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That would be a bit sad and really silly from the owner. 😑

This LHD GT430 popped up on Collecting Cars. Going to be an interesting one to watch. (not affiliated with the seller) https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/2018-lotus-evora-gt430

I have a bit of bonus content to keep myself distracted and you guys entertained in the meantime. For example the amazing sparkle on the other car at the dealer. It looks so high quality in real life and the sparkle is pretty much invisible from further away and a real surprise if you look closer. Or the underside of the keyfob: And the photo of the VIN. Ending in 10150 ... 50ths car? Or 150ths?

@Bibs Still at the dealer unfortunately. 😕 Papers are on it´s way, but haven´t arrived yet. But I promise a sh*t load of pictures and videos as soon as I can pick her up!! Maybe end of next week...?

It's the car dealers plate. They probably haven't updated their marketing material yet 😅. "Wuppertal" is by the way the name of the german city outside of Düsseldorf where their shop is.

Had a chance to get a look under the car today after bringing some papers to the dealer, still no final date for road registration but chances are its done next week. They are waiting for registration paperwork from Lotus. Good to see the trustworthy AP Racing logo on the inside of the caliper. Also Bilstein dampers as expected. The photo with the black spring is not from my car, it's from a Sport suspension car they have in the showroom. Was curious to compare details to my Touring car, but couldn't find the numbers and didn't want to bother the mechanics to lower it again a few minutes before their start of the weekend 😅 FullSizeRender.MOV

I can already confirm bees like the "new" Norfolk mustard as much. Actually one of the first pics I took last friday. Things are looking positive that I can pick the Emira up end of next week! 🙏

@XynagyThanks! For now, I still have the Evora and no urgency in getting rid of it. If it gets used or not once the Emira has arrived will obviously influence my decision. Right now having one of only eight Evora GT430 Sport makes me feel relatively confident in terms of its value, but if I realise it's not getting used at all - I will happily pass it on to the next enthusiast who would appreciate it more. It's still one of the greatest sports cars of all time for sure.

Thanks all for the nice comments. I'll be pressing my nose on the window of their showroom today. @TomE My dealer always "promised" me the first car he'll get. I told him weeks prior to the release event (the rainy live stream) that I'll be placing an order. Formally signed papers the morning after the release event. We didn't have the deposit game here in Germany, it was a straight forward contract & signature thing. But I guess this still makes me one of the very early "slots". He told me about exactly a week ago that my car will be on it's way soon and it showed up earlier than expected, he was expecting it to arrive end of this month. The VIN was in the system since about approx. 2-3 months according to him. @ScruteMy mate took another picture yesterday where you can see the wheels much better than on my photos: Maybe also an interesting topic for the ride height story - it's a touring spec car and the others in the showroom were sport and seemed to sit about 1,5cm lower. But one of the guys working in the shop said mine might still have transport spacers in the suspension. Something else I noticed: * The seating position is definitely lower than the pre-production cars. * The red flap over the start button is now made out of alloy or metal instead of plastic. * The doors close with a very satisfying and quality feel.

🤣 That's exactly what I'll do until they throw me out. Pictures incoming. 🍷🪑🤳🏻

Absolutely awful, it was no issue as long as I didn't know when she will come. Now I was hoping end of next week, but the dealer said it going to take until first few days of October 😫 I'm going back for a visit and a coffee tomorrow morning in case anybody here is interested in more photos of certain details.

Not sure, technically i haven´t got the car yet... just got the call when it arrived at my dealer (M.A.S. in Wuppertal - cannot praise them enough! 🙌). It will now take another week or maybe a bit more for it to be road registered etc. I will also get the front PPF´ed etc. But I am soo happy to know that it is only a few days away now. I am not at the dealer anymore and unfortunately I haven´t taken that many pictures in the rush of excitement. The one I have where you can see the contrast the best is this one below. But I have to say that the dark painted areas on the wheels are matt black (or a veeery dark grey) and not glossy as they were e.g. on the forged wheels of my GT430 Sport.

