30 replies to this topic

[mtooze]

Here are some pics of my new esprit. Came out of CA. Im the 3rd owner. 2nd owner bought it in '79, drove it a year, then stuck it in storage until 2008. 18k original miles. Its a California emissions federal (hence all the air injection crap on the cam cover). Pretty much bone stock "barn find" so to speak. I have wanted for may years and Im glad I waited for the right (unmolested) one to come along. I will be performing a light restoration to get it fresh but will keep original (or easy to convert back to original....see box of Dellorto 45s I have already got for it!). Engine cover,clip on cleaner, etc all off because ive been buggering around with it. Took if for a quick (very cold) spin around the block (its about -5 deg c here). Feels nice and light/tight with a nice smooth gear change.

You can see have been asking about interiors....CA sun is great for the chassis, but terrible for the interior. Original, but v faded, My orange carpet might be rescue-able.

Marcus

[Moxie]

In the words of Daffy Duck, "da-rool, da-rool." Nice!!!

[GavinS1]

Ah-ha, so that's where that car went. Great buy Marcus!. So, where in NE are you? I'm in Rapid City. I changed mine over to dellortos as soon as I got it too.

and you have another fine British automobile..the Landy!. I did a full ground up nut and bolt resto a few years back on one of those.

[Moxie]

Marcus,

Just curious--what's the chassis number?

- Matt

[GordonMasson]

Looks fantastic !! … Great colour too

Just a thought though, if the engine hasn’t been run for several years be very wary of running it before you change the cam belt. You wouldn’t want to end up with an 18k engine in bits.

[TAR]

That interior, although faded, looks brilliant. I would keep that original and unrestored!

[mtooze]

Yes thank you all...it was a nice find. I have been monitoring S1s maybe once a month for a few years....doing the occasional craigslist search and watching ebay. I happened to perform a US wide CL search just before xmas...found this on the morning of the 22nd Dec and bought it the next day sight unseen (apart from pics).

1. Im located in Lincoln, NE.
2. I have a bunch of other cars...some British, some more foreign (1972 TVR 2500, '65 Landy SW (in the pic), '07 Lambo, '07 911), just sold my '62 mini station wagon. I got airplanes and a helicopter too...if its shiny and aluminum (or steel or carbon fibre) I probably own it hahahaha.
3. Chassis number is 77020151H
4. The engine was checked by the LA Lotus dealer before it was started in 08....I have receipts for new belts, fuel system OH, etc etc....so the PO knew enough to have somebody professional coax it back to life. Im working on my TVR right now so ill get that done in next month before i goof with the esprit. I did just make a massive order of parts from SJ in England...new shocks, springs, various other pieces in readiness.
5. Interior: I'm quite torn....it IS original....but I also like a crisp fresh car....I wish it werent quite so faded. One thing I have toyed with is saving the tartan peices perhaps, and using new green....its the green thats faded the most.

Marcus

[LOTUSMAN33]

Great car Marcus

I wish UK cars were more like the US finds, we suffer so much corrosion.
The interior looks OK and the carpets should go again without problem, well worth the wait although would look better with UK bumpers.
I will keep you updated with the Tartan
Cheers
Dave

[GavinS1]

passed through Lincoln last Friday on my travels...

I purchased mine in more or less the same way. It was listed on ebay at 0900 and I hit the buy it now button by 0945 and got the plane ticket to collect it by 1000.

SJ's I think is still the best place to get stuff from. Even with the added cost of shipping things normally still come out cheaper and Steve has such a good stock of parts for the S1. TVR as well...your right up my street with your choice of cars. When the garage is big enough I hope to add another TVR to fill the space. I had a 280i before the S1. I would really like a 280i Coupe, not the most desired shape I know but I think it's cool.

Congrats again on your S1, looks like it's gone to a good home. Please keep posting updates on the car.

Edited by GavinS1, 17 January 2011 - 09:31 PM.

[b69lotus]

Your car is in great shape. I recently bought 76120108H and the interior is completely shot. It sat for 5 years in the "wet coast" envirvirment so there was some window leak issues as well. I'll post pics as it comes back together.

Jim

[mtooze]

Bumpers...yes, euro bumpers part of my parts order....the fed spec ones will go into dry storage with the smog equipment for the next owner in case they truly want it "original".

Gavin: Next time feel free to email and stop buy to check out the fleet. The TVR has been a bit bastardized....its got a ford 302 in it now...but its being treated to a new built "GT40" engine and a set of quad webers. Couldnt resist having those 8 trumpets when you open the hood. Oh and of course its hellacious scary to drive but TVRs were always meant to be a bit hairy. The lambo and 911 are pretty girly in comparison...all those computers and all wheel drive to stop you from killing yourself whereas the TVR just eggs you on and lets you sail right past the edge of grip without any warning whatsoever.

[Moxie]

One thing I have toyed with is saving the tartan peices perhaps, and using new green....its the green thats faded the most.

Check out Sunbrella. Tony K has the specifics, but they make a fabric that's very close to the original green.

[GavinS1]

Gavin: Next time feel free to email and stop buy to check out the fleet.

your on...perhaps in the summer so I can drive my S1 down from Rapid.

[77 esprit]

Hi Marcus,

Congratulations on your purchase! The car looks great! My S1 is also essentially original. Bought mine in July of 1977.

