v8vantage

Read on a French forum 05 was owned by a Essex engineer and had had 2 owners since.

They may have got it mixed up with "JPS" #014 that's in the Philippines.

The MAZAK Essex may be one of these ones that came up for sale in Japan back in the late 1980s.

The one I pictured from Japan may be the only Japanese Essex built, the chassis number ends in 100. It was built to Japanese specs in late 1980 and shipped to the Japanese importer Atlantic Trading.

Dave it may be #006 or #100.

And another turns up on display at the Mazak machine tool factory in Gifu, Japan.

Here you go Dave, in the owner's own words: I have been reading the advice being given to you about buying an Esprit and references made to the Essex. The advice about not buying a 20 year old car (the Essex) is probably understandable, but in defense of the Essex Turbo Esprit you might like to know..... I have Essex number 003. Purchased in 1985 with 38,000 miles on the clock I took the clock to 103,000 miles before leaving the UK to work in Hong Kong. With daily use (abuse and misuse)taking me all over the UK in my capacity as lighting designer, within its 103,000 miles, 003 only ever left me stranded twice: Once with a blown hose on the M5 and once when the gear level broke off at the base (literally came off in my hand!). Servicing was often late because I couldn't afford to be without the car too often and the car worked hard. Despite this, reliable? - absolutly yes. After being in Hong Kong for 4 years I could stand being without the Essex no longer and decided to have a total restoration carried out (body off, chasis stripped & rebuilt, repaint, redecal, retrim etc). Quotes to rebuild the engine by Lotus specialists were around 6,000 pounds, so when Derek Dean offered me a brand new HC unit with all new ancillaries including turbo for 3,000 pounds the temptation was too much. So 003 now has an HC engine with its original carefully crated to be sold with the car (for the purist) should I ever sell it. My (virtually new) Essex 003 is now with me in the heat and humidity of Hong Kong, used every day and is able to enjoy more regular servicing. So don't write the Essex off completely - it's unique and a stunner, but after around 20 years since birth - caution is needed and consider only a professionaly restored example.....if you can find one (I haven't seen one advertised for ages). You will may know from an article in the current issue of Club Lotus magazine that only 26 units of genuine Essex Turbo Esprits left the factory. Although there is a number 100 registered to the son of Mrs. Thatcher (Mark) it is, in fact, number 26 labelled as 100 and the last unit. Hew is still around, was emailing with him this morning.

That's Essex #018 Dave.

#015 was Hew Dundas, he kept it unto 1982 when he traded it for a Ferrari. Blew the engine on the way to Scotland. He also had a rear tyre blow damaging some bodywork. Hew said it had 12.000 miles when he traded it in. He has no record of where the car went.

Have tracked down the original owner of #015. He sent me this photo of it, will have more details on what happened to it tomorrow. We know #005 is out and about. #009 went to Malaysia, have a call in to the selling dealer to see if he has the records for it. #019 seems to be the only one missing, wonder where it got to.

They built 4 cars to use in the movie and 7 fiberglass shells for various stunts. That's one of the fiberglass shells. Aston still own one of the movie cars, Deezer collection has a couple. EON still have 6 of the shells.

Nearing the end Fab, I reckon once your done you'll be looking for another James Bond replica to do. I see an Aston Martin V8 in your future, done to match the one from The Living Daylights in 1986. Hopefully you can make all the gadgets work! It even has skis.

Easy to transport them at speed Fab, just turn them over with the tips down. There will be some force on them but none of the buffeting when the tips are up. You can then put a padded cover over them that can be tied down as well. In case you want to optimise the aero for the setup try this CFD analysis: https://www.padtinc.com/blog/gone-skiing-aerodynamics-does-it-matter-which-way-your-skis-are-pointing-on-your-roof-rack/

I think you cheated Fab, some of those bindings are not "R" and certainly not "RD". You are going to have to change the markings in the tension windows to make them correct now!

Nice work Fab, they came up really well. Will look great on the skis. Now to find some black Salomon boots to go with them!

This may be a silly question Fab but did you consider car modelling clay to make the racks then take a mould off that?

Fab don't forget the "360RD" is a negative decal. It's a black stripe decal with the "360RD" cut out and screen printed onto the binding.

I reckon you'll break down in the Channel tunnel Fab, causing a blockage to all motorised transport for weeks! I expect to see you climbing out of the car at the hotel just like RM did when he stayed there. I hope you notice the wheel weights on the outside rim of the right front wheel Fab, I expect to see those replicated on yours. They should be positioned just between the "O" and "D" in "GOODYEAR"!

A few more photos. There is some chatter that it was bought in Japan and shipped down to Sri Lanka.

We know Domestic 100 went out there in 1981. It was in pretty poor condition. This may be it after restoration. A few details are wrong like the top of the seats and the "world champion" decals on the door. It's also missing the decal around the badge on the nose. RoW 022 went to Thailand but that has a black leather interior now.

G'day Lex I had this note on the Loose cars from the US importers. In 1981 there were a lot of politics involved involving Rolls Royce, Lotus's official importer at the time. They blocked an American Lotus Dealer from importing automobiles directly from Lotus , all cars had to come through their operation. With a warehouse full of unsold Esprits and Elites, they were not interested in certifying the turbo car, let alone the Essex. This took a huge amount of time, trying to get their higher-ups to allow this purchase to proceed. Also Lotus was beginning to have problems with their Formula 1 sponsor, so as the story goes, the Chairman decided to cease Essex Lotus production. Some Essex blue Esprits were built ,but were to be sold undecaled. With Rolls Royce stopping the importation, it was decided to purchase the cars through a European Dealer. Also Lotus sales at the time were not robust if ever they were, but the delay on our end allowed Lotus to sell the blue Esprit (#325) they were holding for us . That was when the infamous "white" Essex entered the scene. I had several conversations with Roger Becker at Lotus about the car, making sure that all the official equipment would be included with the car .Lotus even had an update on the scavenge pumps for the dry sump oiling systems. Lotus even suggested that they respray the car at the factory, but because of the certification process to be legal for US roads, it was decided to import the car white, send it through the certification process, bumpers, lights, exhaust, etc and with that completed, paint and decal the car. Three cars were imported at this time, the US dealer saying if he has go through this trouble for one ,he might as well make it worthwhile for his efforts. Of the 3 cars, only one was an Essex car. the other 2 were a black one and a red one. Serial number wise the Essex car was #337 with Compomotve wheels, the red one was #338 with the 5 lug silver cast wheel, the black one had the Compomotive wheels. The other 2 cars did not have the full leather interior.

Mike it may be 1 of the 3 that were painted in Essex colours with red interiors. Chassis numbers were 925, 926 and 927. 925 was meant to go to the USA through Loose Imports but they never took up the order. Roo

Even the best maintained engines can let go Fab. How many times has an engine let go on the Airbuses you fly and they are extremely well maintained. The older things get the more attention they need. At least it didn't bend the valve, hole a piston, brake a rod and destroy the block! Everything can be fixed and it always takes less time the second try. At least you got to drive the car and show it off first. Roo

Looking fab Fab! Something missing though.......hmmm.

When you restore the bindings Fab make sure you mark them 360RD to be more precise.