GTK

yep finished it before breakfast today Tough going this past few weeks, I'm keeping the head down on the Benz until the Esprit is firmly on the horizon. New episode will follow real soon 🤞🏼

No, I don't suppose so! I hadn't put it together that there are three part numbers, the Motorola brand numbers for their own retail units, Motorola's p/n in relation to client branded units, and the clients own stock p/n. So If BL650P is a Motorola part number for a British Leyland commissioned product, LT is obviously Motorola's designation for Lotus. Sorry, playing catch up here lol. Does anyone know how to chew gum?

Continuing the journey deep into obsession The following snaps of a 1977 Motorola in car entertainment brochure. Not a whiff of an 'LT -' model prefix. Models look decidedly older in style too, but then '78 was the first year an LT unit is reported to have been fitted to a Lotus. So perhaps the new model year was a major facelift.

Esprit Drone Services - The only time travelling aerials specialist. I'd be straight on to Getty about copyright infringement.

Ah you say that Petey, but yours has been breathed upon. Know what I mean I want to restore the 2.0 engine either way, and that'll happen first, but then... maybe

Only trouble is putting the paws on a HC motor.

That's a vote for punchy 2.0 then, lol

I'm going through this dilemma a the mo and found the thread. To be honest I've been mulling this over for five years, but I need to start building my engine soon so have to sh1t or get off the pot on the matter. Someone told me that a 912 sump gets in the way of the gear linkage in an earlier car like my S2, @espritmania if you see this, could you confirm whether you had to make gear linkage alterations or not? One of the things that attracts me to the 912 engine is the strengthened bottom end. I'm not even sure I'd need this, I'm not going to be doing track days in the car, but the peace of mind would be nice. The extra torque is a big draw too. Anyone have any intel on the technicalities of getting a 912 to work well in a S1 or S2? George

Woah! Where was the meet Makis?

Latest episode. Why would you care about an old Benz? Because I can't get to the Esprit until it's finished...

Just thought to search for the larger part number on the Lotus Motorola label above [A089M6027F], it's the Lotus part number. As found in the service parts list section 17.27. Bit of a snag, ' - 089 - ' denotes a part for an Excel according to the key. We're on a wild goose chase here. [Clues in these pages for anyone looking for the factory fit radios for other car models too.]

Hey Phil, sorry for the inaccuracies mate. It's amazing the things you think you remember. Glad to know it's you anyway. All invoices to Bibs I'm less credible as a witness now I suppose but I did read a post by a member who had found one at a car boot, again though, no photos. Reminds me, if you want me to post the snap of the back of your unit [or indeed a photo of it in it's rightful setting] you could email it to me. I'm just realising I messaged you about your radio a while back and we chatted about it. It's how I have the photo!

What's that?

Motorola branded two band unit, with RW15 model number and no other identifying labels.

Link to a thread with all the details I've gleaned about the Lotus / Motorola radios over the last few years; HERE. [ @Paul Coleman ]

BL model numbers from Rover, Austin Rover, and Triumph branded units. [not necessarily in order]

