Fridge

Well, mine works fine. But quality, Del'lorto authorised parts and original Lucas distributor with the original power curve. It's all in the detail. I never use e10 fuel in any of my cars.

A carb rebuild with quality parts from Eurocarb (not eBay), a proper tune and a refurbished distributor help. How many people overlook the latter after 40+ years (like the springs in the cambelt tensioner), or fit a cheap aftermarket distributor made in China? Remember, these cars started OK from new.

My Esprit is on DHLA45's and it would start no problem. You don't need EFi to obtain that.

Owner's own.

I haven't, and have used that road from Birk Brow to Whitby a lot as I had a long term client job in that area and further south (actually east down the coast), but I've only seen Police at the side of the road once, south of Scaling Dam. However I been away filming in Spain for 5 weeks this winter. Most North Yorkshire Police or camera partnership vans seem to be on the A19 near Thirsk, which then move to the Sutton Bank to Helmsley road, and then Helmsley to Scarbados road. No Police seem to exist within the North York Moors itself even though Heartbeat would suggest otherwise 😁

Directly south of me, across the North York Moors and Yorkshire Wolds, but 62 miles. If you're venturing into the Moors let me know. Though the weather is mixed and I store the Esprit further away.

Whereabouts in t'Yarkshire?

It looks like I'll have to do a deep dive into Restopower, but seems like they use CANbus for power delivery ie stability control etc, no doubt as well as other things. Especially EFi of course. I assume your DTA ECU can also perform EFi duties if required. I noted that the MicroSquirt device could function solely for ignition timing without hindrance thus allowing expanding the functionality to EFi at another time if desired. I have heard good things about the Jenvey throttle bodies. There are a couple of restomod cars up here eg BMW 6 Series and Delta Integrale (I think) with such setups. All very clever stuff. And the place who does my final fine carb tuning are experts in such wizardry. I think they recommend Jenvey. I think @LOTUSMAN33 has been "playing" with such magic on his S1. By "tuning" CANbus I meant snag testing, as that shiz won't be easy to perfect I suspect. It'll be interesting in what you throw at it as regards functional requirements as no doubt it will allow numerous "upgrades". PNM amongst others have been selling red sheathed braided clutch pipe hose for a while. Hopefully that's what you saw on the Esprit chassis at the NEC. Always best to replace that old thing! My own visit to the NEC today, after planning to go 5 years ago when I was deep into my own Esprit restoration, went well. Obtaining the necessary information on some devices I'm now in a position to add. It was a long day on the road after an overnight in Sheffield en route, and a venture into the Metrolips of Birmingham to meet with ex-colleagues, before hitting the Great North Road back to North Yorkshire this evening. I was reminded after hitting gridlock traffic in central Brum why I prefer the open roads of my present locale. I've obviously been spoilt over the 17 years I've spent back up here.

An interesting retro implementation of CANbus. I've never heard of that being done, apart from adding engine management. It's certainly a highly capable communications protocal, as we can see in modern cars with all their functionality running over the same wiring via multiplexing. As I said earlier, it would certainly make my life easier if all the engine and speed information was available in that format. However, sounds like a nightmare in waiting to me compared to the simplicity of the original electrics. As for EFi you could always move to that in the future if you decide otherwise. I think I'd have gone the whole hog with throttle bodies if going to the effort of implementing something like a MicroSquirt ECU. As now you'll have two separate systems to tune and perfect. People do retain carbs, but IMO it's a bit of a hammer to crack an egg just for the benefit of ignition, which can be more than adequately improved for road use with a good quality Lucas distributor refurbishment, with correct advance curves etc. Note, not an aftermarket PowerSpark or similar dizzy. The ECU ignition will work fine, but it'll be interesting how the CANBus performs, and what other benefits it may provide.

The Sky advert was shot in South Africa using locally sourced vehicles.

Oh OK. There must be a benefit which I'm not aware. CANbus (with OBD-II) would make my life very easy when developing embedded systems, but it seems a lot of work to implement from scratch for little gain given the relatively simple loom of the G-Esprits. Unless it improves the engine management via an ECU etc. Which is why I expected you to have EFI with throttle bodies or something via a mini-loom. Not implemented across the whole car. Have you upgraded to ABS also? I'll have to some more reading.

