Excel (basically a facelifted Eclat) from 1982 had a five-speed box from Toyota; brakes too. It was the result of one of Lotus's many, many partnerships. My favourite is the Isuzu hook-up that produced the Piazza, but more hilariously the Lotus-tuned Big Horn (Trooper)

billboot

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

SeanKHotay — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 06:01:30 EST

A shard of a Chapman pastry v. an Italian green bicycle, a Bond girl, and half-a-serial killer-duo?

Dang, tough call...but a trio of clown cars is tugging pretty hard on my masochistic & sadist sides...

SeanKHotay

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

dulcamara — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 04:56:01 EST

I've always wanted a Lotus, but I have a day job and a life, so voting in PCH is as close as I'll get.

dulcamara

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

SuperCarnitas — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 01:54:36 EST

You had me at "Lotus."

SuperCarnitas

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

eldo500 — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 01:54:09 EST

God and baby Jesus, 140K on a Lotus?!?! I think the seller meant to say that the previous owner was a magician, not a mechanic.

eldo500

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

shnog — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 23:22:46 EST

Factory Suicide doors and you can tow it on a golf-cart trailer...
Is there really any question here?

shnog

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

NovaloadMissesPolar — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 22:37:29 EST

@dculberson: But these would take up so little room! And you could have a refreshing change, going from monster monster to tiny monsters--didn't you read the posts? You can lift the block out with one hand! Transmission the size of a shoebox!

NovaloadMissesPolar

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

thunder — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 22:34:23 EST

The Lotus is tempting, but Bianchina it is for three times the fun. One would be impressive enough in a parade, but three? Or is that a little overly optimistic?

I'm actually looking for a project like this; not quite ready for it yet, so not terribly tempting, but still... I'm liking @Phil L.'s EV conversion idea.

thunder

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

OctaneBoaster — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 22:27:06 EST

@CEman: werd

OctaneBoaster

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

CEman — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 22:25:54 EST

@Duffman: gets it!!

I saw the Bianchi and that was the first word in my very little brain, "Hayabusa".

i carumba!!

CEman

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

CEman — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 22:19:10 EST

"if you roll a six"
Did @Rust-MyEnemy: play Dungeons and Dragons maybe?

Dats Wright @lemondriver: Dems bitchin Bee and cheese.
And cha gets three uf em. Talk bout livin large!!

CEman

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

OctaneBoaster — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 22:12:56 EST

Dem Beeyanchees iz tha car of da future, yo! Not 2 mention pussy magnets.

I vote Lote.

OctaneBoaster

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

dculberson — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 21:35:29 EST

The Bianchinas would be awesome city cars. They would all three fit on the freight elevator at my office! Besides, most of you here know that I'm not averse to taking on hopelessly rusted projects with impossible to source parts. I thrive on it!

If I didn't already have the ambulance spread over 2/3 of the garage, I might be looking at a new project. Thank God I do.

dculberson

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

sassycaddy — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 21:28:08 EST

@bobdobbs: Thanks Bob. I was hoping someone got it right even if the seller didn't.

Definitely the Bianchinas. Bianchinas are CUTE. There's one just like this in the film La Dolce Vita. Not sure if Sophia Loren is in it.

Plus, the things are so small you have room to store the parts cars and anybody can work on one. An owner told me one time the basic engine block weighs 60 pounds. You can do a rebuild on your kitchen table. And the tranny is about the size of a shoe box. This owner said that working on it feels more like being a watchmaker than a mechanic.

sassycaddy

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

Duffman — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 21:22:33 EST

3 bianchis.
1. gets a hyabusa motor
2. gets a t16/32 turbine
3. needed for parts.

Duffman

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

wheels OF satan! — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 21:12:01 EST

wheels OF satan!

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

wheels OF satan! — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 21:10:57 EST

wheels OF satan!

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

Atelier — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 21:10:55 EST

As a former Lotus owner ('86 Esprit) I can personally vouch for the hellish nature of these cars. Even in great condition, they're still a major handful.

Atelier

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

wheels OF satan! — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 21:09:16 EST

the bianchis are FIAT 500 running gear...

i have one word for that

Carlo ABARTH!!

the orginal hoon!!

