81 Lotus Eclat Riviera S2.2 - Rare Limited Edition

1981 Lotus Eclat S2.2 Riviera

In 1981 Lotus introduced the Type 84, calledthe Lotus Éclat S 2.2 Riviera. This model, which was available for only twoyears, was derived from the S2 Eclat with a 2.2L 912 Lotus engine and Getrag5-speed gearbox and came from the factory with a removable roof panel, vinyltop, vented bonnet, a rear lip spoiler and distinct decals & stripes.Production totaled 223 units.

This example was manufactured in December 1981 for thedomestic UK market. It has the originalcolor Black exterior paint with Gold leather interior and was registered to itsfirst owner, a Lotus Manager, in January 1982. I have a certificate ofconformity, dated July 2, 2001, directly from the Lotus factory archivedepartment confirming that this vehicle was one of 69 Rivieras manufactured forthe UK market and that the color scheme, matching chassis, and engine numbersare all correct. Furthermore, data fromother sources indicates that only 13 of the 69 Rivieras built for the UK marketwere painted Black.

Like all Lotus cars, this has a full fiberglass body. It also has a galvanized chassis, which wasstandard on Lotus Éclat S2, starting in 1981.The 912 engine develops 160 BHP and is normally aspirated via (2)Dellorto DHLA45 carburetors and Lumenition electronic ignition.

Standard featuresincluded:

· Power steering & brakes

· Power windows

· Electric headlights (not vacuum like previous years)

· 14” Speedline aluminumwheels

VIN: SCC084912BND11075

Current Mileage:85,505 Imported to the US 10/28/2008 with 85,456 miles on theclock

The car comes with a clear Pennsylvania title, issued in2008 upon entry to the US.

I have a large vehicle history file that came with the car,logging all (6) previous UK owners’ names, mileage & service history, andoriginal owner’s manual. I also have a certificate of attendance for the vehicleentry at the Lotus 50th anniversary “Concours d’ Elegance” at theLotus factory September 12, 1998.

Mileage history:

1982-1985 (3 years): 36,400miles

1986-1990 (5years): 32,600 miles

1991-2000 (10 years): 15,000 miles

2001-2020 (20 years): 1,500 miles

Work completed recently:

· Cam belt & v-belts

· Coolant hoses, heaterhoses & vacuum lines

· Carbs rebuilt &carb flex mounts

· Spark plugs, wire, cap& rotor

· Thermostat, Otterswitch & coolant

· Re-cored radiator

· Electric fuel pump andfuel lines

· K&N air filter

· Oil & filter

· Power steering fluid

· Clutch & throw-outbearing

· Clutch cable

· Front & rear brakerebuilt

· Front suspension balljoints

· (4) Spax adjustabledampers

· Battery & cutoffswitch

· Cibie headlights (forUS roads)

· All wiring gremlinssorted

· Dynamat hood liner

· Wood-rimmed steeringwheel

· CD player

· Full bodybuff/polish/wax

· Work completed byprevious owners:

· Full engine rebuild –1988 @ 62,000 miles (per history file)

· Wipac EP10 Immobilizer- 1997

· Engine block refresh –2003 @ 83,000 miles (per history file)

Items missing or not original:

· Seats areLotus & leather, but appear to be from an ’86 Excel, not the original usedin an Eclat. They were in the Eclat whenI purchased it. However, they are morecomfortable.

· Steeringwheel is not original Lotus.

· AirConn compressor, dryer & coil were removed by a previous owner. However, original in-dash A/C-heater matrixand wiring harness for compressor are in place.

· Spare powdercoated Speedline wheel supplied, but no tire mounted.

Items not sorted:

Bodywork – Very good for a 39-year-old fiberglass car. Some panels (above trim line) appear repaintedin the UK by a previous owner. No respray record in history file & nooverspray evident. Must be from many years back, as single-stage paint (likeoriginal) was used. Below trim line appears to be original paint. Some crazing of the fiberglass, especially onthe bonnet and waxing has thinned the black paint on panel edges as can be seenin the photos.

Exhaust cam cover gasket weeps a bit onto the exhaustmanifold when in storage.

Tires will need replacing, as they are more than 10-yrsold.

This is an excellent & original example of a classic(and now rare) Lotus car built to UK specs from the early 1980’s. No previous body or chassis damage noted inthe history file or on the UK V5 (title).Never raced, no performance mods or upgrades. No crash bumpers, no emissions system or cats& no airbags. Just pure Lotus.

To my knowledge, neither the Eclat S2 nor the Rivieralimited edition were ever manufactured in a federal version for export to theUS and only a small number were built with LHD for the European market. According to the online UK DOT records for Q1 2020, there is only (1) ’82 Lotus Eclat S2 still licensed/taxed there.