Bibs 10,579 Posted May 6 Report Share Posted May 6 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 post Share on other sites
Advantage 910 Posted May 7 Report Share Posted May 7 It seems lots of people have owned it but not many of them appeared to drive it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ramjet 1,068 Posted May 7 Report Share Posted May 7 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. Link to post Share on other sites
Lex Templar 205 Posted May 7 Report Share Posted May 7 yes a bit chit chat about this in the dry sump register thread. Looks lovely. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LOTUSMAN33 1,120 Posted May 7 Report Share Posted May 7 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 post Share on other sites
KAS-118 229 Posted May 7 Report Share Posted May 7 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 post Share on other sites
Lex Templar 205 Posted May 7 Report Share Posted May 7 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 post Share on other sites
LOTUSMAN33 1,120 Posted May 7 Report Share Posted May 7 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 post Share on other sites
910Esprit 483 Posted May 7 Report Share Posted May 7 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 post Share on other sites
Buddsy 1,554 Posted May 7 Report Share Posted May 7 I love that colour combo of the interior & exterior. £100K is a lot but how often does a car belonging to Chapman come up? Really good Turbos have sold over £40k How much have S1's sold for they were being advertised for £100k a few years back. The active suspension car wasnt that at £150K? Its a lot of money...more than I could spend by about £99K But if you want something nice with history like this its going to cost. buddsy Quote "Belief is the enemy of knowing" - Crrow777 Link to post Share on other sites
Lex Templar 205 Posted May 7 Report Share Posted May 7 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 post Share on other sites
The Pits 4,405 Posted May 7 Report Share Posted May 7 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 post Share on other sites
Popular Post Bibs 10,579 Posted May 7 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted May 7 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 post Share on other sites
snowrx 127 Posted May 7 Report Share Posted May 7 A stand out example of repairs-per-mile, even for an Esprit. An engine overhaul at 6,700 miles- ouch! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nello 333 Posted May 8 Report Share Posted May 8 Meaning no disrespect here but wasn't there some conjecture a while ago about how much he actually used this car? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The Pits 4,405 Posted May 8 Report Share Posted May 8 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 post Share on other sites
stephenwhyte 1,781 Posted May 8 Report Share Posted May 8 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 post Share on other sites
cbclotus 521 Posted May 10 Report Share Posted May 10 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 post Share on other sites
nello 333 Posted May 11 Report Share Posted May 11 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 post Share on other sites
LOTUSMAN33 1,120 Posted May 11 Report Share Posted May 11 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 post Share on other sites
The Pits 4,405 Posted May 11 Report Share Posted May 11 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 post Share on other sites
Popular Post nello 333 Posted May 11 Popular Post Report Share Posted May 11 (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 by nello 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The Pits 4,405 Posted May 11 Report Share Posted May 11 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 post Share on other sites
jonwat 344 Posted May 14 Report Share Posted May 14 Now in TopGear Quote Cheers, John W http://jonwatkins.co.uk Link to post Share on other sites
Gold FFM skiing 95 Posted May 14 Gold FFM Report Share Posted May 14 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 post Share on other sites
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