Some models built by Fiat or its subsidiaries Lancia and Autobianchi were co-branded Abarth, the most famous being the Autobianchi A112 Abarth.

[en.wikipedia.org]

wheels OF satan!

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

Spence — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 21:05:42 EST

The Eclat is dangerously close to being a malaise-era shooting break. How more Jalop can you get?

Spence

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

dohcspit — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 20:46:58 EST

I love lotuses (loti ?) but in this case I'm gonna have to go with the 3 Bianchis:
Convert one to a camino, one to a wagon, and one to a convertible. Turbo 'busa motors all around.

dohcspit

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

sierran — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 20:40:36 EST

I had to vote for the Lotus, despite a) my feet never ever fitting in Lotus pedal boxes and b) the inevitability of idiots watching you go by and yell "Hey Doc, how's the Flux Capacitor??!"

sierran

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

FLB — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 20:33:00 EST

@Charles_Barrett: Oui!

FLB

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

SLR_BlowerMania — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 20:22:15 EST

@Rust-MyEnemy:"Hell is the Lotus Position for the rest of my life". Are you STILL reading Kama Sutra in your "free time".
I will never buy a automobile where the word "cute" is in the description.Period

SLR_BlowerMania

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

smokeydog001 — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 19:56:43 EST

3 Bianchis +2 Chiantis +1 'Busha = Dante's Howling Hoons of Hell!

smokeydog001

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

Lost_in_the_valley — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 19:46:19 EST

Once drove an Excel with great Lotus auto drop headlamps, they would slip back into the nose depending on it being a right or left hand bend. Then slowly pop back up on the straights. Happy days.

Lost_in_the_valley

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

Charles_Barrett - Now with Variable-Valve Timing — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 19:44:37 EST

@FLB: (Hazarding a guess...) "No problem..."

Charles_Barrett - Now with Variable-Valve Timing

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

FLB — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 19:42:34 EST

@Charles_Barrett: Pas grave!

FLB

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

Charles_Barrett - Now with Variable-Valve Timing — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 19:38:22 EST

@FLB: Ooops... My bad! I don't get any practice on my highschool French living in L.A. In hindsight, taking Spanish would have served me better! (And my highschool French was taken 25 years ago, and the ol' memory ain't so sharp as I age...)

Charles_Barrett - Now with Variable-Valve Timing

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

FLB — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 19:25:20 EST

Fil = Wire
Fils = Son

FLB

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

Charles_Barrett - Now with Variable-Valve Timing — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 19:21:39 EST

@FLB: "Broken piece of son of white...?"

Charles_Barrett - Now with Variable-Valve Timing

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

b.borrman — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 19:16:49 EST

He took out the Lucas fans...so he's either partially removed the devil or royally pissed him off.

b.borrman

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

FLB — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 19:16:15 EST

@Rust-MyEnemy: That's exactly what I meant. It's not a complete definition of the word, far from it in fact. It has several other meanings and uses.

And in the context of a Lotus, I'm pretty sure it means 'broken piece of (fil de blanc)'

FLB

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

Pete Gaines — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 19:14:39 EST

So many people that don't understand what Hell means...

A (presumably) well-maintained Lotus is simply not more hellish than 3 rusty Italian minicars that haven't been started in years. I weep for your ignorance and pray for your souls.

Pete Gaines

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

Rust-MyEnemy is stll out there! — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 19:12:38 EST

@FLB:
é·clat /eɪˈklɑ; Fr. eɪˈkla/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[ey-klah; Fr. ey-kla] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
-noun
1. brilliance of success, reputation, etc.: the éclat of a great achievement.
2. showy or elaborate display: a performance of great éclat.
3. acclamation; acclaim.

Eh? Ok.........

Rust-MyEnemy is stll out there!

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

lascauxcaveman — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 19:10:57 EST

@rgseidl: Those things even have a back seat to tear out? That is flat-out amazing.

lascauxcaveman

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

evoCS is possibly NSFW — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 19:04:49 EST

@Tanshanomi: You beat me to the inevitable bike engine conclusion, but I still think it would be bitchin'.

