Simon350S 192 Posted October 2, 2010 Report Share Posted October 2, 2010 Anyone else with ideas or offers? We'd be a bunch of very stupid people to let this opportunity slip by.... Well us Esprit owners & lovers who don't want/can't afford any of the future Lotus lineup would be! Quote Chunky Lover Link to post Share on other sites
andydclements 749 Posted October 2, 2010 Report Share Posted October 2, 2010 I would offer except the barn is rather full, actually too full. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
streetz 0 Posted October 2, 2010 Report Share Posted October 2, 2010 How about the Austria-option? There is no toll on highways and the distance is only 300km more... For financing the trip I would suggest, that everyone, who wants to benefit from the moulds donates an amount (e.g. for fuel, ferry, etc.?). Quote Sport 350 - the Real Devil Link to post Share on other sites
Tony K 127 Posted October 2, 2010 Report Share Posted October 2, 2010 I'll donate $100 USD or thereabouts to come to some round number in GBP or Euro. I don't have (and refuse to get) PayPal, so if anyone can take a credit card, PM me, or I'll find a friend to PayPal you on my behalf. Will pay as soon as a plan is set. In a worst case scenario, if you can get them on a boat to New Jersey or Baltimore, I'll pick them up from the port, and will make or find space for them. Then you can all come to visit me while you hand-lay your carbon fiber Esprit bodies! Quote Tony K. Esprit S1s #355H & 454H Esprit S2.2 #324J 1991 Esprit SE Link to post Share on other sites
Bibs 11,096 Posted October 3, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2010 That's very good of you folks. If we can raise the cash required or someone steps up with a lorry, it's a go. We've got about a week I think until they're in a skip otherwise. 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
streetz 0 Posted October 3, 2010 Report Share Posted October 3, 2010 (edited) When there is a plan (who drives it when to whom, and how are the storage conditions there, e.g. is it possible to work with the moudls), I´ll give 50 EUR in the pot. Edited October 3, 2010 by streetz Quote Sport 350 - the Real Devil Link to post Share on other sites
jollyroger 9 Posted October 3, 2010 Report Share Posted October 3, 2010 As it has been asked before but not replied: are the moulds only the X180 ones? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bibs 11,096 Posted October 3, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2010 The moulds are for the top and bottom halves of the car, this didn't change. I'm guessing bumpers/sills/tailgate/bonnet etc have their own moulds. 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
streetz 0 Posted October 3, 2010 Report Share Posted October 3, 2010 Are there other moulds available? E.g. to built a whole Esprit Quote Sport 350 - the Real Devil Link to post Share on other sites
MPx 267 Posted October 3, 2010 Report Share Posted October 3, 2010 I've got a C license (the old HGV Class 2) if that's of any use - I've not got a lorry but have hired an 18 tonner from Falcon hire in Bridgewater before now to help with family removals so it can be doen if we want to throw money at it. Generally happy to help out whenever I can. If we've got to hit a very short deadline then the best I can do would be to hitch up the open car trailer to the Rangey and do the pick up with that. As you know Bibs I've got loads of outdoor space for storage (long or short term) but the barn is already full. Happy to do a two stager - get the moulds now and bring them back to Somerset until a plan can be hatched to get them somewhere inside. If it helps, I'm coming up to London anyway on Tuesday (5th) so could carry on up to Norfolk if req'd. Am otherwise occupied towards the end of the week..... Quote Loving Lionel and Eleanor......missing Charlie and Sonny Link to post Share on other sites
DanR 69 Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 Love to have them if everything else fails but getting them to Australia would be a problem. Anybody else in oz want to join up and try to bring them here? Quote DanR Link to post Share on other sites
rogerch 63 Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 It's a thought but ideally they should go somewhere where there is expertise to turn out finished product, then there are questions about the other panels, doors, hatch, head lights etc. Partial panels like front quarter, rear panel etc, if someone needs a whole new body there's likely not much left. Really if you're going to fork out to get them over here, you'd like to recoup some of it back. Quote Life is like a sewer, what you get out of it, depends on what you put into it. (Tom Leahrer) Link to post Share on other sites
Advantage 910 Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 The moulds are big and heavy, too big for a trailer and Range Rover - ask me how I know... As for the other comments, at the moment we are just attempting to save the moulds and jigs. There has been no indication from the factory about aquiring the rights to commercially reproduce the Esprit shape. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Simon350S 192 Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 Oh... Thats a bit shit, didn't think of that! I guess there could be all sorts of legal ramblings stopping us from actually using them to make money... That could make the difference between someonw wanting to contribute financially or not. I was seeing it as more of an investement..... Hmmmm... I don't think enough about things clearly, its happened before you know Quote Chunky Lover Link to post Share on other sites
