Bibs Posted May 6, 2020 Report Share Posted May 6, 2020 https://www.markdonaldson.com/car/1981-lotus-esprit-series-3-turbo-dry-sump-ex-chapman-thatcher/ I remember seeing this a few times at the Donington show, what a special car it would be to own. 1 1 Quote 88 Esprit NA, 89 Esprit Turbo SE, Evora, Evora S, Evora IPS, Evora S IPS, Evora S IPS SR, Evora 400, Elise S1, Elise S1 111s, Evora GT410 Sport Evora NA For forum issues, please contact the Moderators. I will aim to respond to emails/PM's Mon-Fri 9-6 GMT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advantage Posted May 7, 2020 Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 It seems lots of people have owned it but not many of them appeared to drive it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramjet Posted May 7, 2020 Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 Does have a bit of provenance, doesn't it. Quote All we know is that when they stop making this, we will be properly, properly sad.Jeremy Clarkson on the Esprit. Opinions are like armpits. Everyone has them, some just stink more than others. For forum issues, please contact one of us Moderators. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lex Templar Posted May 7, 2020 Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 yes a bit chit chat about this in the dry sump register thread. Looks lovely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOTUSMAN33 Posted May 7, 2020 Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 Some very good marketing with a great description which really pulls in perspective buyers. Certainly a lovely car although personally I would prefer it had Comps but then this was Colin’s car so the latest options were inevitable. Anyone asked a price yet? Dave Quote Do or do not, there is no try! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KAS-118 Posted May 7, 2020 Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 It does look very nice - but with all the effort they've put into the write-up I have the feeling its going to be ££££££££...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lex Templar Posted May 7, 2020 Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 9 minutes ago, LOTUSMAN33 said: Some very good marketing with a great description which really pulls in perspective buyers. Certainly a lovely car although personally I would prefer it had Comps but then this was Colin’s car so the latest options were inevitable. Anyone asked a price yet? Dave Yeah I've talked to Mark, it's around 100,000 pounds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOTUSMAN33 Posted May 7, 2020 Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 Wow didn’t expect that price Lex, good luck to them but can’t help feeling if it sells that mileage won’t be increasing as destined for some private collection somewhere. 🙄 Dave Quote Do or do not, there is no try! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
910Esprit Posted May 7, 2020 Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 36 minutes ago, LOTUSMAN33 said: Some very good marketing with a great description which really pulls in perspective buyers. I like the fact that the dealer is honest enough to describe a repaint as a 'blow over'! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lex Templar Posted May 7, 2020 Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 Article here in motorsport mag. Price in the headline too https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/auctions/colin-chapmans-personal-lotus-esprit-up-for-sale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pits Posted May 7, 2020 Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 Gone up since 2018 then. I could have had it for £85k then. Nearly all other classics have fallen since then so boldly priced. Really belongs in a Lotus heritage museum, amazed they haven’t snapped it up given they are planning one. Probably should be worth £100k but the number of people who really appreciate its value is small and not particularly wealthy. Not many Lotus collections out there, more’s the pity, but this would be pride of place in one. If I had the means I’d jump on it but under current circumstances I’d have to sell my own dry sump plus Evora to stretch to it, so will have to let it go. Bet he’d take £85k for it, or will do in a few weeks. Prob won’t let it go for less than £80k though would be my guess. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Bibs Posted May 7, 2020 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 1 hour ago, The Pits said: Really belongs in a Lotus heritage museum That's a cracking idea, would be ace to be back where it belongs! 