Take that stupid grin off you face ! It's difficult I know. I'm still grinning after 4 years.

Join The Autobahnstormers Car Club. 30+ other owners will be able to give you more help, views, suggestions and opinions  than I ever could.

Get a new MOT - this is the cheapest way of getting the shock absorbers, exhaust pipes, tyres and brake efficiency tested.

Take it straight round the nearest approved Lotus Carlton dealer, and have a complete service - oils, water, antifreeze, brake fluid, gearbox oil, rear diff oil, power steering fluid, charge cooler impeller, fuel filter, spark plugs - the lot. You may have a full service history, but its cheaper to get these things done now than after you find out that the service history book is the biggest work of fiction since the railway timetable.

Don't delay in getting any mechanical defects sorted out. Some spare parts are getting very difficult to find, and things won't get any better. Something that may be available today might not be available tomorrow, so don't delay.

The most expensive failure known to mankind (at least those who own Lotus Carltons) is when the engine timing chain snaps. See Timing Chain Breakage for more information on this. Consider performing a preventative timing chain change, no matter how many miles your car has covered. My car survived 73K miles before it went, but others have had it go in as little as 20K miles. Have a word with Ian Marsh of  The Autobahnstormers regarding his replacement chains.

Take a long, hard look at your driving license, and decide how much you like it, because if you aren't very careful, this could be the last time you see it this close. The next time you see it, it could have a Welsh accent.