1981 Esprit Turbo - Black

[Hornsey Boy]

Seems to have been missed by automated ebay pick up tool......

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1981-LOTUS-TURBO-ESPRIT-2-2-RARE-CLASSIC-CAR-BARN-FIND/264198514591?hash=item3d8375679f:g:QMUAAOSw1UdcZvA1

Four stud wheels too

[ChrisJ]

Had an engine change as it isn't a dry sump. also, it in the HC engine? as the filler cap is the wrong end to my LC.

Not sure about the interior.

Reasonable price

[Bazza 907]

Real shame about the interior but does look a good price currently.

[silverfrost]

Black Esprit Turbo G car sitting on comps.............. It will shoot up with last minute bids defo ite like the interior,  at the top of the ebay page it says suggested cars also,  an early 501 Elite in a light green looking rather sorry for itself,   currently at 220 pounds,  someone please save it 

[Trevsked]

Over priced surely? Wrong engine potentially, interior wrong. Find another dry sump engine if you can, which I doubt readily, respray, interior, surely those alone would cost £24k let alone the pain of it all plus the purchase cost of say £13k so finished for £37k. Makes no sense as you could buy a matching numbers car and use it for less.

 

Trevor.

[silverfrost]

This could be returned to prime example for a lot less than 24k imo    Paint does not look to bad in the pics ?  

[Trevsked]

How do you see costs on this then?

 

Trevor.

[silverfrost]

Paint is always the big decider,   But a lot of the time the paintwork can be restored,   My costs always go on the person self spannering. 

Other than buying the a used dry sump lump,  which the old lump could probably still be found with a little searching. 

New Tyres, brakes and suspension, less than 2k,  Use the current engine while doing a rolling restoration, with new fluids and belts, and sundries 500 approx. 

Add to that a turbo rebuild to be on the safe side. 

Interior costs can be crazy money,  like Fabians cars, but if you want the best you have to pay the premium,  If you just want nice it would cost a lot less, The Esprits interior is pretty basic bar the leather work for the plumped up leather,  Steve on here does great carpets. 

Engine wise you get a great car to use while looking for the factory lump that was fitted or another replacement dry sump engine,  You can then sell the non dry sump turbo engine and get a good return, as you can show it running etc,  or most likely the new owner will keep the car as it is with the non spec engine.

Its a black G Turbo with gold stripes and sitting on comps   You could make more money in selling as parts at the price it is sitting at now on ebay 

[Trevsked]

A reasonable response but not one that describes “prime example” in any way.

Respray through Stocks when they were doing than was at least £8k probably nearer £10k.

Interior is £10k with Fultcher I believe if not a little more but suspect a lesser return could be had for £7k, not what the car deserves and not “prime”

The engine was changed no doubt due to failure and to speculate you can find the original is a bit far fetched and the engine currently looks like it’s been under water judging by the corrosion. I doubt that would come to life without proper precautionary investigation.

Seems to me there is too much romance around some of these cars and reality comes somewhat short of dreams. Ask anyone who has restored a car if they came in on budget.

 

Trevor.

[hopo]

Yea but at least its sunny outside trev!

[pete]

So @Trevskedis the one sparky has been working the better buy

[silverfrost]

Just over 16k ,  Good money for a project car,   anyone on here ?  

[Trevsked]

12 hours ago, pete said:

So @Trevskedis the one sparky has been working the better buy

No idea, I’ve not seen it.

 

Trevor.

[Bazza 907]

On 23/02/2019 at 09:17, silverfrost said:

Just over 16k ,  Good money for a project car,   anyone on here ?  

Nuts

As Trevor says, completely overpriced.

Will probably be back within 3 months with somebody saying that they simply didn't have time and that they were simply looking to just recoup what they paid for it.

  

[Sparky]

This is a growing issue.

[silverfrost]

I am not sure with the 16k one,  I have a feeling it will be a rolling restoration and back on the road soon ,   The white one at Sparkys is a lot different imo, it is complete, has all the bells and whistles,  and the lotus history and a tad more rare.  To not completely restore the white one would be a sin imo