Essex 007

[GordonMasson]

Ahh I've got you now.

So any Series one Esprit with a seven in its chassis number will go up in value as it's linked to the one in Spy Who Loved Me?

Regards

Mat

I think a limited edition model with the commemorative number 007 is slightly more significant than a S1 Esprit with a seven in the chassis number.

David

PS by slightly I mean hugely

Matt, you are a mere amateur when it comes to this……

Now, Pay attention Bond … errr Mat

S1 - Chassis Number 76-08-0100G

Woo hoo... I have a 6 a 7 (bingo!!) and an 8 in my chassis number.

I didn’t think it was worth much really because as far as Esprits go, its sooooo old but that must mean I'm quids in now

Come to think of it, a 6, a 7 and an 8 …… . Can you put that together as the start to some sort of half decent poker hand?

I’m sure Mr. B plays poker in one of his films so that’s a connection,

AND I once had dinner in a restaurant in London and Sean Connery was at the next table so that’s a connection too!!

In all seriousness tho, the Essex is a lovely car. I remember the one I saw at Hethel a couple of years back… Simply stunning

As for the 007 connection in the edition number though. Well I can see how some people may find that attractive but if the White and Bronze ones were Essex cars then surely that would be a much stronger link?

Just as a matter of interest, if 001, 002 and 003 were not true Essex cars, that is they didn’t have the limited edition livery then why wasn’t 004 badged as 001?

[Bazza 907]

I think Steve T. would be best placed to answer that one from many points of view, not least because he owns 004 !

I also believe that the Essex Register has them as 'authenticated' Essex cars but hopefully Steve will come on line and clairfy.

[arbell9]

I think its fairly straight forward to claim a movie connection or not, let me explain.

This is a Starsky and Hutch Ford Grand Torino Sport ( not the origianl tho used in the TV series)

A normal Brown Gran Torino Sport

Who thinks the Brown Ford GTS is a Starsky & Hutch Car? Its isn't, they had a cool red one with a white flash.

It seems to me that you can only lay claim to a car being connected to a movie if it looks the same.

Now I think lots of people accept that for a car to be a Lotus Essex Turbo Esprit it needs to be blue with all the decals , red interrior etc. The paint job is key IMO because it refelected the F1 sponsor ship and without that its a Lotus Turbo Esprit. Just as above the brown car is not a starsky and hutch car, its just a Ford Gran Torino Sport.

Therefore when we look at the bond cars they were not painted blue nor had the Essex Decals, you couldn't reasonable claim them to be an Essex car without these components. So the Blue Essex with the 007 number is not really bond related. If it was white or copper coloured and matched what was in the film then yes. To be honest there are so few Essex cars around it doesnt need an 007 connection at all to make it valuable. Just be hapy that the bond films used a similar type car to that , anything more is just story making.

As a side note, its almost impossible to find a 74-76 Gran Torino sport that has not been resprayed to look like the movie car!

Alex

[Bibs]

A scene from Basic Instinct (no, not that one...)

That makes my car worth 2p more than it would be otherwise. This Essex/Bond connection is tenuous at best, to be fair and in my opinion the sticker pack on the Essex is overvalued as is. Although I appreciate the beauty of the car, I just don't think some shiny stickers stick £8-10K on the value.

[Nelly]

I agree totally with Alex, to us Eprit folk we know the rarity of the Essex.

However "man in the street" who wants a car because of the Bond film won't identify with it, becuase its blue and has some old oil company no ones ever heard of on it.

A bronze turbo is going to be more up his street and he will probably save himself a few grand, likewise any white G Esprit will be called a Bond car by a layman wheather it is an S1, S2 or S3.

I think despite the rarity the Essex will only appeal to a conniseur who knows what it is and its appeal is going to be slightly limited.

And I nearly bought a 74 Gran Torino in red with a white stripe....!

Edited July 26, 2010 by Nelly9000

[Simon350S]

I like the shiny stickers, (watch this space )

Mat you need to keep off the Vin Rouge!

Chris, yes you did fcuk up selling that Passat!

Alex, I think a red and white theme will refresh your motor, either that or buy a Porsche (they are the future, whoda thunked it!)

Bibs, your car would be worth a packet, but you got silly wheels intead of those rare originals, Big mistake, big, massive, HUGE!

An Essex blue Turbo Esprit is the daddy of all things Lotus, the fact that this thread has gone on for 4 pages just shows how much jealousy there is out there...

Get ova yourselvs biiiiaaaatches!!!

Just noticed that black SE has the 'new' Lotus suspension fitted!

Edited July 26, 2010 by Simon350S

[Bibs]

I think they call it 'standard ride height' Simon

[LotusElan17]

I give up, guess despite the facts people will still argue black is white.

[GordonMasson]

I give up, guess despite the facts people will still argue black is white.

Surely it should be ...."I give up, guess despite the facts people will still argue black blue is white." ....….or bronze????

Edited July 27, 2010 by GordonMasson

[Bibs]

David, as you've mentioned many times in this thread, people are entitled to their opinion and if they aren't willing to change that to align with yours you shouldn't be surprised. If you think that being 007 makes the car more special than any other Essex or gives it an extra 'bond' (!) to the films then enjoy that aspect of the car, just don't expect anyone else to.

We all enjoy our cars for our own reasons, I wouldn't expect anyone else to agree with me on the reasons I've had my many Esprits and I respect the reasons they have theirs too. I like my car, I have it as I think it's the best Esprit for me and you have your cars which you think are best for you. One of the beautiful things about Esprit owners is that we all appreciated each others cars and there is no 'mine's better than yours' which I think is where you may be coming unstuck. Live and let live.

