Just Bought a 1981 Lotus Eclair...

[HARPO]

Well, this bike has to be one of the cleanest I've ever bought on Craigslist. The person I bought it from got it an an estate sale, and he said that this was pretty much the condition it was in. All he did, he said, was wipe it down! Lucky me it was my size frame.

I took my usual quick photos just as a record as I do when I bring a bike home. Tomorrow I'll do my usual polishing and waxing, and if it doesn't rain, a quick ride.

Let me know what you guys think! So far I'm thrilled...

 

[HARPO]

A few more...

 

[bulldog1935]

Very nice photoset.
you need to spend some time on this website - http://www.vintagelotusbicycles.com/
and maybe this one - http://bikeretrogrouch.blogspot.com/2014/01/classic-tubes-tange-and-ishiwata.html


Shimano 600 is a sweetheart, especially the FD - my favorite FD of all time.
they designed lift into the cage, which makes them work extremely well with a cyclotouriste triple
The long cage RD you have there is also fairly rare and desirable - every bit as good as a Campy Rally.
In the Shimano line-up, 600 became Ultegra.

 

[HARPO]

I actually have a new Shimano 600 Arabesque FD still in the box I bought years ago, along with new 600 brake levers and hoods. Hmmm...time to go through my "new" parts container that I haven't been in in a while.:eek:

Oh, I took the bike for a spin just up and down the block to see how it felt. Besides needing to raise the saddle, it felt very smooth! And to think I hesitated on buying it.

@bulldog1935 thanks for the links!

 

[bulldog1935]

View attachment 816448 ]

just noticed something in addition to my chosen FD your Lotus shares with my '74 International - they were originally sold by the same bike shop

since you have such a good shot of the graphic, you might want to update this thread - https://thecabe.com/forum/threads/bicycle-shop-stickers.127044/#post-852927
the bike shop, Landry's, has been in business since 1922.

 

[HARPO]

@bulldog1935 I just posted it.
And what are the odds that the bikes we have wound up in Texas and Long Island that were purchased in Mass.?! Crazy! Small world and getting smaller...

 

[HARPO]

And some more before shots...

 

[HARPO]

Am I one of the only ones who shoots his bikes NOT in front of a white garage door? Of course I have one, but I like a bit of "texture" in my photos. Art Director in me, I guess... I know @bulldog1935 doesn't either.

 

[harpon]

Am I one of the only ones who shoots his bikes NOT in front of a white garage door? Of course I have one, but I like a bit of "texture" in my photos. Art Director in me, I guess... I know @bulldog1935 doesn't either.

nope.

Yeah that original issue Shimano 600 arabesque- NICE! I remember when it first came out

 

[HARPO]

I just noticed something missing from the bike...water bottle mounts!!! What the heck were they thinking back then?? I'm not attaching an after-market cage on this beautiful paint (even if I put something under it), so this bike will be relegated to shorter rides.