Lotus Carlton and Omega for sale
2 cars in stock right now, inspected in the European country where they are located, priced landed at a US port with the import paperwork done.
The Lotus Carlton (UK) and Lotus Omega (Europe) are the same car: an Opel Omega sedan rebuilt by Lotus with a stretched 3.6-litre straight six, two Garrett turbos, 377 hp and a ZF six-speed from the Corvette ZR-1. It ran to 177 mph, which made it the fastest four-door in the world and provoked a genuine campaign in the British press and Parliament to have it banned. 950 were built. None was sold in the United States.
Why Americans want it
It is the original super-sedan, faster than almost anything on sale in 1990, and it is now a blue-chip collectible that Americans have never had access to. The Imperial Green paint is the only colour it came in, and everybody who knows the car knows that.
What the US never got
- The car, in either name. Lotus Carlton for right-hand-drive UK cars, Lotus Omega for left-hand-drive European ones.
- The 3.6 twin-turbo and the ZF six-speed in this chassis.
Eligible years (25-year rule)
Every one is eligible now. Production ran 1990–1992.
What to look for
- Provenance: with 950 cars built, every chassis is traceable. Buy one with its history and its Lotus build records.
- Left-hand drive: the Lotus Omega is the left-hand-drive version and is the sensible choice for American use. Carltons are right-hand drive.
- Engine: the turbos and the bespoke cooling. Parts are Lotus-specific and some are made in batches by specialists.
- Interior: the Connolly leather and the Lotus-specific trim are expensive to restore.
- Rust: Omega sills, rear arches and the subframe mounts.
- Replicas: Omega 3000s dressed as Lotus cars exist. Check the chassis number against the Lotus register.
Typical landed price
Europe: roughly €94,500–€105,000 for documented cars. Landed at Newark or Baltimore with duty at the rate in effect on entry: roughly $145,500–$161,000.
Registration notes
- California: built after 1967, gasoline; CARB lab certification applies, not guaranteed.
- Fuel: gasoline.
- Title: 17-character VIN. US title from Salvage Motors LLC; a US decoder will not return an Opel, so the DMV works from the CBP package.
Our take
The left-hand-drive Lotus Omega is the one to import, and the register check is the whole inspection. At this price, a car without documented provenance is not a bargain, it is a different car.
FAQ
Was the Lotus Carlton sold in the United States?
No. It was sold in the UK as the Lotus Carlton and in continental Europe as the Lotus Omega, and never federalised for America.
What is the difference between the Carlton and the Omega?
Only the badge and the steering wheel side: Carlton for right-hand-drive UK cars, Omega for left-hand-drive European ones. Mechanically they are identical.
How fast is it?
177 mph, from a 3.6-litre twin-turbocharged straight six of 377 hp with a six-speed ZF gearbox — the fastest production sedan in the world when it was launched.