MPx 267 Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 Ahhh hadn't appreciated that they were so big/heavy. Do you know specific numbers on weight and size? This is what I hired before. I got that size because it was almost exactly the same dimensions inside as a single garage (in fact the lorry was slightly longer) which at the time I had crammed with all of my sister-in-laws worldlies which needed taking from Bromley to Tiverton. They also do a curtain sider about the same size. A big concern with this will be unloading. I'm guessing there will be fork truck/handling kit at the pick up end. I'm not going to be able to unload at my place (or most others) without some more kit. Depending on its actual size and stacking characteristics, one of these might be more useful so we have use of a crane. I haven't got a HIAB certificate so dont know if they'd hire it to me anyway - but they might. Quote Loving Lionel and Eleanor......missing Charlie and Sonny Link to post Share on other sites
Loose Cannon 582 Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 For ease of transport don't you just need the outer mould? Any future layup will be done by hand so you don't need the inner unless you have a VARI machine. As regards storage I don't think being outside will harm them if they are protected; when I visited a fibreglass specialists near the factory they had the moulds for the Elan, +2, Eutopa etc all sitting outside uncovered and apparently festering away for the past 30 years. The owner reckoned once you had washed the potatoes out and given them a polish they were quite capable of producing a shell. Quote In the garage no-one can hear you scream Link to post Share on other sites
matk 17 Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 In light of some of the comments I'd like to make it clear I didn't see my financial contribution as an investment. I'm just very aware that Bibs carries the cost for everything, and on this occasion saw an opportunity to put a little back for the greater good of the community. Big thumbs up to Tony K and Streetz for coming up with donations too. Quote Regards Mat Link to post Share on other sites
Simon350S 192 Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 (edited) I too am willing to stick decent £££ in but we need a good few more to get the total to whats needed. I guess the problem is we could all stick £ into this and then Lotus could say that we couldn't use them to do anything which means we'd be stuck with some rather expensively transported fish ponds..... Hmmm... Fish pond.... That gives me an idea Edited October 4, 2010 by Simon350S Quote Chunky Lover Link to post Share on other sites
esprit s2 94 Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 If France is too far then I have a garage in Buckhurst Hill, Essex, that you could store them in. Wouldn't be a long term solution but I could keep them for a year or so. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dan 0 Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 Bibs - I'm happy to chip in to help with transport costs because these look too useful to scrap! Hmmm... Fish pond.... That gives me an idea Nah - my gut instinct says we need an awful lot of Quote Dan "He who dies with the most toys wins..." Link to post Share on other sites
Laura 20 Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 I've already been told off for such a suggestion Dan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
streetz 0 Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 I think, we're getting closer to a solution. I'm not really interessted in a commercial use of the mould, but in a Personal use. Is building an Esprit for own use also included in the Not-allowed-terms of Lotus? ;-) Quote Sport 350 - the Real Devil Link to post Share on other sites
Günter 28 Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 I'm owner of the 44t-Euro classification drivers license ..if this is of any help. And I'm also interested if the molds only work for the early Stevens-car ..or does it match up on every change up to the V8 too ?? As the basic body looks similar -where are all the 'outer sill' and roof line molds located now ? The mentioned storage/reproduction space I refered to is located south of Berlin -in a friends small 'kit-car' garage.. if that is suitable for the plans. But I would have to ask with explicit informations/plans on what you want to do with it. There are many molds indors and outdors -but not all are used actually. Quote ********************************************************************* to name the things if I see them, that's what I call integrity.. ********************************************************************* Link to post Share on other sites
Bibs 11,096 Posted October 5, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2010 Through public and some private promises we're halfway there on the cash required. Interesting though that we'll only need one half, makes good sense too and I doubt we'll need the bonding jig if we're only making panels, only the fettling jig for cutting holes which makes me more confident we'll get it all on a 7.5 tonne truck Any more offers of cash would be very welcome. Rest assured any overage will be returned proportionally, any shortfall I'll probably cover myself. I will also confirm with Lotus that we can use them too! I doubt they'd be offering them to us with restrictions so this is most likely a moot point. 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
andecorp 12 Posted October 5, 2010 Report Share Posted October 5, 2010 I have the space here in Australia. Indoors, climate controlled. The container to bring them here will only be about AU$2k (1,300GBP). I am not looking for an investment but purely to preserve Lotus history. All I would request from you guys is to get them to a sea port. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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