Need help identifying my Esprit

[ElliotAU]

Hey guys,

I've only just joined as I've very recently joined the ranks of Esprit ownership.

I'm in Australia and managed to get myself an.... S1??? to re-commission / restore.

The car presents reasonably well for a 45 year old car, though the interior is definitely not factory and is in dire need of repair. The rest should just be general recommissioning as its only been driven in and out of a garage occasionally in the last 20 years.

I bought from out of state ( I did fly over and pickup personally and drop it at the transport depot) But while I wait for its arrival I'm creating the shopping list and familiarizing myself with all I can in anticipation.

Now, the car is a 1978 and is listed as an S1 on data bases as well as by the chassis number - 78020354G

But looking at it, it has quite a few bits that to me look like S2. I'm only new to the Esprit world so I thought I'd post and see if the brains trust could enlighten me a bit.

From what I can see, wheels are S2, front valance is s2, tail lights and surrounds are s2, the rest looks like s1 to me? But given that its a 1978 so very last of the S1's did some of the come with S2 parts from the factory or should I be looking for S1 parts to return it to original? I've attached some photos of the car.

Also, does anyone know where I can buy a replacement mirror from? You'll see half of one is missing in the photos.

[Escape]

Welcome to TLF Elliot!

Lovely car. Always good to learn an Esprit has found a new caring owner that want to go the distance to set things straight.

I can't add much more aside from it's great looking and it does look more like an S2 than an S1. I'm sure someone more knowledgeable about the early models will be along soon to explain it all.

Filip

[ElliotAU]

Thanks Filip, glad to be here.

I've dreamed of owning an Esprit for a long time so I truly am glad to be here haha.

Yes, definitely has a lot of S2 parts, making it look like an S2... almost.

Chassis number is saying it's an S1 though. I'm guessing at some point in it's ownership its had the S2 parts added, but I just want to make sure before I start trying to hunt down all the S1 parts. The wheels specifically seem like they'll be an expensive nightmare to track down haha.

Hopefully someone very knowledgeable will come along to guide me.

Elliot

[NeilWood04]

Hi Elliot, welcome to the forum.

Found these details regarding 0354G which I presume are accurate. Not much to go on but states the car is an S1. 

Neil

 

[ElliotAU]

Thanks Neil. 
 

Yes, both that data base and the other one both show it’s an S1. The other one is a bit more complete and has matching engine number etc too. http://www.holycows.net/Lotus/Lotus Esprit Serial Numbers (S1&S2 1977-1980) - Pictures.htm

I guess what I’m really looking to find out is if any of the late s1’s (mine is February 1978) came out of the factory with S2 parts? I don’t want to go changing things if it’s meant to look like that. 
 

I’ve read other people call the 78 model S1’s, an S1.5? They’re not very specific as to why they’re calling them an S1.5 though. Surely something must have been different to warrant the unofficial title? 
 

hoping someone in the know can clear it up for me. 
 

Thanks

Elliot

[drdoom]

Welcome Elliot. I see a car that mirrors my S2 in all aspects other than absence of the ear scoops added for engine bay cooling and inlet air. Seems '78 was a year in a period during which Lotus were quite fraught with financial stresses, not terribly unusual for the firm but impacting on production and development. My car, 7807/0100S, seems to have been completed in full Federal S2 configuration sometime early in '79 when the AC componentry became available. You'll likely find the radiator on yours is the conventionally proportioned, inclined item which succeeded the bespoke vertically stood early type. The airdam ties neatly in with the front valance thus diverging considerably from the S1 form. The side mirrors appear non-standard from what I can see. Just a lovely car you have there.

Cheers

[ElliotAU]

Hi DrDoom

Thanks for the welcome. yes, the lack of air vent fins and I think also the bumpers are still s1.

So you think that potentially mine came from the factory with multiple s2 parts, despite being an s1? 
 

I do believe the radiator is as you say, but i know the PO recently replaced it before I purchased, so hard to know if it’s been changed with a like for like. 

Mirrors are definitely aftermarket, but I’ll be on the hunt for a set of original mirrors to replace them with. 
 

Elliot. 

[Bibs]

Welcome Elliot. @Matt-watts usually has a good stock of early Esprit parts and may be able to help

[ElliotAU]

Thanks Bibs, I’ll send Matt a message once I’ve finished making a list of what I need. 

[Paul Coleman]

Congrats, good find. They're rare over here so even rarer in Oz!

The only S1 I know of that had S2 bits out of the factory was Phil Leech's silver one 278G which was a factory development car. Yours was probably modified by a previous owner back in the day to try and update it when the S2 came out? If you get a heritage certificate from Lotus they may have more information.

To retro fit the S2 front spoiler you have to remove the lower front quarters of bodywork which are difficult to reconstruct unless you have the moulds. I did one a couple of years back...

Have you have escaped the dreaded after market sunroof? The S1 Wolfrace wheels will be difficult to find but they are out there if you hunt long and hard enough. The S1 tail lights are Fiat X1/9 so nothing special. The wing mirrors do come up on eBay once in a while.

Edited November 19, 2023 by Paul Coleman

[LOTUSMAN33]

It would have been S1 spec from the factory, owners updated them to reflect the changes.

Mind ended up like a turbo although now back in S1 form after lots of work described by Paul above.

Nice car though 👍🏻

 

[LOTUSMAN33]

Looking at your rear end (car naturally) the license plate holder appears to be aftermarket/fabricated so covering the hole for the sunken plinth which is available from SJ with the securing brackets and lamps. The S2 lights have been fitted over the original holes too far out so you may be lucky and able to fit the S1 units with minimal work. Again the plinths are available from SJ’s with the brackets.

