Esprit Sport 300

[lotusforsale.com]

May 1995 – 31500 miles.

No.063 of 64

Solid Black / Charcoal Leather & Alcantara Composite.

Rebuilt brakes, wheels, A/C, and front suspension. Extensive factory, dealer and specialist history. Correct Goodyear GS tyres.

Stunning and Special. Awesome in fact…….

Further details at scottwalkers.com or contact Scott via email or on 07889 405071 to arrange your own appraisal.

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[Loose Cannon]

I didn't know they made that many. Where have they all gone?

[Trevsked]

Yes made more 300's than 350's but they seldom change hands.

Trevor.

[Bibs]

[espritmania]

Do you think Scott would mind if I took up a fold up chair and sat by it and dreamed.Sigh,what a car.

[Vanya]

Not to sidetrack this thread, but where does Scott get his cars from? Either he is a cunning businessman (likely?) and timed the release of his ads with the season or there's something dodgy going on because yesterday he put up 3 mint V8's with very low mileage, a Sport 300 AND a Federal spec S1 that's been totally restored.

 

A lot of V8's go for sale in the UK from a lot of dealers, but mileage is normally 50,000 and up, engines dirty, and cars a bit rough - then comes Scott and BAM 3 low mileage very very very clean looking V8's from outta nowhere. The "too good to be true" part is that his prices are comparable with the tattier examples.

 

I'm thinking of nabbing the yellow GT.....maybe he'll let me have my picture taken with the Sport 300 while I'm there

[The Pits]

I think to be fair it's probably to do with Scott's illness which meant he had some cars on the backburner. I hope that he's put a few up for sale at once means he is getting a lot better and able to prep and market the cars to the high level that he is known for.

 

As for the Sport 300 I was trying to persuade my brother to go 50:50 on it with me. It didn't work out so I went another way with my half a Sport 300 budget and bought the dry sump GG Turbo instead. Now all I need to do is persuade bro to get the Sport 300 all on his own!

 

[Vanya]

The 50:50 approach is pretty smart - I'd do that too but nobody I know is crazy enough to buy an Esprit except for myself.

 

I wonder if the Sport 300 really is as good as they say though - by the sounds of it turbo lag is nuts just to get it up to that power - it's supposedly dead until 3500 rpm whereupon all hell breaks loose. The Turbo SE and S4 are bad enough with the turbo coming in at 2900.... not sure I'd wanna go further even for the extra horsepower....

 

On a TOTALLY unrelated note: I've seen a lot of fake sport 300's based on the Turbo SE because the bodykits are similar - these people miss the point the 300 is based off the S4 chassis with all its refinements. My question is, why hasn't anyone bought an S4s and smacked on a Turbo SE bumpers/valences and side skirts on it? Surely it's doable?

[tinywillyuk]

Goodness, somehow missed Scott taking the pics right outside my office... a prime opportunity to snoop missed.. doh...

[Jacques]

As long as one calls it a replica, I have nothing against it. It have a bit of taste of the real thing, but surely not the real deal. I wish him luck on selling the genuine article (Sorry, I can't aford it, as my SE will cost me more that 35000 GBP on Danish plates; imagine a Sport300...), and of course the V8's too.

Someone will be a happy person (car-wise)  

I think the SE is the nice Esprit, but the Sport300 is just that bit harder to look at. In my view (old style, I know), there is not much that can look so mean, fast and elegant in the same time. I think the later S4 and V8 got a Little bit confused on sideskirts, bumpers etc.

I think it just fine to make a replica. Or maybe just the seats, skirts etc. as they look so good. I surely would like the extra stiffness of that bracing.

 

The S4 into a sport300 replica, may once be made, if the prices come Down a fair bit?

But I haven't seen prices fall lately?

 

The old 911Turbo had real lag  For that Money the 911Turbo goes for, I would pick the Sport300 any day!

 

Nice videoclip btw.

 

Cheers,

Jacques.

