LOTUSMAN33

Now I understand, I have this as well but no one explained why, I am pretty up front by nature so if I annoy someone I would rather they treat me the same. I have used ebay for over 10 years and never recieved or given negative feedback, if I have a problem I just contact the member direct or open a dispute, at least that way it is not cowardly. Shame really this exists as this is a top forum for Lotus people and I have learnt loads in the few months I have been a member, I log on most days to see whats going down in the Lotus world and everyone is very helpful when required to sort those awkward problems. Many Thanks Dave

Thanks Rob, I will investigate that one then, I am going to do one or the other with out doubt to save servicing time in the future. Has your system been totally reliable? Kind Regards Dave

Has anyone fitted a powermax distributor to an Esprit? I am about to put my engine back in and have had second thoughts about leaving the points and condensor system original. I was going to keep it but remember how awkward it is to work on when I had this in my previous S1 and S2. I have three options from what I can see; Lumenition Optronic Lumenition Magnetronic Powermax complete distributor with new coil (Uses magnet system but you get a new distributor and 3 year warranty) My distributor is in good condition so not worried about bearing wear causing problems. I would be interested in anyones own experiences? Many Thanks Dave

Hi Everyone Does anyone know where I can obtain a couple of the early S1 dash vents (The small grey square ones as fitted in the Tartan cars)? Were these a Lotus manufactured part or borrowed from another car? Many Thanks Dave

I have used Nick before too, as Danny said he is a sound guy and easy to deal with. I bought one of my JPS Esprits from him and he had loads of other cars in his barn. If anyone is after parts he is worth a try. Your car is looking great Dan and love the wheels, I had similar on my first S1 about 15 years ago which was dressed like a Turbo.

Looking at all these pics of gold S2's has made me realise breaking my gold S2 was a big mistake, should have stored and restored her in the future...... Silly Boy! Doesn't that Silver S1 look stunning though as does that gold Turbo with black stripes, like JPS in reverse!

I discovered my S1 started out as Bronze when I got copies of all the original V5's from the DVLA, I never knew it was an S1 colour until then and imagined it to be light bronze but this thread shows it to be like brown, this would match the brown and cream leather interior it came in though. Mine is a 78 car. Anyone have any more pics of Roman Bronze? Great thread guys keep up the great work. Thanks Dave

Hi Phil Yes the black car was mine, regret selling that one as it was a good car but I had other projects on the go at the time and no where to store her. Yes mine is the clip type air box. Cheers Dave

Hi Paul I got lucky with the engine as when I bought the S2 in bits the owner had already bought all the new pistons, liners, bearings, gaskets, valves and guides etc, all I have done is finish the assembly, this has saved me a lot of time and money with my restoration. To rebuild the engine if you have to buy all the parts can be very expensive. Hi Phil This is my second S1 with the header tank in that position so guess you are right about the book, thanks for the nice comments. Your S1 looks fantastic.

Hi Everyone, Quick update... Chassis and metalwork now back from blasting and powder coating, no ugly surprises and looks great. The cold weather has really slowed me down, I have had the Flywheel skimmed and now have the rebuilt engine and gearbox back together with new clutch. I had to have the exhaust manifold repaired where a corner broke off, the welder did a superb job and now perfect after being skimmed. The header tank had holes in it when blasted so I rebuilt it with a complete new seam welded bottom and new pipe, I blasted the inside at the same time and zinc coated. I had the front radiator duct support bar remade in stainless which looks fantastic. Looking forward to the fun bit now with rebuilding the chassis up, hopefully the weather will warm up a little as freezing evenings out the garage! Here are a few pics; Here are a few of the bits ready for build up...

