Essex Random Images.......

[Tocus]

On 05/08/2021 at 04:47, v8vantage said:

Bazza you have the wrong car, you're thinking of 337 that was white when it left the factory. 307, this car in discussion, was Essex Blue.

you are right.... so far i know the 307 it was always bleu, from new,

[Bazza 907]

It wasn't supplied new with Essex decals fitted and the other two (?) look a likes were white when they left the factory.

We've all seen Essex copies but they're not Essex Esprits. 

[nello]

I know Leigh Greenham is on here somewhere - probably on the Elite section but I really hope he has seen the latest additions to the Motorsport Images collection - I've seen plenty of the car in period but not with ACBC himself!

 

[Bibs]

@Leigh Greenham 👍

[Leigh Greenham]

3 hours ago, nello said:

I know Leigh Greenham is on here somewhere - probably on the Elite section but I really hope he has seen the latest additions to the Motorsport Images collection - I've seen plenty of the car in period but not with ACBC himself!

 

Thanks Neil, Motorsport Images have 7 pictures of my Elite from Hockenheim in 1980 with 3 of them featuring ACBC, 1 in colour.  I visited their Towcester archive back in 2003 when it was Sutton Motorsport Images, before they had an online archive.  I managed to find the 7 pics and had them scanned and burnt on a CD-ROM which I bought just for my personal use.  They retain the copyright for all the images, which can't be used for commercial purposes without their permission.  I also visited the LAT archive in Middlesex where I unearthed 2 colour pics of my Elite in the Monaco harbourside paddock at the 1980 GP, and one with Mario Andretti and David Thieme sitting near the car at the Spanish GP.  And I have found a potential source of pics of the Lotus paddock at the British GP at Brands Hatch which I believe have my car in the foreground - investigation ongoing!

[nello]

Great to 'see' you still on here Leigh - I still love your car. The Elite seems to have really come of age now................ Stay well

[jonwat]

Esprit Turbo Essex Commemorative Guide with plenty of pictures 

[colinsays]

On 23/08/2021 at 21:56, Leigh Greenham said:

Thanks Neil, Motorsport Images have 7 pictures of my Elite from Hockenheim in 1980 with 3 of them featuring ACBC, 1 in colour.  I visited their Towcester archive back in 2003 when it was Sutton Motorsport Images, before they had an online archive.  I managed to find the 7 pics and had them scanned and burnt on a CD-ROM which I bought just for my personal use.  They retain the copyright for all the images, which can't be used for commercial purposes without their permission.  I also visited the LAT archive in Middlesex where I unearthed 2 colour pics of my Elite in the Monaco harbourside paddock at the 1980 GP, and one with Mario Andretti and David Thieme sitting near the car at the Spanish GP.  And I have found a potential source of pics of the Lotus paddock at the British GP at Brands Hatch which I believe have my car in the foreground - investigation ongoing!

Not sure Leigh if this one is a "period" photo of your car or an actual one

[Leigh Greenham]

3 minutes ago, colinsays said:

Not sure Leigh if this one is a "period" photo of your car or an actual one

Thanks Martin, that is a more recent photo, I have parked the car behind the 'Silverstone Six' grandstand on several occasions when I have been a volunteer 'Race Maker' at the Classic.  In 2016 it was spotted by visitor Russell Carr who took loads of pics and then sat in the car and chatted for a few minutes.  I like to think he was getting inspiration for the Evija and Emira design projects, perhaps in a few years we'll see a tribute edition with red leather interior, Essex blue paint with red & silver body stripes!

[jonwat]

chassis 10859 

[colinsays]

Thanks for the info Leigh. It is really hard finding period photos of your car

[nello]

On 31/08/2021 at 16:02, jonwat said:

Esprit Turbo Essex Commemorative Guide with plenty of pictures 

That interior Pic is of Paul's 017 car which is the one in the auction - It was from the Classic Car magazine's Esprit test in '96 -

I remember he wasn't happy the picture made the leather look more lip-gloss red than it was when published. 

http://www.lotusespritworld.com/ERoadtests/GBSC_ClassicCar.html

Also that's Paul's son who inherited the Essex pictured riding in James Grantham's test and development G car wearing X180 alloys, with Paul driving 017 behind.......

 

Edited September 3, 2021 by nello

[Leigh Greenham]

On 02/09/2021 at 17:17, colinsays said:

Thanks for the info Leigh. It is really hard finding period photos of your car

Here's an 'Essex Random Image' I hadn't seen until last month, the paddock behind the Team Essex Lotus garage at the 1980 British GP at Brands Hatch, copyright GrandPrixPhotos.com .

Colin Chapman and Elio de Angelis can be spotted, and just creeping into the bottom left of the picture is what I thought might be the bonnet of my car, Essex blue paint with a silver coachline.  So I enlarged it, then took a photo of my Elite on my driveway from approx the same height and angle, and I'm convinced!

I contacted the photo owner who checked the original in case it had been cropped, but it hadn't.

[nello]

Essex monkey Bike! 😁

[JNW3]

Late afternoon run after a proper valet - just love this car 😍

[canamfan]

That is just stunning! I love it too! 

[Bibs]

https://www.classicdriver.com/en/article/cars/lets-return-turbo-mad-1980s-lotus-essex-turbo-esprit

[nello]

Great to see the car being shown somewhere as prestigious as that. Anyone know which number LHD that one is? I don't have that Reg recorded anywhere?

[lotuseaters]

The car on Classic driver is the Jim Loose car vin 10307 I registered it in the UK when I imported it from the US, its going on Italian plates soon .

So not a genuine Essex .

[jep]

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12411284

 

[colinsays]

Interesting ESSEX Esprit footage in this video. Also at the end during a test at Paul Ricard I spotted an odd red Esprit with black rear end....

[stephenwhyte]

Looks to have some sort of cover over the boot area and being used as the motion-shot camera car🎥

[nello]

Great footage find Martin - love that era and some brill behind the scenes action though slightly sad to see Elio at Ricard. Thanks for sharing.

[Bibs]

[Bazza 907]

I think this is from a 1980s motor show.