One to Buy: 3 owner 36,000 mile 1991 Lotus Carlton For Sale
When it came to in-house-built high performance Saloon cars, BMW’s Motorsport division had the sector pretty much sewn up throughout the 1980s.
However, when General Motors acquired Lotus in 1986, executives from the two organisations decided to embark on a mutually beneficial image-building project by creating the fastest four door production car ever offered to the public.
Using the contemporary Vauxhall Carlton / Opel Omega as a basis, the Lotus Type 104 broke cover in prototype form at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1989. Production began 18 months later in September 1990.
The assembly process saw a standard Carlton / Omega GSi 3000 24v delivered to the Lotus factory in Hethel where the suspension, engine, glass and interior were stripped out. The bodyshell was then modified with cutaways to accommodate a brawny body kit and beefed up transmission. Engines were sent away to be comprehensively uprated; they returned in 3.6-litre 377bhp twin turbocharged configuration complete with six-speed ZF gearbox.
Most Lotus Carlton’s were pressed into daily use and as a result racked up moon mileage within a couple of years. However, currently on offer at the Sasso Automotive showroom in East Riding of Yorkshire is a well preserved car with just 36,000 miles on the odometer.
First registered on August 30th 1991, this freshly serviced Lotus Type 104 (one of 950 built) has been in the possession of just three owners from new and must surely rank among the best to exist.
Reprinted below is Sasso Automotive’s description:
Year: 1991
Mileage: 36000
Exterior: Imperial Green
Interior: Grey
A wonderful low mileage example with just two previous owners that comes with a Lotus Certificate of vehicle Provenance and presented in stunning condition.
The Lotus Carlton, also known as the Lotus Omega outside the UK, is a high-performance version of the Opel Omega executive car produced by Lotus Cars for General Motors (GM).
The Lotus Carlton was introduced in 1990 and featured a 3.6-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six engine. This engine was based on the Opel Omega's unit but heavily modified by Lotus to produce significantly more power. The power output was rated at around 377 horsepower (281 kW) and 419 lb-ft (568 Nm) of torque.
The Lotus Carlton was famously quick for its time, with a top speed of 176 mph (283 km/h) & could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph (0 to 100 km/h) in just 5.1 seconds. The car was equipped with a 6-speed manual gearbox, which contributed to its sporty and engaging driving experience. Lotus made several enhancements to the suspension and chassis to handle the increased power and improve handling, it also featured uprated brakes, stiffer springs, and recalibrated dampers compared to the standard Omega.
Visually, the Lotus Carlton was discreet and understated, with subtle design cues hinting at its high-performance nature. It featured wider wheel arches to accommodate larger wheels and tires, but otherwise maintained a relatively low-key appearance.
Production of the Lotus Carlton was limited, with only 950 units built between 1990 and 1992 of which only around 182 are believed to remain in the UK today. Each car was hand-assembled by Lotus at its facility in Hethel, Norfolk, UK.
It is often regarded as one of the most iconic and influential performance sedans of its era. It demonstrated that a large executive car could offer supercar-rivalling performance without sacrificing practicality.
Due to its rarity and cult status, the Lotus Carlton has become a sought-after collector's car. Well-preserved examples such as this car command high prices in the classic car market and make a great investment opportunity.
The Lotus Carlton remains a standout model in automotive history, showcasing the capabilities of both Lotus Cars and the engineering prowess of GM's European divisions.
THIS CAR
A wonderful low mileage example with just two previous owners that comes with a Lotus Certificate of vehicle Provenance and presented in stunning condition.
The bodywork of this Carlton is in superb order in original Imperial Green colour. The rubber seals, body trims and badges are all in great shape, and it retains the correct squared-off twin exhaust tailpipes. It sits on the original 17-inch five-spoke Ronal alloy wheels, which present very well. The upholstery is all the original Connolly leather that was fitted at the Lotus factory and in excellent order.
Just had Major Service
Original Leather book pack
2 Previous Owners
Date of first Registration 30-08-1991