5 1 Quote 88 Esprit NA, 89 Esprit Turbo SE, Evora, Evora S, Evora IPS, Evora S IPS, Evora S IPS SR, Evora 400, Elise S1, Elise S1 111s, Evora GT410 Sport Evora NA For forum issues, please contact the Moderators. I will aim to respond to emails/PM's Mon-Fri 9-6 GMT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowrx Posted May 7, 2020 Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 A stand out example of repairs-per-mile, even for an Esprit. An engine overhaul at 6,700 miles- ouch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nello Posted May 8, 2020 Report Share Posted May 8, 2020 Meaning no disrespect here but wasn't there some conjecture a while ago about how much he actually used this car? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pits Posted May 8, 2020 Report Share Posted May 8, 2020 It would be enough for me even if he only drove it once! Does it really matter if he only put 1000 miles on it? Is it really any better if he put 3000 miles on it? The early engine overhaul suggests he enjoyed it to the full! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephenwhyte Posted May 8, 2020 Report Share Posted May 8, 2020 The reason to buy this is down to the provenance of it once being CC’s car and the fact he made some improvements over a standard Turbo Esprit. But the target audience is a small one so realising the target price before these current times is ambitious.....now it’s rather unlikely😬 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbclotus Posted May 10, 2020 Report Share Posted May 10, 2020 Stunning car .But every esprit built are stunning as well .nice colour scheme .my old dry sump car was 62 I think with bbs wheels from new .i think this car is just in front of mine .... Again with bbs .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nello Posted May 11, 2020 Report Share Posted May 11, 2020 Has anyone ever actually seen a photo with Colin driving or sat in an Esprit? The one where he is just about to get in to the Silver car with Giugiaro is about the closest I think I've seen!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOTUSMAN33 Posted May 11, 2020 Report Share Posted May 11, 2020 Doesn’t really count as motorshow pic but Neils right he seems rather elusive.. Dave 2 Quote Do or do not, there is no try! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pits Posted May 11, 2020 Report Share Posted May 11, 2020 You have to say the garage is doing a good job of promoting the sale. It's being picked up by a variety of car content websites. Publicity will help a lot with the sale I'm sure. Even though I still think Lotus should have it in their heritage museum. In terms of provenance, regardless of how many miles ACBC actually drove in the car, what is more significant for me are the modifications he was trying out. It suggests some things that may have appeared on the Esprit had he lived. We know about the power steering and different door seals but who knows what other tweaks he had made to the suspension and whatever else? TLF group buy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post nello Posted May 11, 2020 Popular Post Report Share Posted May 11, 2020 (edited) Good spot Dave! Is that Giampaolo Dallara in the car with him? Yes I know he liked the Elite/Eclat/Excel - seems to have liked his comfort as other than those he only seems to have ever driven around in his Rangey or Merc.............. Dallara was a big fan of Colin's - when news released of the new Dallara Stradale he was quoted - "Dallara said the Stradale evokes the spirit of Lotus sports cars built under Chapman, whose work he started admiring when the UK niche automaker began building the Lotus Seven lightweight roadster. "I like to think that Colin Chapman, if he was still around, would appreciate the essentiality and simplicity of this car," Dallara said." Apols if veering slightly off-track but I love this photo - LtoR - Paolo Stanzani the Lamborghini engineer - ACBC - Dallara then Lambo's chassis Guru and Jim Clark (and unidentified hidden behind Jim). They are checking over the all new Miura at Sant d'Agata. l Edited May 11, 2020 by nello 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pits Posted May 11, 2020 Report Share Posted May 11, 2020 Stanzani "As you can see we didn't give a rat's ass about luggage space." Jim Clark is still thinking about the transverse V12... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonwat Posted May 14, 2020 Report Share Posted May 14, 2020 Now in TopGear Quote Cheers, John W http://jonwatkins.co.uk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM skiing Posted May 14, 2020 Gold FFM Report Share Posted May 14, 2020 Does anyone have any details about the aerodynamic enhancements made to the car? 'redesigned bodywork to improve interior ventilation and cut wind noise.' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazza 907 Posted May 14, 2020 Report Share Posted May 14, 2020 Henry As I recall from seeing it 10 years or so ago it was the B pillar which in the pictures is silver/body colour rather than the usual black - I think it's flush with the door frames Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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