Eclat reminds me too much of eclair. Eclairs aren't hell, they're delicious. I don't want that ruined for me.

evoCS is possibly NSFW

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

Charles_Barrett - Now with Variable-Valve Timing — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 19:02:54 EST

It's PCHs like this that make me feel ignorant and inadequate... I've never heard of Bianchi, and while I have heard of Lotus, I would have guessed an Eclat to be a calorie-laden French dessert. I shall lurk on the sidelines without casting an uninformed vote (I shall, of course, insert snarky and/or risqué comments as they occur to me... duh!)

Charles_Barrett - Now with Variable-Valve Timing

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

Maxichamp — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 19:02:23 EST

I want to cry.

Maxichamp

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

FLB — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 18:58:16 EST

@rgseidl: French is my first language. I had a look at the various on-line translations for Éclat (Collins, etc.). None of them have it completely right.

Éclat de verre = Broken glass, shard of glass
Éclater (verb) = To blow up, to burst
Éclaté (adj.) = Blown

FLB

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

lascauxcaveman — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 18:55:38 EST

No way in Hell I'd pass up the chance to own $118,797 worth of Bianchis for just pennies on the dollar.

lascauxcaveman

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

BinkysDream — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 18:39:23 EST

@citromike: Ha! Well, did it?

BinkysDream

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

bobdobbs — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 18:38:37 EST

It's "Bianchina"

bobdobbs

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

BartMack — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 18:33:44 EST

3 Bianchis do not make an Eclat.

BartMack

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

Eric Merrill — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 18:32:04 EST

Ha! I saw those Bianchis long ago while surfing 'round craigslist here in Phoenix. As awesome as having a Lotus would be, having three race-ready Bianchis to hoon around cone-courses in the big empty parking lot behind the Harkins at Gateway would be tops.

The security there only have bicycles and the police take approximately 13 minutes to arrive on average, so I really should be making a call to my credit card company today.

Eric Merrill

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

rgseidl — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 18:27:39 EST

On the one hand, any car called Eclat (which means many things in French, including "scandal" and "embarassment") has three strikes against it before you turn the ignition. At least it's an honest moniker: restoring the body work and electrics to original spec will be a full-blown nightmare. And even then, the electrics will be crap.

On the other, you could go for the Italian rustbuckets, rip out the rear seats and build the only car ever with three engines: the Bianchi Dante. RWD, too! Ok, so they're only 500cc but between yoking the cranskshafts together with a custom-designed gear box, the additional air cooling and, the transmission and suspension upgrades required you could be tearing your hair out for a long, long time. And avoiding bill collectors.

This is a tough call, but in the end three is more than one.

rgseidl

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

ranwhenparked — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 18:27:12 EST

There's almost nothing electrical in the Bianchis, besides, when Italian cars act up, you can just park them for awhile and they'll probably start when you get back.

When something breaks in a Lotus, it requires a third mortgage on your house to fix (the second mortgage is for the biannual tune ups they seem to require).

ranwhenparked

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

PaulE — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 18:20:23 EST

This is a tough call. On any other day, the Lotus would be a no-brainer. Today, I voted for the Bianchis. The Shriner parade from hell was also my first thought when seeing this trio-o-trouble.

The real joy is knowing that if you can actually merge all three cars into one, you're still going to be hopelessly shy of parts, metal and the like, plus knowing that most people on a two-wheeled Bianchi can outrun one of these things.

PaulE

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

POLAЯMISSESEVEЯYBODY — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 18:20:22 EST

The Lotus Doorstop was my choice, the description made me wonder what other Toyota goodies could be stuff in there, that plus with the alternative you'd probably fair better with three Bianchi bicycles.

POLAЯMISSESEVEЯYBODY

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

citromike — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 18:18:27 EST

I'd rather combine last week's and this week's and nominate a Lotus Esprit with SHO motor that lived here in San Diego for awhile. I walked back 3 miles from a test drive in that car. As we trudged along, the seller optimistically asked, "This isn't going to affect your buying the car is it?"

Since I already have had 5 Lotuses, and have NEVER seen an Eclat worth a crap, I'll take the Bianchis

citromike

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

Mad_Science — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 18:17:43 EST

I'll always vote for the multi-car option.

There's gotta be 1 good car worth of parts in there, right?

...right?