As Paul stated the lights are X1/9 so easy to obtain.

You have a federal rear valance fitted at the moment missing it’s grille, again you can change this for a domestic one available from SJ’s.

I have a repair panel to rebuild your front so you can then buy the one piece blade spoiler/undertray fitted to the later S1’s. Mines 357G so a few cars after yours.

To save the work I’d be tempted to just do the rear lights and spoiler, tidy it up and enjoy as is, the S2 spoiler looks nice enough as do speedlines. You can have them chrome painted these days giving that nice look.

Seats and wheels are tough to find in the U.K. and expensive to ship so being in Oz you could save a big dent in the wallet. 🙂
 

[LOTUSMAN33]

Here’s one I changed back years ago 

[ElliotAU]

Hi Paul,

Yeah, I was thinking that if the s2 front valance wasn't factory than the guards would have had to have been chopped up. (once the car is delivered I'll pull it off and have a look)

I'm fairly confident that I'll be able to reconstruct those bottom guard pieces with out a mold. (I've done minimal fibreglass work myself, but I've constructed more complex pieces out of steel for past projects)

Unfortunately it does have the dreaded aftermarket sunroof, though I will be leaving it until I have the funds to retro-fit AC in the car. OZ gets mighty hot so the extra ventilation wont be complained about for now.

It will need a new paint job at some stage as there are a few places around the car that have stress cracking in the glass/paint work. Not bad, but since it's spread over so many places its worth doing a whole respray. (unsure if I'll go back to original bronze or not) seems it's changed colours a few times in its life, bronze to red to white. But I'll save the paintwork till after I get AC so I can do the roof repair prior to paint.

Thanks

Elliot

Hi Lotusman33

Yeah, its beginning to look that way. I'm not worried about the work, more just didnt want to change things if they were actually meant to be that way and since I'm so new to the lotus world I wanted more knowledgeable minds than my own to steer me in the right direction.

Not as though the newer Esprits were bad looking, but it will be nice to get it back to spec at some point.

Thanks

Elliot

[ElliotAU]

Hi Lotusman33

Missed the second message there.

You have a good eye. I hadn't noticed that the tail lights were installed to close to the edges. Hopefully that means the holes underneath aren't too butchered up. Will see I guess.

Handy about the Fiat lights, I didn't realize that either so that part shouldn't be too hard to find locally.

I'm thinking along the same lines as you. I've got some mechanical work to do first up, worst of it will be a new clutch, though it may just be binding up somewhere, hard to tell by the small amount I drove it. But once its mechanically sorted, I'll probably do the tail lights and number plate surround panel, have the wheels stripped and powdercoated in some sort of chrome..esk coating and maybe do the front spoiler work. (I may wait to do the front spoiler at the same time as removing the sunroof since it will need respraying after that.

The most annoying thing on the whole car I've noticed is the copious amounts of excess silicon/sikaflex that's around the black trim piece. In my experience its near impossible to remove without damaging the paint. Anyone know of any magic products or methods for safely removing?

Thanks

Elliot

[ElliotAU]

I've just added the number plate and tail light recess panels and brackets to my ever growing SJ shopping cart.

In the photo of the number plate panel, there are two holes, are these for number plate lights? If so, are they the same as the ones that are mounted to the bumper on the S2? Or will I need to buy a new set?

Thanks

Elliot

[LOTUSMAN33]

Hi Elliot

The number plate lights are different but available via SJ cheap enough.

The black Sikaflex will be a pain, the car should have chrome screen trims so looks like yours have been painted and sealed I suspect?

Its all fixable, the clutch can be a weak spot with sticking so you’ll probably end up fitting new.

Dave  

[ElliotAU]

Thanks Dave,

SJ don't seem to specify if it's for an S1 or S2,

Are these the correct number plate lamps?

https://www.sjsportscars.com/parts-and-accessories/SJ075M0001.htm

https://www.sjsportscars.com/parts-and-accessories/A075M0256Z.htm

 

Yes, there's definitely no chrome around the windows, I believe the chrome trim on the interior is also missing (likely removed when it was re-upholstered in leather many many years ago) So I'll eventually be hunting for those too

Elliot.

[LOTUSMAN33]

Yes they are correct for the S1, they shouldn’t be on the bumper as that was a S2 position. 👍🏻

 

[Paul Coleman]

9 hours ago, ElliotAU said:

Yes, there's definitely no chrome around the windows, I believe the chrome trim on the interior is also missing (likely removed when it was re-upholstered in leather many many years ago) So I'll eventually be hunting for those too

Elliot.

SJ sell the interior chrome trim pieces...

https://www.sjsportscars.com/parts-and-accessories/SJ079U0037.htm

They also do the ones for the door handles...

https://www.sjsportscars.com/parts-and-accessories/A079U4171F.htm

You will also need the clips to fix them as well

 

 

[ElliotAU]

Thanks Paul, I've added them to my shopping list... which is building quite rapidly now. I'm scared to find out what they'll sting me for shipping for all this haha.

[Paul Coleman]

6 hours ago, ElliotAU said:

Thanks Paul, I've added them to my shopping list... which is building quite rapidly now. I'm scared to find out what they'll sting me for shipping for all this haha.

A full restoration of an S1 usually means a bill of £10k with SJ!

[ElliotAU]

Haha, it's definitely steering in that direction. Will have a better idea after a few weeks of inspecting, (shipping company has told me it's due to arrive tomorrow)