Lex Templar

Andrew we think it might be an S2 with a Turbo body on it - there was an S2 that was used for the Turbo Body prototype. It's unusual for the car to not have its stripes so early on in its life so this might explain it. Maybe you can ask your father if this rings a bell?

engine is listed as 1973cc on the DVLA site..not 2174cc

According to DVLA, first registered August '81 and not registered since '91. What does this mean? Is this a record of the car existing? Date of last V5C (logbook) issued 29 September 2017

How magnificent, it would be great to identify that car with it's serial number, possibly then we can work out where it is, if it's survived.

@omicron What extraordinary photos. I have never seen this car - even more interesting is that it's an export LHD car with side markers on UK registration. Interior looks to be black, there is one or two serial numbers on the list that is could be. @LOTUSMAN33 have you seen this!

Who can forget this thread! Unfortunately very little on 10790 to date though. David, what’s his book?

Hi Andrew, great to have you on here, did you download the database PDF from the previous page. The first car on the list is in fact MPW 80V s/n 10790 which is where it all began and was indeed one of the V8 development cars . According to an old Essex list, this car was destroyed.. it would be great to confirm otherwise. have you got any other information you can share? I can't see VPW 941X anywhere on the list, there a 9 other pre-production/ development Essex cars, perhaps you can tell us which one it was. MPW 71V was the other V8 development car which has now been restored. (with wet sump engine) Of course, no bit of information is ever too small. I'm sure some others will chime in including @Veilside Hope to hear more, Cheers, Lex.

Latest version attached including the yellow/brown car, new owner of 0974 plus some other cleaning up. Any updates please let me know. Cheers, Lex Dry Sump Register 2020.pdf

s/n 1000 is now back to its factory white after being black for most of its life. Owner details updated on database. Same ownership since 1988. Standard radio, no air-con, Compomotive wheels. Picture taken from facebook now in white and a period photo of it next to Domestic Essex 005 from a few pages back on this thread.

Great photos @Tocus and great to find another. Would look great with its black stripes back on. also just found in Facebook s/n 1000 is now back to its factory white. It was pictured a few pages back after it was painted black In the early 80’s.

Is indeed Dave, intresting spec. and a serial number we haven't seen yet, late '81 and possibly the last Tobacco car. I'll Let @Tocus add the serial number here if he can, not sure if that's public yet. A

Looking amazing - getting close now

@Tocus has found a preciously unknown in an interesting spec from ‘81. Will let him share photos 🙂

The early Turbo’s had the long pile carpet Too. As Steve at SJ Sportscars says, keep it original if you can as you can’t get it anymore.

Hi Danny, Any info I can add to the dry sump register about s/n 1129? Is the GST recommission 2015/16 correct? Cheers, Lex.

Who’s garage is this do we know Roo? Unfortunately there is no white FYEO movie Turbo left as 0858 is now copper. The Dezer white car was a press mule with a 2.2L na engine so I don’t think it really counts. The copper Dezer Car didn’t appear in the movie either. It would be nice to see 0858 surface in Dubai but I’d say we will be waiting a while. My ideal garage would be 3 factory Bond ‘specification’ cars. Is it Martin Williamson’s garage?

It’s so beautiful as it is 🙂. If you do the white Turbo then you won’t have to worry about skis. You’ll just need the Tasco 7800 binoculars.

Hi Phil, We would love to see some photos of you are lucky enough to lay your hands on them. There are not that many from period, so any that do pop are are an absolute delight. cheers, Lex.

I agree it needs Compomotive wheels. It's a late dry sump that one, hence the BBS.

@Tocus this car hasn't been sighted as far as I'm aware, it definitely would be one for you. There was also Export RHD #0940 in white/brown full FYEO/Essex Spec, also not sighted again from @Veilside's list. Andy Graham confirmed it was delivered to Hong Kong new. So we have in 1980 white and brown #0928 (DOM RHD), #0940 (EXP RHD), #0953 (DOM RHD), #0954 (DOM RHD), #10311(EXP LHD). Only #953's whereabouts is known. We know #928 White Heat was scrapped. Still searching for the others. The 3 x MY81 white/brown cars are known, owned by @wolflyn, @GJones and Martin Williamson. Lex

Not every day one of these comes on the market. Factory Copper Fire, gold leather, roof stereo. https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/1980-lotus-esprit-turbo-manual/SSE-AD-6695862/?Cr=2

@Bazza 907 that side profile is exquisite. Were you tempted for at least a split second to line up the Goodyear lettering at the top on the front wheel - like on the press shots? Unfortunately that would be me. 🥴

A rare one up for sale in Australia. https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/1980-lotus-esprit-turbo-manual/SSE-AD-6695862/?Cr=2 It must be the last factory FYEO domestic cars left in the wild with all the good bits? Chassis number 11068. Has everything except Compomotive wheels from the factory. (roof stereo, full gold leather) @Lotusfab @hopo

Check these out

Thinks it's 10298 above... Nice hi-res of 10858 here.