Mad_Science

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

milo_carrera--now with Corrected Politicality — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 18:15:56 EST

Three Bianchis! 1. Ford 390 FE worked to a 427. 2. Chevy 503 crate motor. 3. Hemi-goodness. Bodywork? Paint? Interior? Nahhhh.

milo_carrera--now with Corrected Politicality

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

7Seven — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 18:11:52 EST

The Eclat, especially as though I've been through the first few turns of that journey before...sadly it would have been an economic 'mare. Good luck getting those rims to shine too!

7Seven

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

Rust-MyEnemy is stll out there! — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 18:11:29 EST

@Novaload: Well, thank you very much.

Today it has been mainly Sauvignon Cabernet and Jack Daniels.

You've been doing pretty well yourself, mate.

Group hug!

Rust-MyEnemy is stll out there!

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

JoeWoodsprite — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 18:05:02 EST

Voted for the Lotus. I actually would like to own that Lotus. The Bianchis could only be fun if you finished all three and converted them to RC.

JoeWoodsprite

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

poxpopulus — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 18:01:59 EST

The Lotus would have been a candidate for PCH when brand new.

poxpopulus

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

murphysamber — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 18:00:58 EST

If I could get 'em running and find some old Shriners to pilot them, I could finally start my geriatric road-warrior gang. I'd lead them on a small block powered unicycle of my own design. Hell would become heaven, would become hell. We are legion.

murphysamber

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

dh86sj — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 17:59:55 EST

If you get three cars, there's the chance you could use them to get one running. The Eclat is the automotive equivalent of Bear Grylls in the Outback. Except this time, he doesn't make it out alive.

dh86sj

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

NovaloadMissesPolar — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 17:56:26 EST

Oh, the cars. I do not want the Lotus position. I want the three clown cars. I'm pretty sure that as long as you're welding, you could make a three-headed monstrous deformed car with teh cute now disturbing. Nightmare fuel. The Cerberus, of course.

NovaloadMissesPolar

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

hootjigga — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 17:50:31 EST

3 little B'anchis,
2 KITT 'Stangs,
and
a street-legal Koenig.

hootjigga

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

NovaloadMissesPolar — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 17:50:01 EST

@Rust-MyEnemy: You have been a roll for a number of days now. Just what are you drinking on the Essex Riviera? I want some.

NovaloadMissesPolar

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

Skydiver — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 17:47:49 EST

Hell, or "three-times-hell?" I'm going with 3xHell until we can get Hell^2. Which would be two Eclats.

Skydiver

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

Tanshanomi — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 17:47:39 EST

I was tempted to vote for the Lotus because 1) It's from a bulletin-board flyer, which is were all unbelievably lucky deals come from, and, 2) It's a Lotus.

But those ultra-rare Bianchis are too cartoon-teddy-bear cute to be hell, right?; They couldn't possibly be Beryllium Sphere Minors. I'm getting all warm and fuzzy. I could totally see one hotrodded with a CBR600 motor and painted Bianchi bicycle green. Ciao!

Tanshanomi

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

Rust-MyEnemy is stll out there! — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 17:44:24 EST

What the hell am I gonna do with three Bianchis? Three admittedly cute hat-shaped Italian toys.

Actually, I love them.

But I love the Lotus a little bit more. I love the engine, I love the heavily reclined seating position, I love the pop up- or pop one up, or possibly pop one slightly up with a following wind, if you roll a six to strart- headlamps. And possibly the best shape of the 70s+ Loti, wedge me up

Hell is the Lotus Position for the rest of my life.

Rust-MyEnemy is stll out there!

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

Phil L. — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 17:42:26 EST

I went with the three Bianchis.

A rational approach to the Lotus could include rounding out the Toyota tranny with a Toyota motor. Think about it: A Lotus that would have some hope of starting - and running - on a cold, wet morning.

No, true PCH requires starting with three cars - and still needing lots of parts. And a good welder.

Personally, a Bianchi EV conversion seems like the way to go here...

Phil L.

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

FLB — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 17:40:51 EST

A synonym of PCH is Lotus: Lots of trouble, usually serious.

Éclat it is.

FLB

Project Car Hell: Lotus Eclat or 3 Bianchis?

Lost_in_the_valley — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 17:38:05 EST

Has to be the Eclat all the way, Norfolk's finest example of wedgy mould / rust fusion.

Lost_in_the_valley