Before my first Lotus, I owned a '71 TVR Tuscan. The car was built to be Trevor's personal car. It was delivered here in the States with a blueprinted Boss 302! My understanding was it was the prototype Tuscan and did not have the "Griffith" stubby appearance. Later Tuscan's looked essentially like mine. Traded it for a JPS Europa in '74. The TVR was featured in an Escape Road article in Autoweek during the early ninties. They had my name correct but the wrong information regarding color and delivery. Fastest car I ever owned! Used to look for Hemi Plymouths and Dodges. Super Birds if I remember correctly. They would always try. I would always win! If I remember correctly, 400 bhp in a 1400 lb car. Just don't ask it to stop!

Moxie saw my car at LOG XXX. Suggested I have my interior replaced. Mine is faded pretty much the same as yours. My drivers seat has two rips in the green cloth. "Lotus" mechanic forgot to remove a screw driver from his back pocket. Not once, but twice! They still expected me to play the repair bill. Lots of luck with that one. Does your speedometer work? Was going to attach a photo. Only have one with my "Summer" driving kit in place. Wheels, tires, steering wheel and mirrors. Much easier to drive fast!

Before you run the car, be sure the nylon tee between the carb's has been changed. Number one cause of S1 engine fires! Also have the fuel hoses changed to modern high pressure FI hoses. The ethanol in modern gasoline will rot the original hoses from the inside out. You will never see the damage till they start leaking fuel. Might be too late by then.

Lyn

[Moxie]

Moxie saw my car at LOG XXX. Suggested I have my interior replaced...
Lyn

Holy smoke! Who let this guy in here?! Did Bibs help you out or did you finally hack your way back in?

Legendary S1 men at work (Lyn and Tony K putting on proper wheels at LOG 30...


Lyn, Should I also post that "other" photo from the way home?

Marcus, you might want to contact Bob Fogle about his red S1 (116H) too because you, Lyn, and he have interiors in similar shape. I was a much younger and impulsive man back at LOG 30. Today I'm not sure I'd recommend having the interior redone. It/they have a vibe that can't be beat.

- Matt

Edited by Moxie, 21 January 2011 - 04:38 PM.

[mtooze]

Wow a real Tuscan (prototype even). That would be fun.

Re: interior
Im stock piling parts I know I will need (new shocks, springs, etc) when i go thru it (just placed a $2500 order with SJ). The plan is to get my TVR off the lift in the next few weeks, then stick the lotus on it and give it a really good look over (yep....brass fuel Ts and new fuel lines probably the order of the day) and properly check the flex brake lines for interior deteriation, and general lube. The only thing I will be doing for the summer other than giving the interior a damn good clean, polshing exterior out, will be putting the Dellortos on it and retuning the engine to english specs (cam retime,dizzy spring change, etc). Otherwise I plan to enjoy as is for at least this summer before taking anything apart. And then I will make the interior decision.

Yes my speedo works. I think you had said to Matt that maybe it looked like it had been worked on. I dont know until I take it out....the rest of the car (pedal pads, seat wear, etc) generally agrees with a low mileage....just might not be the 18k indicated but thats OK. Also, the proper orange carpet is there...hidden by Pep Boys mats!!

THanks for all the comments guys!

Ill post more shots from underneath etc when i get it on my lift.

Marcus

[Tony K]

Excellent buy, Marcus! We were all watching that car -- I gave it serious consideration, but needed the money for something else.

Let me stress how RARE all-original S1s with interiors that are not torn are. Most of them are faded, and it is normal for the green to be worse than the tartan. It's kind of an accepted thing for it to be faded, as they did so early and often. I'd be willing to bet that the total number of S1s as original and nice as yours is a two-digit number. It's only original once, so do think twice before you restore.

You all need to talk to Scott Walker. He makes a strong case for keeping his all original S1 all original.

But if you are going to have it redone, we are very fortunate to have the services of Nick Fulcher available. Having your interior trimmed by Nick is akin to having Antonio Stradivari build you a violin. I'd argue that whether the interior was made in 1977 vs. 2011 doesn't matter as much as whether it was done by the original himself vs. some random trim shop.

With that said, if I were to redo an S1 interior, there are plenty to choose from that are already torn or non-original. Let me put this out to all of you: If anyone has a faded but otherwise decent tartan interior that they itching to reupholster, I have an entire interior that was once tartan but now is old blue velour, and I'm ready to deal.

Cheers,

Tony

[77 esprit]

Marcus,

Here's a photo of my S1 at LOG last year.

Tony is correct. It will only be original once. Unfortunately mine has a drivers seat ripped in two spots. My "Lotus" mechanic forgot to remove the screw driver from his rear pocket. Twice!

Looking forward to meeting you, Perhaps at LOG in Vegas.

Lyn

Attached Images

• 

[Tony K]

Lyn's car: Rich with patina; perfect in every way! There's just something so right about it that no restoration could reproduce.

[Moxie]

Marcus,

Four crappy photos of one absolutely flawless interior by Nick attached. Even so, Tony's right. Think hard about this. For my car, it's a no-brainer since the whole car's being completely restored, chassis-up, but if you're not going that way it may seem incongruous to have a museum quality interior that doesn't match the exterior. Just my 2. Personally, I think I'd keep yours and drive it until it's frayed and gone and then have Nick re-do it.

- Matt

Attached Images

• 
• 
• 
• 

Edited by Moxie, 26 January 2011 - 06:20 AM.