Project GT2 - Sport 300 Le Mans Replica

[Exploded]

...the real gt2 that was posted the other day on here must have given you a real insperation to crack on...

I must have missed out on that one

Fantastic job done Jonathan! I really love this topic! Keep up all good work, once it is finished you can be proud on what you have achieved.

[Bibs]

Keep up at the back!

[Exploded]

Keep up at the back!

http://www.thelotusf...it-gt300-racer/

Oh I deed see that one already, magnificent car. I thought they where referring to another one. These GT2's are so rare, having 2 new around at the forum, that would have been big news, isn't it?

[Jonathan]

Mines an 1989 SE in wolf's clothing.

The cars in question were the Esprit 300 Sport racers Lotus produced in the early 90's - I've actually got one of the sales brochures which is interesting.

Finding one of the racers is an atom in a haystack - I know of 5x 300 sport racers that took part in events here (inc the one that won the British championship - Green/yellow - the Special Editions S4 road car was detailed in commemoration). I dont know where they are now and no-one I have spoken to knows either (or is letting on for what ever reason) which is a shame becuase I'd like to document one not only for the project but for the car itself - there is a lot of missing info on the cars, yet I think they are an important part of the Esprit's history (hence my little homage).

The differences are night and day - as I say mine is just a standard SE underneath, lightened and most of the creature comforts removed, becuase mine is a road car I have to consider the fact it will be used by 2 people and be driving some distances on the public highways with it. I could take it a lot further but when you consider spending 15-25,000 on the car to get it to race spec and eliminating the road capabilities I dont see the point.

I am going for full on replica though, even down to some very tiny details, but as I say some of the restrictions on certain aspects will prevent it being 100%, more 98%.

(quick fill tanks for example)

[ij9999]

Thought you might like to see this Jonathan.

[Jonathan]

Update :

Spray man was a big let down so we've been doing the glassing, filling and spray work ourselves which with the on/off weather has been snails pace.

Car was also covered with electrical faults, fault codes and just terrible electrics all in all - spent a while debugging it all and finally got a 10 min run tonight with no codes or issues, apart from the front n/s light stopped working again ! Seems to run well though, idle is poor but drives superbly on the throttle.

Jobs to do :

Spraying arches / roof

Sort rear deck in place + detail

Paint magnesios + fit tyres

Rear hub spiggots + long bolts (I desperatly need a lathe or machinist to help here)

Steering needs inspecting, suspect rack loose. Steering has about 10 degrees of play in it, dangerous !

Interior finish

Just trying to get it to the livable, drivable and doesn't look like a shed stage atm.

Looking forward:

Light pod needs to be completed

Adjustable + lowered suspension

Wing and other body work details

Decals, mebbe.

Really missing the GT3 atm - hasn't been driven in 2 months

[Jonathan]

Ta daaaa

Big props to my Dad, it's mostly all his work the way it looks now by spraying it himself, outside without much in the way of equipment - top job imo.

Steering rack is done, needs to go back in once the paint is dry, need a new column bearing as well - old one was like a rattle.

Next job is bringing all the body work together, hardest part will be the roof becuase of the fact it's so thin it find it self hard to make a seal with the bodywork without deforming but I has a plan.

Lowered suspension is the next big buy - the new spiggots need making for the rear hubs and the spacers need completing for the fronts.

Wing is the next biggest challenge, mainly the fixing, I know what I want to do but dont know how to explain it

[silverfrost]

Jonathan,

Top job mate,and your old mans painting, see what you mean about the suspension needs doing, car look great, needs some decals......

Are you keeping the wheels or getting wider ones!

Regards danny

[Bibs]

White mags are going on the car, will look da bomb!

[Jonathan]

I err, wha - oh, what he said ^

We're refurbing the mags ourselves, that 2pac paint is so tough, we've been using it as a filler as well