[The Pits]

I have to say this sounds very appealing! 'dead until 3500 rpm whereupon all hell breaks loose' and part of the pleasure of owning a Sport 300. I accept that makes it less suitable for daily use but it's a Sport 300, every occasion would be a special occasion. If lag is an issue a V8 is the way to go and would cost a lot less.

 

The problem I have with replicas is it means one less unmodified Turbo SE or S4 in the world and there are too few of those left as it is.

[espritmania]

Thoughts Please.As you know from my previous posts I have been doing up my S4.The mechanics are all finished,by that I mean every thing,engine ,water pump,mounts,fuel tanks,belts,head lights,ect,ect.The interior is in original black leather and is in top cond.Now on seeing these sport300's come up for sale has renewed my urge to get a Sport300(in my dreams)

The body is fine but has some cosmetic damage,the front and rear bumpers have been touched causing paint cracks.They could do with taking off and respraying

Therefore I am at a point where I could fit  a replica sport 300 kit .

Good points :

It's an S4 so the door handles and mirrors match,

Rear tail gate is the same louver type.

Was going to take the bumpers off at some time anyway

I have a composite roof

Bad points :

Only have OZ 6 spoke wheels.

One less original S4

Sport300 wheel rare as hens teeth

Would  look daft without the proper wheels.

Can I have your views and opinions please,yours excitedly Paul Espritmania.

Edited April 5, 2014 by espritmania

[espritmania]

Thoughts Please.As you know from my previous posts I have been doing up my S4.The mechanics are all finished,by that I mean every thing,engine ,water pump,mounts,fuel tanks,belts,head lights,ect,ect.The interior is in original black leather and is in top cond.Now on seeing these sport300's come up for sale has renewed my urge to get a Sport300(in my dreams)

The body is fine but has some cosmetic damage,the front and rear bumpers have been touched causing paint cracks.They could do with taking off and respraying

Therefore I am at a point where I could fit  a replica sport 300 kit .

Good points :

It's an S4 so the door handles and mirrors match,

Rear tail gate is the same louver type.

I would like to fit an S4s spoiler,not a fan of the S4 spoiler.

Was going to take the bumpers off at some time anyway

I have a composite roof

Bad points :

Only have OZ 6 spoke wheels.

It's an S4,that would mean one less original example.

Sport300 wheel rare as hens teeth

Would  look daft without the proper wheels.

Can I have your views and opinions please,yours excitedly Paul Espritmania.

Edited April 5, 2014 by espritmania

[mdw]

If it can be switched back easily  then go for it , its your car after all. However if its not reversible the leave as is.  It not like its  a common car on the road in its own right.

[espritmania]

Yes I was thinking about that,I can refit the old S4 bumpers,rear spoiler and wheels no problem and fill in the wheel arches .I think this could be a plan.It's the sport300 wheels that could put a stop to this plan.I have seen other replicas with the wrong wheels and they just do not look right.I think sourcing them is going to be very hard.

[mayevora]

Hi Paul. Think you might already know my views on the S300. I sit right along side you in the 'really want' department. Interesting idea and can't recall anybody doing it before if going the whole hog. S4 Esprits outnumber S300 Esprits by around 10 to 1 so whist an S4 is a rare sight a Sport 300 is super rare. I see no problem in doing this. Worst case scenao is you keep the S4 parts so it could be reverted back at a later date. I do agree trying to get hold of the S300 wheels will be a ni-on impossible task so what you will use might actually make it 'not' look like a S300 and that would surely detract from the reason to do it. If it was me I would want to try to make it as indistinguishable from the real thing as possible - nothing worse than that chap pulling up next to you in his 'lookalike' that you absolutely just know is fake. However an Esprit is an Esprit anyway, so it's not like fitting a beetle engine in a 959 Porsche shell. Bottom line is it's your motor matey - my vote is go for it.

[Jacques]

Good plan, I agree with Malcolm. Personally I've never seen Sport300 Wheels for sale anywhere. I do think the S4s Wheels look just fine. To fill Arches, you may use a spacer (not fan of that) or go nuts and have replica Wheels made. Or make the S4s Wheels wider.

