RichardN Posted December 9, 2007 Report Share Posted December 9, 2007 Hi all, I would like to wish my Esprit a happy birthday as it is exactly 20 years today that it rolled off the production line and was signed off. I have to say, for all the negative comments that Lotus got about build quality there are not many 20 year old cars that are still as good looking as the day they were made or have been as reliable as my Esprit. I've owned it for 12 years and in all that time the only time it let me down was caused by a corroded wire in the block leading to the fuel pump. Something fixed in 10 minutes. Let's face it, how many 20 year old cars would you jump into and do a 500 mile journey without a second thought? So here's to the next 20 years... HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOTTIE! Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM mayevora Posted December 9, 2007 Gold FFM Report Share Posted December 9, 2007 Sound like a good reason for a celebratory Quote Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk - that will teach us to keep mouth shut! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clark Posted December 9, 2007 Report Share Posted December 9, 2007 Nice. You two sound like a very happy couple! My S2 turned 28 (since assembly) last month and still happily drives 100+ miles to the racetrack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loose Cannon Posted December 9, 2007 Report Share Posted December 9, 2007 Happy birthday, mines 10 next May (must remember to buy it a prezzy) /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ Nice S2 by the way /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ Quote In the garage no-one can hear you scream Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Blanchard Posted December 9, 2007 Report Share Posted December 9, 2007 Happy Birthday. Mine's 20 years old in 10 days time too! Quote Mark www.lotusespritturbo.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulkhead68 Posted December 9, 2007 Report Share Posted December 9, 2007 Happy Birthday Mine will be 20 in April next year and will be treated to new fuel hoses, and an engine clean . Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted December 9, 2007 Report Share Posted December 9, 2007 Ahhhh, Happy Birthday Lottie! x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul s1 Posted December 9, 2007 Report Share Posted December 9, 2007 think mine is the oldest november 1976 esprit s1 lived and loved it 30 years and still drives me crazy ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cliff Posted December 9, 2007 Report Share Posted December 9, 2007 Time to pamper her with a bath! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardN Posted December 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 10, 2007 Yeh, like I'd let those girls near my car without checking out their washing abilities first! I will bravely volunteer to let them clean my bodywork first... Sad as this seems I did treat the car to a wash and polish yesterday although I have to say that me wrapped in a big thick coat hosing it down wasn't quite the same. Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Blanchard Posted December 10, 2007 Report Share Posted December 10, 2007 Richard, Your car must have been resprayed at some time, as it would have come with a Vulcan Grey valance when new, as it's the Turbo spec. Quote Mark www.lotusespritturbo.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardN Posted December 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 10, 2007 Hi Mark, I had it sprayed a few years ago but it was red all over before that. I bought it when it was 8 years old and it certainly looked like the original paint. It had faded slightly from the sun as red cars like to do and there was no sign of overspray or anything of that nature on it. I also had all the invoices from the PO and there was nothing about paint amongst them. I have to admit I have always liked the look of the grey valance since I saw it in the original publicity photos although I never thought to change it when I had the respray done. Perhaps it was an option to have it or not have it at the time. Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Blanchard Posted December 10, 2007 Report Share Posted December 10, 2007 Hi Richard, Is your car a 2 Owner car? I can guarantee your car had a grey valance when it was new. Lotus informed me that all Turbo's had the grey valance till March / April 1988 when it was fazed out, due to cost (it was an expensive procedure). Quite a lot of the early cars had the valance colour coded later to look newer, by Owners. The pictures below were taken in late November / early December 1987 showing the Turbo's on the assembly line. One of these might be our! Quote Mark www.lotusespritturbo.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardN Posted December 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 10, 2007 (edited) Wow, great pictures Mark, It is strange to think that one of those could be my car. I will have to have a close look at the valance (when it stops raining!) and see if I can find any evidence of it ever being grey. I assume it was paint and not coloured fibreglass? Next time I have to have it painted (please God not for a long time!) I will have to consider 'restoring' it back to it's original state. One thought - have you got a copy of the build sheet for your car? I got one at the LEF factory visit and it doesn't mention "two tone" or "two colour" on that - just "red". It might be that they just assumed the other colour if they were all like that. Regards Richard One other thing - would you be good enough to email the original pictures to me if they are higher res than those in the post? Edited December 10, 2007 by RichardN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Blanchard Posted December 11, 2007 Report Share Posted December 11, 2007 Mine just says Calypso Red. Yes, it was painted, not coloured fibreglass and yes, you might see Vulcan grey underneath, that's if they sprayed over. If they sprayed it properly, they would have preped it / cut it back so it might not be there now. I'm afraid those are the highest res pictures. Quote Mark www.lotusespritturbo.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Blanchard Posted December 19, 2007 Report Share Posted December 19, 2007 Just noticed, my old car's 20 today . Who says Lotus's aren't reliable! Quote Mark www.lotusespritturbo.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Günter Posted December 19, 2007 Gold FFM Report Share Posted December 19, 2007 Happy 10th Birthday for my V8! ..and that with a coarse truck mechanic as second owner Quote ********************************************************************* to name the things if I see them, that's what I call integrity.. ********************************************************************* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardN Posted December 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 And a belated happy birthday to your car Mark. Now both our cars are out of their teens perhaps they will settle down and get a proper job! Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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