[GordonMasson]

.....Or "Live and Let Die" ?

[comem47]

For a full list of "Bond" vehicles see here: http://en.wikipedia....s_Bond_vehicles

Now a favorite that does something even the Esprits didn't do is the butt ugly AMC Hornet doing the corkscrew jump:

Now that is a Bond car!!!

The villain's "plane" just doesn't have the class of Goldfinger's Rolls though.

[Bibs]

Talking of which, I saw that car being serviced a couple of months back!

[esprit22]

David, I guess its just you and me who can see the obvious 007 connection here. These blinkered fools cannot put 3 simple facts together!

1/ James Bond films used Lotus Esprits

2/ James Bond is also known as 007

3/ David's car is a Lotus Esprit, build number 007, decal shows 007, number plate shows 07

WHAT CANT YOU UNDERSTAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You lot are like bloody politicians, even when the facts are there, you brains have wierd powers to ignore them....most odd

[matk]

I totally understand, I just very much disagree with the view, as do quite a few others judging by previous posts.

What I'm starting to find remarkable at this point is the ability of some people to on the one hand bang on about the right to one's own view, and then on the other hand repeatedly castigate people for expressing that view. You can't have it both ways.

From your words you appear to confuse expression of a differing view as a lack of understanding of your own views. This may not be what you intended, but is certainly how your comments read to me. In my case I can assure you that is definitely not the case. I do not like being called a blinkered fool, and have no doubt you wouldn't like being called one either. Please accept my right to my own views as I do yours.

[Bazza 907]

Go on Chris you tell 'em

I guess to be fair if the car was being sold professionally I think that there would be few if any garages or auction houses that wouldn't make some sort of reference to the fact that it had 'Limited edition No. 007' written on side of the car and it being an Esprit.

Personally....I think it would make it easier to sell than another Essex in identical condition. That said, I don't think that it means that its worth more.

Dave, given you've always wanted one and you've now sold BlownK is there no way that you can keep it?

[LotusElan17]

My final word on the subject.

It is not my OPINION that the bond film Esprits were the first 3 Essexes off the production line IT IS A BLOODY FACT, something that quite a few people on here don't seem to get.

Anyway argue it until you are all blue in the face (or should that be Blue/Red/Silver in the face), I really don't give a toss.

Anyone that wants an iconic car that has no connection whatsover with any Bond movie past present or future you know where to contact me.

Ciao

Edited July 27, 2010 by LotusElan17

[nigeninja]

way to go David,Bond connection or no Bond Connection ITS AN ESPRIT ESSEX WHAT MORE COULD YOU WANT.

PS hope you sell for a shed load of cash mate

Edited July 27, 2010 by nigeninja

[esprit22]

Mat, take a chill pill dude! This is just a light hearted discussion, I'm not having a dig at you personaly, and I would not be offended in any way shape

or form to be called a fool, blinkered or otherwise

[Nelly]

David, I guess its just you and me who can see the obvious 007 connection here. These blinkered fools cannot put 3 simple facts together!

1/ James Bond films used Lotus Esprits

2/ James Bond is also known as 007

3/ David's car is a Lotus Esprit, build number 007, decal shows 007, number plate shows 07

WHAT CANT YOU UNDERSTAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You lot are like bloody politicians, even when the facts are there, you brains have wierd powers to ignore them....most odd

I get that, I really do - BUT at no point has Bond ever driven a blue Esprit! As the Starsky & Hutch post illustrated colour is key!

I have just changed the colour of my S2 from yellow to white....does that give it more of a bond connection than before, especially given that an S2 never appeared in any Bond film? I would suggest most would identify my white S2 to Bond than an Essex.

I think you should sell on its own merits, its a collectors car IMO and will be bought as such - and as I mentioned before the 007 number is a nice coincidence and something else to hang your hat on. I genuinely wish you all the best with the sale and hope you get what you ask for, whcih I would add I certainly think your price is very fair. If I had won the lottery last week we would already have done the deal

Edited July 27, 2010 by Nelly9000

[Bibs]

Do you have any idea how well this corners?

[comem47]

I don't think we'd be having this friendly discussion if Bond drove around in a Essex liveried car or the chassis number matched the cars used in the film.(actual film car).I might be wrong, but I don't think the actual Bond cars at auction emphasize the underlying "Essex" history. To the general public a white or copper colored Turbo Esprit with the correct decals and roof mounted skis would make a stronger link. (any white S1 Esprit is likely to draw the same public Bond connection) That said, there is no question I'd prefer the Essex for what the total package is (livery is very much a part of that) with or without any secondary Bond connection, excepting of course the actual cars used in the film. The Essex stands on it's own. If it's like any other collectible, the first and last car in a series typically being the most sought after. Enjoy if for the Essex livery and package it is, and not for what the repainted one-off Bond siblings are.

Edited July 27, 2010 by comem47

[red vtec]

This has been a great thread, David it is only gentle ribbing from other Esprit fans, it's a great car.

[rocket63]

Easy come, easy go. For those who acknowledge the connection, bravo. For those that dont, bravo. For them that would like to purchase an Essex Esprit, give David a call. Good luck with sale either way

[Advantage]

FOR SALE: Series1 Esprit. This car has never been featured in any Red Adair films, yet the Bond/Oil company connection is plain for all educated people to see. First bid over £1,000,000 secures this unique piece of film unhistory.

(This may not be a completely serious post.)