TBD Posted April 14 Report Share Posted April 14 So it looks like I'm joining the exclusive Lotus Esprit Owners Club. Just won the bidding for a 1996 Esprit V8 on Catawiki. The interior looks ace and the engine has had a full rebuild just a few years ago, so I'm hopeful she will fulfill my dreams. The paint seems dead, so a complete respray will be necessary. And, the wheels definitively need a refurbishment. Which brings up the question of which colour to go for. The car is in dark green, which I don't really like. This leaves the following colours in my selection (whereby I'm mostly thinking about modern colours): Aspen White - always elegant, but probably not right for the white interior Artic Silver - equally elegant, but always a bit bland Flame Red - I do love the Renault Flame Red, but red justs calls for Ferrari misidentification Motorsport Green - I like the gold / green shine, but it may be too bright for the Esprit Motorsport Black - As on my EX460. I love it, but it is a dust magnet Copper Fire - My name is Bond, James Bond - just an idea right now as I have never seen it in the flesh. I'm also thinking about wrapping the car instead of painting. It does open a completely different world of colours (including matt), has the advantage of simple repair of stone chips (and intrinsic PPF properties) and does keep the original colour below. Recommendations? Oh, and I'm sure I will be coimg back with many more questions once I get my hands around the car. 1 Quote If you have the choice between a Stairway to Heaven and a Highway to Hell don't forget the Nomex®! Captain, Lotus Airways. We fly lower! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bibs Posted April 14 Report Share Posted April 14 Wow, congratulations Thomas. Obvs the original colour would be ideal but you know I'm a fan of MSG! A wrap is a good idea though, a decent respray on an Esprit would be kicking five figures I'd guess nowadays. 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...
Arregueti Posted April 14 Report Share Posted April 14 Congratulations! I was following that auction/car, for the sake of curiosity. That was apparently a Luxembourg registered car until now. Enjoy! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisJ Posted April 14 Report Share Posted April 14 Congratulations on joining the Esprit club 2 hours ago, TBD said: The paint seems dead Would a proper detailing bring the paint back to life - @Greg | ValetPro 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TBD Posted April 14 Author Report Share Posted April 14 Just now, ChrisJ said: Congratulations on joining the Esprit club Would a proper detailing bring the paint back to life - @Greg | ValetPro I don't think so. The photos show the clearcoat peeling off. 1 Quote If you have the choice between a Stairway to Heaven and a Highway to Hell don't forget the Nomex®! Captain, Lotus Airways. We fly lower! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Greg | ValetPro Posted April 14 Popular Post Report Share Posted April 14 6 hours ago, ChrisJ said: Congratulations on joining the Esprit club Would a proper detailing bring the paint back to life - @Greg | ValetPro 6 hours ago, TBD said: I don't think so. The photos show the clearcoat peeling off. This problem would not be solved with a detail. But it might be interesting to do a full detail on it just to see if the colour clean and in its true reflective state changes your opinion on the colour. ive never really like racing green. But when we did Bibs evora my opinion on the colour changed. i think Bibs evora is motorsport green and is a bit lighter than other greens. Looks stunning. I like the colour so much it was added to one of our labels. 2 2 Quote All the Best Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TBD Posted April 20 Author Report Share Posted April 20 Thought? These are some renders on a 3d model in Fusion 360. Somehow the Motorsport green just doesn't cut it for me on the Esprit. In honor of @Suddabym I'm leaning towards the championship gold. 1 Quote If you have the choice between a Stairway to Heaven and a Highway to Hell don't forget the Nomex®! Captain, Lotus Airways. We fly lower! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suddabym Posted April 20 Report Share Posted April 20 And yet I’m leaning to that last one - shiny green with gold wheels. Very in right now. Although, I mean… gold, right? 1 Quote Sudders and Dany Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramjet Posted April 20 Report Share Posted April 20 Nice looking steering wheel as well. I presume it's an airbag wheel? 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...
TBD Posted April 20 Author Report Share Posted April 20 The actual wheel is black. This is just from the 3d file Quote If you have the choice between a Stairway to Heaven and a Highway to Hell don't forget the Nomex®! Captain, Lotus Airways. We fly lower! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramjet Posted April 20 Report Share Posted April 20 On 14/04/2022 at 19:55, TBD said: So this is not the real steering wheel? 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...
TBD Posted April 20 Author Report Share Posted April 20 Yes, that one is. I thought you meant the colour schemes Quote If you have the choice between a Stairway to Heaven and a Highway to Hell don't forget the Nomex®! Captain, Lotus Airways. We fly lower! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramjet Posted April 20 Report Share Posted April 20 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...
TBD Posted April 21 Author Report Share Posted April 21 On 20/04/2022 at 12:58, Suddabym said: And yet I’m leaning to that last one - shiny green with gold wheels. Very in right now. Although, I mean… gold, right? Maybe I'll have to reconsider the Motorsport Green. It probably depends a lot on the accents. BTW: the car should be at Komo-tec end of next week. Hopefully the first look won't be a nightmare. 1 Quote If you have the choice between a Stairway to Heaven and a Highway to Hell don't forget the Nomex®! Captain, Lotus Airways. We fly lower! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arregueti Posted April 21 Report Share Posted April 21 I am biased because my car is dark green, but I like it as it is... Otherwise I would probably go with copper, which I think would suit nicely the light interior. Nice problems you have. 😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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