Hi Steve I was quoted £250 by the phone, when I got to the finishers I managed to get it for £150 cash as he thought the chassis would be bigger than it really is. I get it back this Thursday so will update with a picture. I have had all the other metal parts done at the same time, I have my flywheel at the machine shop at the moment as it is scored slightly. My exhaust manifold has a piece broken off where it joins the downpipe so will only hold on two of the three bolts, I am going to blast it and see if I can get it weld repaired with pre-heat and cast rods, depends on the quality of the original metal though. I hope to have the chassis built up by spring time so I can start the body when the weather warms up, not easy getting motivated at the moment with the cold spell. I plan to rebuild my carbs indoors this week just to keep progressing. Many Thanks Dave

Intresting thread this one........ I like this S1 although not very original she seems to be in great shape, it is the sort of project i would take on especially as I have a spare set of wheels. As for prices; Yellow S1 on pistonheads again missing wolfraces and spoiler, retrimmed - £8000 with new MOT Yellow S1 on ebay recently - less than £4k needing work Red S1 on ebay - needs work as chassis looks poor and engine leaking, cosmetics good - £15k While looking for mine I was offered several restoration projects between £2k and £5k I sold Ken his car for around £8k, this was a 77 car with brown/cream interior, Ken has had the tartan put in so not original, this car also had a sunroof which I removed, lovely car though and looking great now retrimmed, only car I have ever regretted selling. A true collector will pay a fine price for a white/tartan car and as BiBs said upto £30k+ On ebay I would expect the Blue S1 to raise between £6k and £8k S2 are the one to watch as they will increase in price as people can't get the S1's.

Hi James Just been reading your posts, very intresting. You are a lucky man indeed to have two such rare cars. I am currently restoring my S1 in the UK. Like you I am a true Esprit fan and have previously owned number 13 and 99 JPS cars as well as an original 76 early esprit in white which is now shown in the uk reg TNR 160R. My current restoration is going very well and I hope to have the chassis powder coated this week. I am contacting you for a big favour, please can you send me the dimensions of the 'LOTUS' decal on your car and a close up photo, I wish to get one made for mine as like you am a real bond fan, the original bond car is in the 'cars the star museum' which is over 300 miles away. I was planning on a visit to take the photo but never seem to find the spare time. Your help would be really appreciated and I may be able to return the favour in finding some rare parts you may need in the future, I am breaking a S2 at present and have many S1 spares. I also may have just enough have Tartan material if you ever want to re-trim. Many Thanks Dave E-mail davidjnoble@blueyonder.co.uk Where did you get your orange carpet? Was it Nick Fulcher? Thanks Dave

Chassis now fully stripped and threads protected ready for blasting and powder coating in black, booked in for next Tuesday. I have ordered all my bushes, shocks etc from SJ so should be busy rebuilding towards xmas. I plan to get many other items powder coated over the coming weeks. My Anti roll bar is seized in my wishbone bush at present so needs attacking with heat, same problem with rear links seized in alloy rear hub both sides, again heat will sort. I am rebuilding my dash binnacle too at present due to the plywood looking tired. The interior has started its journey to the trimmers, I am going to repair the door cards the weekend where speakers have been added.

Hi Guys Please let me know if anyone wants items, I have been contacted by many members and things are starting to go quickly. I will try and take photos if requested just leave your e-mail address. Cheers Dave

Hi Paul Great project keep up the excellent work, if this S2 had been on par with yours I would have restored it to. Email me on davidjnoble@blueyonder.co.uk and let me know what you are after. Cheers Dave

Totally agree with Neil, I would loved to have restored the S2 as I have owned two JPS versions before and they were both great cars and missed as both went overseas. I have saved many Esprits over the years including a couple damaged ones. This S2 was just to far gone having been stripped many years ago and now missing some parts, the shell would be best suited to the track or as a donar for any accident cars or for someone who wishes to remove the 80's sunroof from an original car. Shame as it is sound other than the waistlie along the sides, it is still present above the rear bumper. I intend to hang on to some parts as spares for mine but will let the main items go. The chassis and shell would be better gone as soon as possible due to the size and space required to store them. The complete interior, wheels, doors, engine cover, front and rear spoilers etc are also high on my list to go early. Not sure about the gearbox as may keep as spare unless someone is in dire need of one. All the metal items I will get powder coated and sell on as restored items with new bushes if required. If anyone wants a clean ID with V5 and chassis plates let me know although they must be genuine otherwise I will return to the DVLA as vehicle scrapped.

Spent several hours on the car today, the engine is now ready to be dropped out once I dig my engine lift out of the corner of the garage, currently buried behind Lotus bits!

