Hi all, a quick intro

[AndyH60]

Hi everyone.

After 40 years of admiring the Esprit, i have finally got round to purchasing one. A 1979 S2 in red and black interior. I will add it to the register when i have time.

I look forward to a few hours reading some of the forum content.

A bit about me:

Automotive electrical and electronics design engineer / manager, Ex Lotus Engineering employee and Ex Lotus Cars Employee, particularly working on the Esprit (New model that never got launched) and various other projects in Lotus Engineering, Evora, Elise etc. Worked at various other manufacturers such as AML, JLR, Lamborghini, Mercedes, Vinfast, GWM etc etc.

Regards Andy

[Bibs]

Welcome Andy and congratulations on the Esprit. Sounds like a wicked fun career, where are you now?

Also, as ex-Lotus I'll pop you a free year's subs to being a Full Member

[Escape]

Welcome to TLF Andy!

We look forward to seeing some pics of your Esprit.

Greetz,

Filip

[AndyH60]

Hi Bibs.

 

Top man  

Im currently at Tata Technologies working on the Vinfast VF8 and VF9 projects out of Vietnam, been doing that for 18 months now, most of it in HaiPhong. Back in the UK since Feb this year. Just took a new role at Yazaki Europe as European EDS systems manager, so looking forward to going to Cologne and back to Japan for the odd trip but still in electrical engineering (Harness, fusing, Electrical and electronic units etc)

I just got all the details on the S2 so i will fill it in on the register, as i couldnt see it on there.

She is a Carnival Red, with Black Leather and Marcasite interior. Although someone has re-trimmed the seats but not in leather, so looking now to get the seats retrimmed to correct spec.

 

[Bibs]

Feel free to pop some pics up. How is the marcasite holding up? 

[AndyH60]

Oddly enough, its held up very well.

Just bought it from Autovero near London.

Ill post up some pics in a bit. But i now know it was No 16 of 27 built in this spec according to the build sheet and records.

 

Here ya go

[AndyH60]

When the winter comes i will be sending her out for a top quality paint job to restore her to the proper finish. Not sure if i will keep her in Carnival red or add a pearl to it to update the look, but will be based on Carnival red base.

Just want to get to enjoy it this summer, so any meets etc, ill try to get there.

Mechanically she is as about perfect as possible, last owner spent £12+k to get everything done to his standards.

[Bibs]

The interior has held up very well, nice

[AndyH60]

Bibs, here is some of my *Lotus* work.

I was working with Skyships doing the IC cluster for the Esprit.

Shame it never made it to production, it was a beautiful car and would have followed the Evora perfectly.

 

[Bibs]

I was in Paris for the launch, would have been an epic car (and the Elan to be honest!) but it's a shame Uncle Dany's substance wasn't as impressive as his hair 

 

[ramjet]

Welcome to TLF Andy.

I had a red S4 with a black interior so you get my vote on colour combination.

Great looking career summary. The Esprit did look good, but I was sold on the Elite. Just loved it.

Any questions or issues with using the forums, feel free to ask one of us mods. We're here to help.  

[AndyH60]

And the serious amount of embezzlement going on at the time...NICE HOUSE

Should never have gone to Swindon Engines for the powerplant either, let alone Mr Wolf being project manager. As for the Ferrari powered prototype crash, we wont talk about that either haha. Loved my time in Hethel, made some great friends there, cant remember the guys name in the stores (He rode a ZX7R) a great guy.

[Bibs]

I'm up there on Friday, it's buzzing at the moment. 

Yes, Wolf was a mad genuis but his friends at HWA did 9 figures well I'm sure and as for Dany, he couldn't buy all those hair products on his own! Wasn't it his wife's Dad's 458 he lumped?

[AndyH60]

I dont remember, all i do remember is working in the office overlooking the track when the Esprit prototype got launched on the track and rolled over *a few* times

 

[ramjet]

Rolled over? As in crashed?

[Bibs]

35 minutes ago, AndyH60 said:

As for the Ferrari powered prototype crash

 

It's a test track, these things do happen from time to time. 

[AndyH60]

Yep, its a test track and that kind of stunt happens from time to time.

Sadly it was the only powertrain prototype built and was trashed, and the program got cancelled pretty soon after that

I did enjoy the Lotus historic days though, the JPS Senna car hooning round the track was pure music. Loved the Active Esprit in the main engineering building 1st floor as well....happy days at Hethel.

I used to sit next to Bee's (think that was his nickname) when doing the Esprit project.

 

 

[ramjet]

22 minutes ago, Bibs said:

 

It's a test track, these things do happen from time to time. 

Ouch. 

[DarrylV8]

Hi Andy assume you didn’t sign NDC/NDA and are ok to speak freely?

[peteyg]

Identical spec to my S2, at least when it was original. Interestingly they've done the same to your seats as mine which were leather on the build sheet but replaced with cloth at some point.

Pete

[paulbrown22]

Lovely car - if he's not on here the previous owner is/was definitely on some of the Lotus Esprit Facebook groups, as I've seen it there many times. From the previous descriptions I'd seen sounds like a very well sorted car, I hope you enjoy driving it!