Calling all early-G Turbo Esprits!

[Lex Templar]

CAR cover 

 

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/8379/20814690827da76d44a2o.jpg

Edited January 19, 2013 by Lex Templar

[cbclotus]

Hi Lex.i owned the car 20 years ago.i bought it from a guy who use to race it.He bought it from  Gerry Marshall .Who bought the car from Pete Hall owner of industrial control services.It was raced with some success.Was pushing out approx 270 bhp.There are clips on you tube of the car raceing.It was not the car given away by car magazineine .But it was a lotus magazine test car.It was also said to have been supplied to Pinewood studios with other Turbos for evalition for film.i had the car painted black and sold it to Haynes motor museam.Hope this is of interest to you.There are threads about the car in the past.Love your car.Mike

[stevedaynes]

I've got SCCFC20AXBHK60267 in Canada, also a dry-sump car. I'm interested in seeing where it fits in the list of dry-sump cars.

[Lex Templar]

Thanks Mike,

What a great car it is. I had a look at the Youtube videos and found a nice period shot of the car after you had it painted black. Great colour scheme. It would be nice to think these special cars wold be used rather than sitting still in a Museum.

 

Also I wonder how your old car got to wear the same number plate as the CAR magazine Red Esprit cover car? 

 

I've got SCCFC20AXBHK60267 in Canada, also a dry-sump car. I'm interested in seeing where it fits in the list of dry-sump cars.

 

What colour is your car Steve. Have you any pictures?

Edited January 24, 2013 by Lex Templar

[stevedaynes]

My car is Black on tan with gold stripes and Decals.

Steve

 

 

 

What colour is your car Steve. Have you any pictures?

[Lex Templar]

Lovely looking car Steve. 

[vince812]

Hello,

 

I'm the actual owner of the 005 essex OPW665W. I just saw a wonderful picture of my car in the previous page!

So if somedy can help me to find information about my car i'm here..

 

Thanks

 

Vincent

[Bazza 907]

Vincent

Welcome. What's the story with 005? Any pictures?

[Lex Templar]

Hello,

 

I'm the actual owner of the 005 essex OPW665W. I just saw a wonderful picture of my car in the previous page!

So if somedy can help me to find information about my car i'm here..

 

Thanks

 

Vincent

Hi Vincent, as Barrie said, welcome to the forum. Some new pictures would be great to see.

[Lex Templar]

An important car here for sale in Melbourne - The one mentioned a  few times on here. THe first production white car with all Essex features.

 

http://lotusturboesprit.blogspot.com.au/

[hopo]

looks nice, shame some its now had a wet sump engine transplanted. No doubt an important car but the market is currently strong for Original cars. esp as so many esprits get mucked about with...

[Bazza 907]

Agree, I suspect it's worth a fair bit less without the correct engine

 

Odd phrase talking about being open to receiving offers..

[hopo]

agree, wonder what constitutes a "viable" offer? i could manage several bags of black country pork scratchings

Edited May 10, 2013 by hopo

[nello]

Hello,

 

I'm the actual owner of the 005 essex OPW665W. I just saw a wonderful picture of my car in the previous page!

So if somedy can help me to find information about my car i'm here..

 

Thanks

 

Vincent

 

Hi Vincent.........Our resident Essex Guru Steve Tryner will be along in a minute but as per earlier comment this is what I have on your car:

 

Essex No. VIN Dealer MY Drive Eng. No. PTS Date Reg. Date Reg. No. Orig. Owner Remarks

 

 

005 SCCFC20A9AHD10903 Bell & Colvill 80 RHD CD910800718580 30/08/1980 29/08/1980 OPW 665W Mr. Childow

 

Interesting as theres no additional comments I have seen on your car making it one of only a few I had no further info on since new.......... Can we have the full story/piccys please!

 

David your old car has been found!

Edited May 13, 2013 by nello

[Dennis Perry]

This is the information I have on my Lotus Esprit. 

 

I have a letter headed document Neargrade Limited, (specialists in L.H.D. Cars) Abbey Road Motorist Centre, Corner Abbey Rd. and Belsize Rd., London NW6 01-328 6881  that states my Lotus Esprit BPW 908T  7803/0754H " This car was originally owned by Lotus Cars of Norwich, and was sent by them to  Italy to the designer factory and was used as the prototype for the styling of the Lotus Esprit Turbo.  Lotus Cars sold the car to Mr. A.J. Jones in August 1981.  Mr. Jones then worked for Lotus Cars, but now works for Team Lotus as the team co-ordinator.  Signed S. Campbell 7/8/84  Simon Campbell, Director

 

I have a letter accompanying it, from the California Bureau of Automotive Repair addressed to Mr. Donald Soukup regarding smog check saying " As you pointed out, your vehicle is one of two made, so we do not have it listed. However, it should still me the emissions standards set for the 78 Lotus Esprit.