Hi Paul I have never been able to open the for sale page, I just get a blank white screen, It must be my settings I guess? Looks like ebay will be my only option. Cheers Dave

Thanks Danny I read your post some time ago and loved the track car, I have never driven any of my previous Esprits around the track which i do regret now, it is unlikely my S1 will see the track either as I am going for a high standard restoration job. I have been out stripping my S1 chassis this morning and found the bolt on chassis support bars to be completely knackered especially the one by the exhaust manifold, the S2 had two brand new ones so looks like I will break now, as you say to do two together will be biting off more than i can chew as it were... I will sort out all the boxes of parts and possibly use ebay as a selling forum, I like ebay as you get a fair price for the items at the current market value, I nearly always go with no reserve and low start price to get the interest. It will be nice to help other members get their cars going again as some items rarely ever come up for sale. Yes Simon I think my mind is made up, not even sure how I would replace the body join line either, as you say it won't be easy. I certainly don't want another donar car. Looks like one less S2 on the roads.........R.I.P!

Yes if I rebuild it would have the Eclat engine as I don't want the expense of finding another Esprit lump, as a track car I would go for a secondhand 2.2 and sell all the trim items to keep weight down. My problem is both time and space, I seem to be surrounded by Lotus parts everywhere at the moment. I am seriously considering the break option at the moment as a couple of guys want the speedlines already. The body will be the hard one to place, it still has a good screen fitted and both fuel tanks/fillers, the loom and headlight lift motors are still in place as are the rear lights. I have not collected the shell yet so it is still at Derby. I was planning to collect this before xmas once my S1 chassis is stripped and at blasting. The interior is original and not been messed with, the seats will require retrimming though as the cream fabric is poor. I don't think this car has been on the road for well over 10-15 years, it has a nice reg number to. The gearbox seems to be in great condition and very clean. Headlights are also in fantastic condition.

Hi Everyone As part of my S1 Esprit restoration I have bought a second car in bits to act as a donar car for mine, I needed a bonnet due to it blowing open while bringing the S1 home, the tailgate had been fitted with the turbo vents so I needed a standard one and I had an Eclat engine. It made sense to buy the S2 as it had a newly rebuilt engine with new pistons/liners, bearings and valves, the S2 also had a perfect S1 steering wheel. The car is a 1980 (V) car which has been completely stripped and the chassis has been blasted and powder coated, the engine was rebuilt and most of the metalwork has been powder coated too. It is 90% complete with the only real missing parts being the radiator/fans, front bumper, exhaust manifold, alternator, lower front wishbones and front shocks. The body has been painted a few times to a poor standard but has no sunroof, one of the previous owners has removed the join line from the sides to give the smooth look which will be a pain to re-create, it does seem damage free though. I now have two options; 1/ Rebuild the car as a original which was bronze 2/ Rebuild as a track car which would seem the better of these two options due to the missing original parts and now engine. 3/ Break the car for parts which would free up some cash for my S1 rebuild and hopefully help out some other owners who are struggling for some of the awkward to find parts. I do hate to see a Lotus go for parts but would be willing in this case due to the amount of work required. The S2 does have a clean ID and the V5 is available if anyone has a recorded car or a CAT B. A track car could be fun as I enjoyed a racing weekend at Silverstone recently in a new Exige.....Awesome! Please let me know your views Thanks Dave

Hi Guys I may be breaking an Esprit S2 over the coming weeks, it has good speedlines fitted. Cheers Dave

Hi Paul Chassis tubes look good around exhaust, even the engine mount still had its heatshield and the mount looks fine. I hope to get the engine out next weekend and have the chassis blasted at the end of the month. I would like to have it back as a rolling chassis by the end of this year if I can get all the parts needed in time. My trimmer never batted an eyelid with the orange carpet so I will ask him for more info this week when I drop the seats off. My long term plan is to have the painted body back in place over next summer with the prep work being done over the spring, I find it helps my motivation if I set myself key dates, to many years refitting Submarines I guess! Cheers Dave

Finally the body came off yesterday with no problems, had 6 people around to lift it which was fine. No nasty surprises showed themselves either other than some corrosion where the body sits on the front of the chassis ( where fans mount), this was due to the foam Lotus glued on in these areas which must have soaked up water. Doesn't look to bad so will have proper look after blasting. Spent a couple of hours today with the wire brush and degreaser so i can start making a list of all the items required. Took the exhaust system off too and started spraying penetrating oil on all the fastenings. Here is a pic just after lifting the shell;