My GT3 for sale

[FLOPSHOTGOLF]

Very sorry to read this news.  May she rest in peace.

 

[carspath]

Mark , Really sorry to hear about Lorna . Heartbreaking . For what it’s worth , I think that you should just hang onto the GT3 for a bit longer until you are more settled , and are really sure that you want to part with it .It’s clearly part of you , and Lorna  would want you to be happy , and  continue enjoying it . In  time you will have the space to make a definitive decision that you will be comfortable with . My condolences 

[ramjet]

Sorry to hear about Lorna, Mark. My wife and myself have gone very close to knowing how you feel.

Our thoughts are with you.

[tinywillyuk]

Coming to this thread late, via the ad...  as another with a daughter, and one who despite being 7, adores the Esprit and shares it with me, I am so sorry for your loss.

[Big Vern]

Mark, ive only just seen this post and its a hard read. I am so so sorry for your loss. Sending all the best wishes to you and your family..

 

[Loose Cannon]

Hi all, thankyou very much for your kind thoughts and messages. As a nice ending to this tale I can confirm my GT3 has been sold. As you will know it was just as important to me personally who bought it as how much it went for, and it has gone to just about the best person I can ever think of in more ways than one.

I don't think he will mind me mentioning his name (as he said the car will probably be even more famous in publicity pics in the future) but it was bought by long-standing Lotus staffer Gavan Kershaw, Director of Lotus Cars (Vehicle Attributes) and all-round Lotus-Nutcase-for-Life.

As he knew about the circumstances behind the sale Gavan organised a day out at the factory. I delivered the car to him and in return he treated me and my wife to an incredible few laps of the track as a passenger in an Evora 430, a guided tour of the lines by another Lotus hero, Richard Rackham, and a meeting with Clive Chapman who let us look around the Classic workshops. I haven't worn as big a smile in many months I can tell you, and my deepest thanks go out to all involved.

I must say the amount of interest the GT3 generated at the factory was extraordinary, even when mixed in with the current exotica. Fifth Gear were nearby filming some retrospective on the Elise and you could see them looking at it - who knows maybe they will do an Esprit vid soon?

Another factory staffer has recently bought a red GT3 which featured in some corporate press photographs of a new director, and that owner was the one who persuaded Gavan to take the plunge. Actually Gavan told me he bought the first production press car, also orange, when it was released so he's no stranger to them.

Lotus guru Scott Walker who is now a senior staffer inspected the GT3 long and hard and pronounced it a "good'un". I must admit was a bit apprehensive when Gavan asked to take it out on the road for a test drive but must admit he drove just like me, i.e. like a pensioner! He says he gets quite enough speed on the track and takes it easy on the roaad, very wise.

All in all one of the most memorable days of my life. To top it off we went for a quiet drink in local pub to calm down later that evening and just happened to pick the night of the monthly Lotus meeting at the Bird in Hand - hello Owen!

 

 

I must admit I did get a bit emotional when time came to hand the keys over. When thinning out the history file I came across some pics of the car on the driveway, you know the sort, when the kids bikes are on the garden, all the plants are half as high as they are now, and you realise just how much your special car has become woven into the fabric of your life and your family. But time moves on and I can tell you parting with a car does not even register compared to parting with one of your children.

I may get back into Lotus ownership one day - it occurred to me when experiencing all these amazing things that I would not be allowed on site at the next factory event and would be lucky to be allowed in on the park and ride bus! I might have to cadge a lift from one of you lot as a passenger!

 

 

[Stuart Monument]

What a lovely ending to your ownership experience of that car. You’ll be back ... 😜

[PhilW]

Mark

I read all the posts here.  I wont comment as I can not even begin to imagine.  Just to say your name is on my passenger seat should you ever need it for the next Hethel event

[Stuart Monument]

On 13/07/2019 at 23:19, Stuart Monument said:

What a lovely ending to your ownership experience of that car. You’ll be back ... 😜

Sorry Mark should have re read the posts you wrote earlier on. I read them when you initially posted  and can’t imagine what you have gone through. Previous post was relating to the moving on of you car , Hope I didn’t cause any offence. 

[semi42]

just read this,

truly sorry for your loss Mark 

thoughts are with you

[Loose Cannon]

On 16/07/2019 at 17:18, Stuart Monument said:

Sorry Mark should have re read the posts you wrote earlier on. I read them when you initially posted  and can’t imagine what you have gone through. Previous post was relating to the moving on of you car , Hope I didn’t cause any offence. 

Not in the slightest Stuart your positive comment was taken exactly as you meant it. It could not possibly have gone to a better home, I'm delighted.

On 16/07/2019 at 16:23, PhilW said:

Mark

I read all the posts here.  I wont comment as I can not even begin to imagine.  Just to say your name is on my passenger seat should you ever need it for the next Hethel event

Thankyou Phil that would be amazing. If I'm back down Norfolk way I'll look you up if thats OK? When I first set off on the mission of Esprit ownership a copper'n'cream Bond-esque Turbo was top of the list. Unfortunately at the time such replicas were not really in vogue and genuine similar cars very rare. Plus I didn't have the experience or skill to create one myself. Its thanks to this website and earlier iterations that its so relatively easy to own an Esprit now, the knowledge base and archive is immense.