Who are SLOC ?

Welcome to the Sunbeam Lotus Owners' Club, which was formed in 1991 with the objective of bringing together owners and enthusiasts of the Talbot Sunbeam Lotus, and to promote and publicise these limited-production road versions of the cars that won the 1981 World Rally Championship.

We are the only independent organisation catering solely for the Sunbeam Lotus, and the cars therefore receive our undivided efforts and loyalty. As a part of membership we are able to provide written valuations on cars for agreed value insurance schemes, plus an extensive calendar of social events, including local area meetings, attendance at the major classic car shows as well as track and sprint test days. Technical advice and assistance, and help with finding spare parts, is also available at the end of a phone, through email, or by post, and in addition, we do from time to time source, or have re-manufactured, some spare parts or associated items of interest, and these are advertised for sale exclusively to members (normally at cost price plus postage). These currently include radiator hoses, stripes, sales brochures, homologation papers, Talbot rally videos and scale model kits.

The Sunbeam Lotus Owners' Club is recognised by the Motor Sports Association ("the MSA"); we are also members of the Association of Rootes Car Clubs and the Association of West Midlands Car Clubs. This ensures that SLOC members are invited to, and can participate in, all events organised or attended by these long-standing and active organisations. Members can also benefit from reduced membership rates for the AA breakdown service.

Our club magazine, OppoSite LOC, is published quarterly, and is posted free to all members. The club is organised and managed by a group of enthusiastic volunteers who, whilst running things entirely in their spare time, nevertheless try to provide a service equal to the highest professional standards.

Until his death in 1999, the Honorary Club President was Des O'Dell (former Talbot Competitions Director and inspiration for the Sunbeam Lotus), and our Honorary Vice-President is Paul White, who was the Talbot Team Manager and winning co-driver on the 1980 Lombard-RAC Rally.

The Sunbeam Lotus Owners' Club has recently become a fully incorporated limited company entitled "The Sunbeam Lotus Owners' Club Limited", and this ensures that all members are fully protected from any liabilities that the club may incur as part of its day-to-day business.

Single Membership is available to both owners and enthusiasts at the realistic rate of £20 per annum. Joint Membership also costs £20, & is available where another in the Member’s family, bona fide partners, or friends living at a single address wants to join SLOC. Joint Membership also enables both Members to enter motor sport competitions as individuals. A discount of £2 for both single and joint membership is applied where the member agrees to pay by standing order. Also, Family Membership is available at a cost of £25, and in addition to the other benefits of membership, all family members will receive individual membership cards. We welcome all conditions of car, from restoration projects to every-day workhorses, weekend 'fun' cars, concours winners, sprint/hill climb/race/rally versions and ex-works rally cars.

If you are interested in joining, then please send a stamped (41p in UK) A5-sized self-addressed envelope to the address below for our information pack, or email membership with any questions.

Yours sincerely,

Dave Merlane,

SLOC Membership Secretary, 7 Church Road, Maulden, BEDFORD, MK45 2AU, United Kingdom.