 

The original California Registration reads date first sold  00/00/00.  Class BB Year 85 Year model 78

 

I was told that Mr. Soukup was in the air force and shipped the car to the U.S. from Great Britain.

 

The engine is not turbocharged, but the engine and the chassis match.  It has the turbo esprit sticker, the seats are brown and look like the Essex.  It is a little different than the production Turbo Esprits. 

 

This is all the information I have been able to find.  I've written Lotus to try to find out and have not heard from them.

 

Someone in the San Francisco Golden Gate  Lotus club told me that the records from the early days of Lotus weren't well maintained.

 

If anyone can direct me to any information regarding this car, please don't hesitate to write me.

perry.eden@yahoo.com

 

I really appreciate this site.  Dennis Perry

[cbclotus]

Hi Dennis.Fantastic early mock up for a Turbo Esprit.There are some pictures of your car .In the book Lotus Esprit the complete story .Book was written by Jeremy Walton .Great book .Hope this helps .Mike

[vince812]

Hi Vincent.........Our resident Essex Guru Steve Tryner will be along in a minute but as per earlier comment this is what I have on your car:

 

Essex No. VIN Dealer MY Drive Eng. No. PTS Date Reg. Date Reg. No. Orig. Owner Remarks

 

 

005 SCCFC20A9AHD10903 Bell & Colvill 80 RHD CD910800718580 30/08/1980 29/08/1980 OPW 665W Mr. Childow

 

Interesting as theres no additional comments I have seen on your car making it one of only a few I had no further info on since new.......... Can we have the full story/piccys please!

 

David your old car has been found!

Hello,

 

Thanks for all this information 1 years later!!!

My car is still for restoration and i hope to drive finnaly beggining of 2015 with engine redone!

 

Thanks 

 

vincent

Edited November 26, 2014 by vince812

[vince812]

The french history of my car is really easy...

 

The last owner bought the 11/02/1991 and just use 1 year...

 

I discover this car under protection 20 years after !!!!!! and i bought immediatly

 

Magical moment

[The Pits]

Thanks for posting and for resurrecting not only Essex 005 but also this thread!

 

It will be fantastic to see 005 restored to its former glory. So few Essex cars left now, yours joins a very elite number.

 

I would like to organise a gathering for Dry Sump Turbos next year at some point. My own car is nearly ready, complete with number plate OPW 654X, and I would love to get an idea of how many dry sump cars are left and get as many of them as possible together.

 

Suggestions for an appropriate venue welcome!

[hopo]

Sounds great... It would have to be somewhere suitably glamorous....

 

Spearmint Rhino would be spot on.....

[The Pits]

I think you're getting confused with the Dry-Hump owners club meet Jon!

 

[Bazza 907]

Which normally leads to 'piston broke'

[Tocus]

And now you also can take my car on the list:

 

the: AHD10951

 

so its real that i have the first NON essex colourd body, esprit,

(if you dont count the bond cars) but just for the market,

 

but it has essex specs, Great to know!

Thank you guys!

[nello]

This is the information I have on my Lotus Esprit. 

 

I have a letter headed document Neargrade Limited, (specialists in L.H.D. Cars) Abbey Road Motorist Centre, Corner Abbey Rd. and Belsize Rd., London NW6 01-328 6881  that states my Lotus Esprit BPW 908T  7803/0754H " This car was originally owned by Lotus Cars of Norwich, and was sent by them to  Italy to the designer factory and was used as the prototype for the styling of the Lotus Esprit Turbo.  Lotus Cars sold the car to Mr. A.J. Jones in August 1981.  Mr. Jones then worked for Lotus Cars, but now works for Team Lotus as the team co-ordinator.  Signed S. Campbell 7/8/84  Simon Campbell, Director

 

I have a letter accompanying it, from the California Bureau of Automotive Repair addressed to Mr. Donald Soukup regarding smog check saying " As you pointed out, your vehicle is one of two made, so we do not have it listed. However, it should still me the emissions standards set for the 78 Lotus Esprit.

 

The original California Registration reads date first sold  00/00/00.  Class BB Year 85 Year model 78

 

I was told that Mr. Soukup was in the air force and shipped the car to the U.S. from Great Britain.cars summer 2013 002.jpg

 

The engine is not turbocharged, but the engine and the chassis match.  It has the turbo esprit sticker, the seats are brown and look like the Essex.  It is a little different than the production Turbo Esprits. 

 

This is all the information I have been able to find.  I've written Lotus to try to find out and have not heard from them.

 

Someone in the San Francisco Golden Gate  Lotus club told me that the records from the early days of Lotus weren't well maintained.

 

If anyone can direct me to any information regarding this car, please don't hesitate to write me.

perry.eden@yahoo.com

 

I really appreciate this site.  Dennis Perry

Hi Dennis - see the latest thread here - http://www.thelotusforums.com/forums/topic/74233-t-reg-turbo-esprit-on-lotus-web-site/ - Here is your car:

 

Edited May 12, 2015 by nello

[ChrisJ]

That was well spotted/remembered