jtmco

Has no one else experienced this? Or did you just ignore it?

He has an Esprit (looks a lot like mine!) and he just talks about Ferraris!

I don’t consider myself tall (5’10” before I lost my hair), but while sitting in the driver’s seat of my S1, I cannot see the dashboard warning lights including the turn signal indicator. I even thought that the TOP TRIM for INSTRUMENT PANEL (or Instrument Panel Finisher) (A079U4347K) was some crazy addition by the previous owner (until I popped it off the light mounts and realized how it was attached). The lights have not been working but the instrument illumination is working Do others have this problem? Does everyone ignore it? Is my binnacle tilted down too far in front (I’ve not tried to move that). Am I just exceptionally tall from the waist up (ok - my inseam is only 28”-29”) Has anyone who had this problem tried to resolve it? I can probably just hide the wires under the trim and my car is already non-original enough (replacement engine, plumbed-in fire extinguisher, future cockpit radio) such that removing this is not a big deal (plus, it is off already!) but I wanted to see what the consensus is Thanks in advance for the feedback Jim

Is there a tow bar on the back of the 2CV? Looks like you are pulling the Esprit.

On the UK models, is the hatch release spring on the right side (UK driver’s side) of the rear latch? These two holes look to be on the wrong side, but on my car, the top of the spring bolt was hitting the vinyl on the inside of the hatch so I added a thin metal plate. I put the plate under the striker and used the main bolts that hold the striker, but one could have screwed a plate in there. Just a thought. As I said, I think these are on the wrong side.

I wanted to circle back and close this thread. As a reminder, my brakes were soft but I had a hard pedal when I bled them. I had the master cylinder sleeved and rebuilt and the brakes are now good. Turns out that the simple, obvious answer was the right one. I probably should rebuild the calipers. That will happen in time. Thanks to everyone for their help. Jim

Thank you gentlemen. OEM it is. Jim

I was under my S1 today and I discovered that one bolt that holds the anti-roll bar to the lower wishbone is missing and the other is loose (dreaded previous owner!). I’ve only gone around the block twice so I haven’t been in danger! I think the bushings should be replaced while I’m putting in the bolts. I don’t plan to replace the other bushings unless I find more problems What is the experience of those on the forum on rubber vs polyurethane. The car will just be driven on the road and as noted, I’m only planning to change the anti-roll bar bushings is the OEM rubber sufficient or should I use polyurethane. Will the polyurethane give better steering? I would appreciate anyone’s insight Jim

See my response to your post in the brake section

Just had my Esprit S1 Master Cylinder sleeved and rebuilt by White Post Restorations in Virginia, USA. I had a rebuild kit from SJ, but it turned out to be wrong. Apparently, there is an early and late version of the master cylinder. Mine had 2 white plastic washers at the opening .White Post ordered another kit from JAE in California and it worked.

Others will know better than I but I don’t think leather was available until the S2. I believe that most of the seats were either the tartan fabric or the brownish “mouse fur” (marcssite). Both were hard to get and people wanted an “upgrade” so they had the seats re-covered in leather. That is what the previous owner did in my car. For a while, at least, there was at least on supplier in the UK trimming seats in the tartan. And I’ve seen references to a “good match” on the marcasite. If you search this forum long enough, you will find some of the various approaches that have been taken. If you are trying to return your car to truly original, you can try to match the original. If you want a comfortable driver, have a custom upholstery shop redo your seats in leather.

You may find S2 spare wheels if you want something less expensive or temporary.

I just learned that my throttle cable is installed backwards! Yet another thing that the previous owner (or his hired hand) did incorrectly. I will probably leave it since it works but should it fail, I may change it around.

Paul, I am blown away by your attention to detail. You are inspiring me. I also chuckled when I saw your lawnmower and your golf bag pull cart in amongst the Lotus parts. It could be my garage! Is the garage big enough for the other S1 and the E-type or are they kept elsewhere? Jim

Some things are a bit odd to me. The license plates are Virginia antique plates (I have the same), but he got the car in North Carolina (adjacent state so maybe the PO worked in VA and got his plates there?) but the listing says Dallas, Texas. The engine cover looks homemade. Of course, the wheels are not original. And the seller says they the buyer can get the car started in a day - maybe less - but has not checked the timing belt or tried to start it himself? Maybe it is a great deal or maybe there is something fishy going on.