Esprit Market Watch

[C8RKH]

Just now, Buddsy said:

I have to say the roundel on the side doesnt do it for me either.

 

buddsy 

As Dr Kildare would say, "I concur".

[LotusFella]

3 minutes ago, stephenwhyte said:

To add to Barry’s suggestion.....I’m going to stick my neck out and recommend the wheels are returned to silver and the tail lights changed to non-smoked. I appreciate the car has been modified more than the points I’m picking on, but feel the changes suggested will widen the range of potential buyers. I think the car is personally too personalised (each to their own though!) to get it’s true value. I hope this doesn’t come over too blunt.....genuinely trying to help as always👍

thanks for the suggestion but I'll let a future owner decide if they prefer silver wheels and lights,  you can please some of people some of the time 😉 I personally love the wheels

26 minutes ago, ChrisJ said:

Shame It isn't one of those rare black badge models ! 

As Barry says, great colour 

I can put a black badge on it if you want 😂

[C8RKH]

8 minutes ago, Buddsy said:

Originality sells.

I'll take the cheaper but well cared for one with a couple of non standard mods.  When I'd dead the kids can whinge all the fook they want about how my non standard car was not worth as much as a standard car. But then the last laugh would be for me, remembering all the fun times I had driving her!

Just ditch the roundels, they don't add, they just detract. The rest of the car is perfect!

[pete]

3 hours ago, C8RKH said:

0-60 Exige S is 3.7, Evora Sport 410 is 3.9, so the Exige should have been slightly ahead. Weight and power is everything off the line

think the 410 was quicker around Hethel than the exige 350s

[C8RKH]

1 minute ago, pete said:

think the 410 was quicker around Hethel than the exige 350s

Not with me in it it wouldn't   But yes, I do believe you are correct.

 

[LOTUSMAN33]

22 minutes ago, Buddsy said:

How many S1 cars with turbo body kits have been kept on them now?

Hmmm! 😬

[NG5]

Is this for real?

https://www.quickandbig.com/lotus-esprit-turbo-se

£39K for a 74k miles SE !!!

Soaring indeed....... if it sells at that price.

 

Edited May 31, 2021 by NG5
Helps if I include the link!

[Jacques]

Now, it's double of that where I live.

Kind regards,

Jacques

[LotusFella]

Just listed my lovely V8.  Just had full service and MOT.  Ready to go for the summer.

 

https://www.lotusforsale.com/ads/esprit-v8-gt-2/

[Giniw]

It looks nice!

(you state it's Azure blue while the COP tells it's Nautilus blue though)

edit: now I checked the nautilus blue colour and so I gather it has been repainted. I would say it looks a bit darker than my Azure blue, strange. Anyway, as I said it looks very nice!

[philleech]

Syon Park auction on Saturday sold a lovely orange S1 for £58k

[jep]

Which sounds a bit low if the restoration was correct. 

It looked stunning in orange. 

Justin 

 

[Barrykearley]

I expected that to fetch more 😍

[Fridge]

3 hours ago, jep said:

Which sounds a bit low if the restoration was correct. 

It looked stunning in orange. 

Justin 

 

Yes, it doesn't look like a reserve was set. After the buyers fee and taxes, as well as the seller's fee are deducted it would probably barely break even.

[jep]

 I love the look of the early Esprit, particularly the S1 but for that kinda dosh, I think there are plenty of Lotus that are a better drive. I get the S1, I have had plenty when they were sub-£6K, but they were never the greatest drive. At the levels they are now, I would have a S3, Turbo, Excel, Elise etc... over a S1 Esprit. 

Dangerous post, I know. Love S1, just prefer to look at 'em, not own them. Totally respect ACBC's vision, the timing was just not right with the dire UK/World economic situation.  How MJK ever managed to get any of the wedges through the myriad of legislation, I will never know. Full respect.

Justin

 

[Giniw]

49 minutes ago, jep said:

I get the S1, I have had plenty when they were sub-£6K

Sub £6K? Were they? When was it? 90's maybe?

[jep]

Yep, 1992 to 1996. First one was £4,500, I think the cheapest was £3,500. All with MOT. I must have had 6 or 7 and never paid more than £6K.

S2.2 as well, I think that was £6K. Gold with brown trim and in very fine condition. 

Justin

[Giniw]

Impressive!

[Fridge]

TBH the classic car market cannot be considered like the contemporary car market, where the latest performance and features are the selling points.

First of series, purity of the original designer's vision, and rarity all factor into the desirability of classics. Which is why E-Type series 1s are more expensive, in fact double that of later series, including the latter V12. Of course other factors are worth considering here also, which is why an Aston Martin DB5 Vantage fetches at least double that the much improved, but comparatively overlooked DB6.

Classic car purchases are driven as much by the heart than the mind. For many owners the car's performance days are over, particularly when approaching the half century, when a plumber's Transit van will beat most precious classic from the line.

[Giniw]

3 minutes ago, Fridge said:

when a plumber's Transit van will beat most precious classic from the line.

Well, an astramax diesel van was already faster than an S4 when it was new anyway.

[Fridge]

13 minutes ago, Giniw said:

Well, an astramax diesel van was already faster than an S4 when it was new anyway.

Well, they are the new men on a "mission".

[jep]

30 minutes ago, Giniw said:

Impressive!

It was a great learning curve. And a lot of fun. Did a few chassis changes, not 'cos they were rotten but you could buy chassis from Lotus Cars new for I think £1K - and I had a great garage who did the new chassis for a great price, ex-Len Street Drayton Gardens engineers. 

S1 Esprit got me in to Lotus in 1992. I have never been without a Lotus since. 3 new ones, plenty of second-hand ones.

Commuting in the Excel this week. Probably the most under-rated Lotus and, to get back on topic, surely set for a price hike soon. Max500 has done a stunning job setting up the carbs.

Justin

 

[LOTUSMAN33]

I bought a few S1’s and other variants at sub £6k in the 90’s mind I bought TNR for £5k from PNM in 2000 and drove it home from London where he found it.

[Lotusfab]

14 hours ago, Barrykearley said:

I expected that to fetch more 😍

So did I, someone got a good deal if the pictures look as good as the car. Maybe £70k for a S1 is unrealistic? They still seem cheap compared with many lesser cars out there selling for over £100k. I think they should have a much higher profile than they do. Maybe we need to arrange some Lotus meet ups, like the Lotus day at Mercedes Benz world.

[Paul Coleman]

The car actually hammered for £53k but the price they quoted included the buyer's premium. I saw the car and he'd done a great job on it and must have been gutted to lose money on it after 2,000 man hours