Still can't believe I picked up my phone during my lunch break while having a burger and one hr later started the yellow beauty for the first time. It's now going to take another week or two to get her registered... but wow!!

Hope it is also seen as a positive sign that I can confirm my car will be delivered in max. 3 weeks. My dealer just send me an email confirming the car is on it´s way and should be with him soon. (German dealer who just got his demo cars today)

Colin Chapmans Esprit S2 was exhibited at the first episode of Düsseldorf´s (my hometown) "Classic Days" event. A cozy mini-Goodwood... The car will also be present at the upcoming Oldtimer Grand Prix at the Nürburgring (where also a german Lotus Meeting will be held right in front of the main tribune).

Thanks Filip! Yes, the only thing that suffered from the trip is my back - but not more than it would have from any other car on a 1800km drive. 😊 Now I have to wait for the Elan to be road registered for Germany, there are a couple of minor things to sort out for the famous german TÜV to be happy. (Reverse gear light switch...) I was hoping to do a little convoy with it to the oldtimer grandprix at the Ring in about two weeks, but the odds are against it in terms of timing. But oh what a satisfying driving experience and ... 126bhp out of a 1.6L in 1973 - that must have been one of the highest bhp per litre at the time.

Thanks Bibs!! Just passed the toll stations while texting from the passenger seat...

Hey guys, I just have to share my happiness. A 1973 Elan Sprint (with a originally factory shipped 5 speed gearbox - 0093H) found it's way into my garage. Bought the car from a very nice Lotus enthusiast based on a recommendation of @Tocus It is a spanish car that got fully restored over the last years and in marvellous condition. Okay, besides the fact that somebody probably installed the wrong engine mounts on the airbox side because it keeps knocking against the body at low revs. But that earned her it's new nickname: Thumper. 😂 Me and a good friend were crazy enough to fly to Madrid and pick the car up in person. We decided to drive it all the way back to Germany (1800km!), in the evening and early mornings for the Spain part (Lotus don't like the heat as we know). First impression: What a nice ride quality! But the gearbox probably needs an overhaul, 4th gear isnt synchronised and 5th is really hard to get in. Other than that - please cross fingers, we still have about 600km to go! (Passing Paris right now) ✌🏼✌🏼☺️

Just got a call from my german dealer who told me that my car now has a VIN and that the build will start soon, dealer demonstrators arriving in a few weeks and my car right after. Mine is said to be the first from that dealer...

What a nice day! Thanks @Tocus for the organisation and all Lotus Club Holland members for the warm (should I say sunny ☀️) welcome! There were plenty of amazing Esprits from all generations, I have never seen a more original S1 than @Tocus silver car, a couple of Esprit V8s, S3´s etc etc. Everybody was super friendly and the location was excellent. I can highly recommend and will definitely come back next year! Definitely worth the trip! I´ll drop a couple of photos here....

WOW! What a beautiful drivetrain. These are not the stock brakes, are they?

Not sure about the startup but I was more worried about normal engine noise during driving. But luckily I had an opportunity to experience open valve reving today. Asked the friendly guy behind the wheel that was waiting to go up the hill if valves are open (he said they are) and if he could give it some revs. Result: less loud than the Evora but still a good noise and loud enough for me. 🤗✌🏼 FullSizeRender.MOV

Anyone else surprised how quiet the Emira actually is? I mean, we knew that it was not possible to keep the noise levels of Evora and Co. But standing next to it being started made me a little bit sad. But I'm not sure if the valves were open. But its not just the Emira, also all the supercars like McLaren / Ferrari are much quieter compared to what I remember from my last visit to FOS before COVID. Old news, I know... just thinking out loud.

Hey, sorry the weekend tickets are sold unfortunately.

Ha! You catched me? Did you take this from racetracker or were you at the Ring? I was avoiding all the front pics due to the rubber seal flapping around 😅 I was about to post this one instead: The S1 is going in for the 1000km oil change after the full engine rebuild tomorrow. Means I took it very easy on that lap (the brakes also don't feel up to the task of a fast-ish lap in my opinion). And then it should be ready for the roadtrip to FOS mid next week ✌🏼😀