Having learned more about CANbus since I asked originally, I'd assumed it had been just implemented for the EFi, not through the whole car? Using a mini loom, but dunno. I'm actually down at the NEC Tuesday next week to check out DVRs for my own Esprit related Sci-Fi project, but intending to travel back north that same day, so not sure I'll have time for any excursions.

The ignition switch only operates the solenoid on the starter and doesn't take the full current, but I'm sure you know that. You could always do it via a relay if you want to be extra cautious.

The door cars of the S1 have plastic plugs to retain the bottoms front and back.

It is worth reusing the original clips for the chrome strips. As the new one from SJ Sportcars are narrower and often release apparently. I cleaned mine up and had them re-riveted back into place. Worked out well.

VEHICLES, MOTORBIKES & TRAILERS Up to £2,000 - 10% + VAT £2,001 to £20,000 – 7.5% + VAT £20,001 and above – the first £20,000 is charged at 7.5% + VAT commission, the remaining balance is charged at 5% + VAT. e.g. Sale Price £25,000. First £20,000 @ 7.5%. Remaining £5,000 @ 5.0%. TV shows like this are often a nonsense. The Salvage Hunters S1 being another example. Though Car SOS does rebuild cars under pressure, but standards aren't as good as you'd expect from their speil. Even if builds overlap, as can be seen with other episode's cars in the background at times. That's series production scheduling for you, and how programmes like this are often made ie in bulk, and concurrently. Anyone thinking these restorations are carried out like the ones not in Teleland need to think again. I've spent 20 years working with production management, and have filmed for UKTV who own many of these channels.

Do it half and half. Down the middle. One side white, the other orange. It will at least keep @Paul Coleman happy half of the time. Just don't tell him. 🤪

Someone will know better, but I think you have to engage the handbrake lever a number of times for the caliper internal mechanism to click over. As long as it's not all jammed up. Those internals are becoming rare now sadly, so don't damage it or give to an outfit who don't know the model.

I must admit Dave, being your original S1 I would be inclined to finish it, or even moth ball the project until you have the time and inclination to return to it. These cars don't come around too often, and projects will become very scarce, even if prices drop in the future. Obviously cashflow and space are obligations. I didn't know you were into motorcycles. I've just returned from Spain and Portugal filming for both Kawasaki and BMW Motorrad of their 2024 ranges.

Sadly Dave's part built S1 has now sold. Not surprising I suppose, he'd done a lot of the heavy lifting on that restoration. Certainly in the mechanical and bodywork side of things. Having completed a full body off restoration myself in a lockup I can say there is still a huge amount of work to do though. The interior of the other car, though very nicely done, is definitely none standard, as are a number of other details. Since that's usually where top dollar prices are asked it is worth noting. It all depends what the buyer is after. Dealers across all marques, especially those unfamiliar with specific car models often over egg the pudding in their descriptions, as I'm sure many are aware. It's wise, as Justin says, to do your research well if spending your hard earned wonga at the upper reaches of the market. There are plenty of owners and restorers of S1s on here and the Facey B groups who can be asked if advice is being sought.

@LOTUSMAN33is selling this S1 project. I think the other one is owned by Tomorrow's Classics near Bristol, but is being sold by UK Sportscars. @Suddabym may know or have seen the S1 up close as it was at Tomorrow's Classics when they built his gold S2 restomod. Any classic at the top end of the market will usually take a while to sell. Awaiting the right buyer etc.

Good info on the Armstrong rear shocks @GTK The road springs supplier by SJ Sportcars had Lotus on them when mine were delivered in December 2016 ahead of my Esprit S1 restoration. As said by a previous poster, the suspension is left untightened until the car is fully built. I had mine weighed and tracked by a professional and it sits perfectly. Thought it should be noted that the front sat high right up until the windscreen and rear glass was installed. I know very long term owners of 40+ years who have aftermarket shock absorbers on their car which they auto tested which work very well. On Konis I think. The Protechs are OK, but I suspect the fronts aren't as good as the originals, but that's only my opinion.

The last edition. I received my copy about 6 weeks ago.

Love those photos. Nice creative treatment

Though different, the S1 gear lever gaiter/window switch panel has four unsightly screws holding it to the centre console. However I found it didn't need them in my car, as you state, the fascia panel on the radio-cassette holds it in place and it's a snug fit.