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Hi Neil, fantastic! I really enjoyed this video, and I want to compliment you on your excellent riding skills. I was impressed by how smoothly you take corners and handle the hairpins, as well as by the precision and consistency with which you apply countersteering input to initiate the turns. Your choice of lines and, not least, the way you shift gears-smooth yet quick and dynamic-are remarkable. Most people riding a Hayabusa on mountain roads tend to stick to just a couple of gears, rarely going beyond third, but you’ve demonstrated how effectively one can ride even while short-shifting. If you’re wondering why all these compliments, here’s the reason: I’ve been riding a Honda CB1300 for many years, and I absolutely love it, but I also have a deep passion for the Hayabusa, which I’ve never owned (I hope i will someday). I’m always looking for new content about the Hayabusa, and I absolutely love videos like this one (unfortunately rare), where the bike is ridden properly on mountain roads with the engine sound in the background. The only downside is that we don’t get to see your cockpit. Thank you, and again, congratulations! Greetings from Italy.

The "felt" is supposed to match the footwell carpets, including the carpet on the removable kick panels - but it's your car to do with as you wish (as long as you don't end up scrapping it!) Nice job on the centre.

Going well

Good job. I am inspired yet again. From Oz

Looking good. You are doing a great job

Thanks Neil. 👍 Nice to see her coming along very nicely 👌

For more watchers, I would drop a link to the fist episode on Pistonheads with some nice text to introduce the passageway of your Lotus journey. You now have an excellent story on RUclips and I am sure many watchers will come from Pistonheads.

With your door catch bolt at point 16:22 - you must waggle it and not just turn it. Waggle means up down up down very little amount before moving a small amount, then waggle again, applying releasing fluid when you can. This waggle allows bolt to clean before moving and is very important, so clean move clean move. Don't just move it out only one way, waggle, waggle, waggle. This is 44 years of working on old car experience talking........

I even show your videos to my wife as they are scenic and beautiful at the moment, obviously I love the car bits being a car mechanic for hobby whilst being computer engineer for work(42 years).

Your videos are great, speak to "Number 27" as has done very well and we love him. Also speak to High Peak Autos as I always watch his videos.

Brilliant vidio and excellent travel guide you really needs 1000's of views and followers

Hi mate, good job, I’ve got a couple of early Excels and the wiper motors are in the passenger footwell so it was interesting to see the SE set up. I was looking at your rear suspension video, and was suspicious that you might have put front springs on the back? Cheers Colin

My wipers had the opposite problem - they would (occasionally) not work at all on intermittent and slow, but would always work fine on fast. Turned out to be a loose-ish connection between the motor and the wiring harness. Much easier to fix if the dash happens to be out!

Legend has it that the Excel production line started with the wiper motor, then the rest of the car was built around it.

Well done. You are an inspiration

nice work Neil!

I forgot to mention that big rubber washer - if that doesn't make a *really* good seal, water gets into the interior AND into the wheelbox - causing it to rust and seize at the worst possible time (DAMHIKIJKOK?) Worth replacing and probably aiding with some silicone sealant.

Thanks Neil - great to see work on the Lotus coming along so well 😉

Great stuff, Neil. Keep them videos coming 😊

You mentioned the screws at either end of the main dash panel (which were missing), which should be hidden by the carpeted trim panels. You should also have had a single screw in the centre, near the front edge, hidden under a black plastic dome - was that present on your car?

I tried to add a link to my instructions, but I guess it's being blocked because it contains a web address? Anyway, if anyone else would find this useful, search for The Lotus Grand Tourers forum, and in there search for Excel (85-on) Dashboard Removal / Replacement.

Thanks for the shout out Neil - glad to see my notes being some use! Even if they are just used once, that makes the effort of writing them up worthwhile.

In my experience tension really makes a difference to how the finished product looks. I’ve always used high temp spray contact adhesive to give an instant high strength bond so that you can give it a bit of oomph to stretch the leatherette or other materials. Was the material you used rated for use in cars?

You are also a brave man! Im still yet to take a dash out.... great to see the progress :)

Thanks Neil. Great video again 😊

Surly you would have been better off cleaning repainting any of the decent leather trim left

Looks great, you can’t beat the feeling of doing something yourself

Neil, it's looking great. Keep up the excellent work. I'm looking forward to seeing another trip with it.

Great job Neil. Can't wait to see her all done 😊

Thanks a lot for this series - helps me to consider if I want to buy an Excel. I guess even if I buy a better donor car in the end it will be a full restoration anyway !! I would be very interested to learn more about the time and money you invested in this project !! All the best !

Excellent, well done. I’m doing a full restoration on a 1984 excel, it’s taking forever

If you need to get new bulbs for the interior lights, I'd strongly recommend LEDs. Brighter, more reliable, draw less current, and they are not expensive. I've been working gradually round and now replaced almost all bulbs with LEDs, other than front headlights and fog lights.

well done Neil, that looks spectacular!

Looks fantastic Neil !!

Good seamstress work mate, who would have known you had those skills!

Very well done

Nice work Neil. Top job!

Thanks for putting these videos together, they're really helping me with mine.

Great work Neil - and thanks for the mention! (I'm famous, whoop, whoop!) :) Rhyd

This is great, you're a braver man than me! I hope you manage to get the results you're after.

Patients of a Saint. I snapped a stud on my 87 SE and my world melted.. Great video ❤

Wow. I thought TVR parts were expensive! Thanks for sharing. It’s good to know how other classic marques are supported and that looks like a great company.

Hi Neil great job with the car. You have taken on some serious jobs with it. I have ran and 1986 se for the last 31 years. Fantastic car. Only comment did you use 20w50 oil because the climate your living in or was it recommended.

At the top of the rear seat backrest there SHOULD be three strips of metal that poke through holes into the boot space, and are then twisted 90 deg to hold the backrest in place. It looks in your vid (4:08) that these strips have been folded forward and so are not doing their job.

Soak that rear bit of carpet with petrol or nail remover (acetone) to release the glue? Save you taking the rear window out? Epic work.

Veltrim - don't forget to look at this Neil too (as an alternative). Great video by the way.

It's nice to see the common technique between the Lotus models providing the same challenges. I've almost finished my restoration and back on the road so know what you still have to go. Good luck and enjoy it.

Great work Neil, I admire your courage and persistence! Looking forward to seeing how you tackle the rest of the interior!

Great video. I like your comment of ...proven to be a bit of a challenge... nothing is truly simple. Great job.

You have done very well The Police were unkind to say the least