 

Is there something special about the steering Wheel, apart from the covering?

 

Cheers,

Jacques

[cbclotus]

Hi i think they are the best looking new shape cars.i own a se turbo.But i think the s 3oo is a fantastic car.But so is a s4.i prefer the larger rear wing on the s4. Good luck Mike

[espritmania]

I think I will have to work backwards on this one.I need to source a set of wheels first.No wheels No replica then.

[espritmania]

I believe not,just the covering.

[rocket63]

There are currently only 69 Esprit S4 registered in the UK

[Vanya]

Paul - go for it. If you're already putting on an S4s spoiler go the whole hog and make it into a proper Sport 300 replica. I think Jonny had a set of OZ Futuras in perfect nick for sale.

 

S4's in original condition and low miles are pretty much extinct by now anyway so it's not a "loss" by any stretch of the imagination...

I have to say this sounds very appealing! 'dead until 3500 rpm whereupon all hell breaks loose' and part of the pleasure of owning a Sport 300. I accept that makes it less suitable for daily use but it's a Sport 300, every occasion would be a special occasion. If lag is an issue a V8 is the way to go and would cost a lot less.

 

The problem I have with replicas is it means one less unmodified Turbo SE or S4 in the world and there are too few of those left as it is.

 

I too am a fan of "the ketchup effect" to a degree - but 3500 is a bit overkill. Not Elise 111R overkill, but still a bit much.

 

Having said that I still haven't driven a V8 - if I find out I hate the linear power curve I'll eat my hat...

[neil e]

Not to sidetrack this thread, but where does Scott get his cars from? yesterday he put up 3 mint V8's with very low mileage, a Sport 300 AND a Federal spec S1 that's been totally restored.

 

A lot of V8's go for sale in the UK from a lot of dealers, but mileage is normally 50,000 and up, engines dirty, and cars a bit rough - then comes Scott and BAM 3 low mileage very very very clean looking V8's from outta nowhere.

 

I'm thinking of nabbing the yellow GT.....maybe he'll let me have my picture taken with the Sport 300 while I'm there

 

 

 

I can add a bit of light to this. The blue V8 Gt is mine. I have been to see Scott a couple of times last summer as was thinking of selling. Then after my last post "nearly wrote it off" and the fact I have kid no 3 on the way add that to I dont use it enough has made me put it up for grabs. I am  just to big for the car it cripples me after an hour. It was bought as a keeper but times change.

 

The silver V8 was in Bell & Colvill for a short while early in the year. It was on Pistonheads but due to the crap weather Scott could  not take any pics so kept it until the better weather. Yellow Gt is Scotts. Had it a while. Now wants to move on. The 300 is  / was Ken Bairds and has been with Scott for a long time in storage ready to sell. The S1 had that a little while. He wanted to wait until the spring  before putting the ads up.

[espritmania]

Sorry "Jonny"?

[Vanya]

I can add a bit of light to this. The blue V8 Gt is mine. I have been to see Scott a couple of times last summer as was thinking of selling. Then after my last post "nearly wrote it off" and the fact I have kid no 3 on the way add that to I dont use it enough has made me put it up for grabs. I am  just to big for the car it cripples me after an hour. It was bought as a keeper but times change.

 

The silver V8 was in Bell & Colvill for a short while early in the year. It was on Pistonheads but due to the crap weather Scott could  not take any pics so kept it until the better weather. Yellow Gt is Scotts. Had it a while. Now wants to move on. The 300 is  / was Ken Bairds and has been with Scott for a long time in storage ready to sell. The S1 had that a little while. He wanted to wait until the spring  before putting the ads up.

Cheers for the info - I suspected they'd been timed. But still, cracking examples the lot of them. I'm confused as to which to go for if the opportunity presents itself in a short while. I'm partial to the yellow with the square rear lamps....but the blue has the nicest interior and the 2002 is awesome on the inside too....

 

Sorry "Jonny"?

The Pits. Unless I remember incorrectly he was using a mint set of Futuras as a coffee table a while back would consider selling for the right price ...don't know if he's sold them though.