- Unfortunately I wasn't able to insert the relevant photos at the relevant points in the text. You'll figure it out Forward. This is all of the info I amassed over a number of years searching for a Lotus branded radio cassette unit for my Esprit S2. I won't touch S1 cars save to say there was a Philips unit [not rebranded for Lotus] in the mix at least during some part of S1 production as far as I know, and there seems to have been some radio/cassette cross over between S1 and S2 production. I'm saying some S1's may have also had Motorola units, idk for sure. When I got my car I was happy to see a period Sharp radio cassette in it, and it being old, I assumed it was factory. Then my certificate of provenance landed and the accompanying letter states that the car had been full spec, which meant it had metallic paint, leather upholstery and a Lotus branded radio cassette. It also mentions that the unit was manufactured by Motorola. 'I'll find one of those then', I thought. Wrong. Well kind of wrong, I just got one. It took four and a half years though, and I was extremely motivated* in my search. Which means nothing really in a sense, but it means I have now have a little file of my findings during that search. There's so little info on these units out there, I figure it might help someone else. So you've likely been all over TLF and you've found a few references to the Motorola model numbers of the two units that were allegedly fitted to S2 Esprits. The model numbers often stated; LT551 and LT558. I say allegedly, not with contempt, but because whereas a photo may surface of a unit [resembling those below] fitted to an Esprit, I have never found proof that a radio/cassette with 'Lotus' printed on the facia, actually bears either of those model numbers. I'd urge any owner who has a car with a Lotus branded radio to gently pull the unit out far enough to read the model number [usually on the label on the top surface of the unit], and post it here. These units are incredibly rare and won't be any less so for info shared. It's not so easy these days to stump a Google image search, but the phrase; 'Lotus Motorola radio cassette' comes very close. A photo of my unit, having been on a recent auction listing, is the sole relevant result. Before I get into the details, let's address the elephant in the room; these are not set the world on fire units. Motorola are a brand steeped in history and world firsts, and they build quality items, but this is not a particularly good looking unit, nor is it particularly advanced. It has a charm though that in my eyes is coming around, with it's uncluttered UI, '70's type face, sporty colouring and 'U' marked FM band. The Unit. This is I believe the only photo of a Motorola produced, Lotus branded radio cassette on TLF, until now. - SEE PHOTO #01 - Unfortunately I can't remember the thread it's from, possibly a member's S2 build thread, but the unit passed between two TLF members for what would certainly be considered mate's rates now, and I think the photo being on a weighing scales, was taken by the original owner but uploaded by the receiver. I've also read at least two other posts here of owners who's cars still have the original Lotus branded unit, and another by a lucky owner who randomly found one for £10 at a car boot sale. This unfortunately is one of those items that no one posts photos of. After seeing that and periodically trying every related search term for a unit, I have seen photo's of three cars that were clearly fitted with a Lotus Motorola unit. The first was a bright blue Lotus Eclat that appeared on Car and Classic. Someone had attempted to make it a cabriolet and cut the roof off. It was listed at stg £650 and changed hands twice during my search, ending up on the continent I believe. The original seller wouldn't part with the radio cassette separately. The second was again an Eclat, red this time and in what seemed like good original, and useable condition. Offered on ebay by an independent dealer in the greater London area iirc, again the seller wasn't willing to remove the unit. The third was in an Esprit S2 in the United States. It was listed [and presented] as an original car but had no engine or trans. I had no more luck with this gent than the last two. Unfortunately whilst I can find the remnants of these three ads, I don't seem to have taken screen shots of the cars, or the units. The radios looked identical to the one I have received. The LT Family. The Motorola unit fitted to Lotus cars seems to have been part of a small range of models that consisted of at least three specs; a two band radio, a two band radio cassette, and a three band radio cassette, the latter being our target. The two lesser specified models appear semi-regularly on the auctions, and can usually be had from £15 to £50. These can be found unbranded, branded for Motorola, or for a number of the British Leyland marques. Our three band radio cassette seems only to have been fitted to Lotuses. Do I need to mention it's rarity? Interestingly, and infuriatingly the BL units wear only BL model numbers, so there are no more clues to be had there. Unit #01 - The two band radio - SEE PHOTO #02 - Unit #02 - The two band radio cassette - SEE PHOTOS 03, 04, 05, 06 - Unit #03 - The three band radio cassette - SEE PHOTO #07 - My unit is not an LT551, nor is it an LT558. It's an LT648. This likely means that it's an updated model in the same line. Whether the earlier model numbers were radios which looked similar or not is anyone's guess. Perhaps the LT551 and LT558 are the two band radio, and two band radio cassette pictured above. There may never have been an LT551 or LT558 in a Lotus, perhaps they were part of the original deal between Lotus and Motorola, but by the time the order was fulfilled the models had been superseded, who knows. It's heartening at least that it the three band Lotus emblazoned unit bears an LT prefix. I'll leave you with some of the BL model labels, and some detailed photos of my unit. I hope this helps someone, or at least provides some reference for what is a funny little item to be one of the rarest parts of a late 70's Lotus Esprit. SEE PHOTO #08, AND REMAINING IMAGES - * By motivated I mean that for three years I treated the search for the radio unit as a weekly exercise. I contacted all of the main Lotus indy specialists, who each will tell you they've a list as long as their arms of owners desperately looking for a unit. I contacted Lotus who have no information about the units, outside of some cars being fitted with Motorola made radios. I contacted Motorola Heritage, who usually don't engage with Joe public but who were intrigued, as they also had no record of the models or of any dealing with Lotus cars. Unfortunately some sort of data error means I've lost the emails from Motorola Heritage, but since receiving my unit I've contacted them again to update them, and if I hear anything back I'll post it here. If you're looking for inspiration it's worth noting that most of my efforts produced little more than the information contained in this post, the radio ultimately came from a simple saved search on ebay. Here are some ideas I employed that helped in my other searches for rare items. set saved searches on ebay & local online classifieds [as in automatic search notifications, there were no other bidders on my radio ] politely contact people selling period correct Lotus parts politely contact people selling Lotus project cars with the radio in tact ask anyone you've just purchased a related item from attend auto jumbles & car boots place a wanted post here [in the wanted section] remember to mention it to any car guy or Lotus enthusiast you talk to offer for barter other rare items you may not now need, in exchange

Will do, just waiting for it to land. I'll put together everything I've found about them, which isn't much [because there isn't much] but it'd be good to have it in one place and hopefully it'll help someone else. There is a photo of one on TLF, I just can't remember where. It was buried in the middle of someone's S2 build thread iirc. I have the photo though and will dig it out asap.

4.5 years later, three of which I was actively searching at every opportunity, and I got a Lotus Motorola radio cassette! First one I've seen come up for sale in that time. I'm shocked. Can I just take this opportunity to say Really though, if you're on here and on the trail for one then all I'll say is don't give up

Will do!

Hey Makis, I plan on taking my Esprit to GR soon as it's done. Will probably keep it there for at least six months.

If the car had only covered 23k miles in 30+ years then it has spent long periods without use. It must have undergone a major recommissioning at some point. That said I feel Esprits have a bad rep because of widespread lack of upkeep. I have no benchmark of course but are they that highly strung (even when in fine fettle) that it should be a surprise that one did 2k miles without issue? Harry Metcalfe obvs didn’t think so . Ill be sorely disappointed if mine isn’t reliable after rebuild. Run in and teething period understood. PI mean potential deal breaker disappointed. I have faith in classic Lotus 😅