S1 Project car

[DaveyT]

Mike,

 

you can thank Bazza for this link..  http://www.sgs-engineering.com/car-boot-tailgate/lotus

 

He rates 'em, and they're inexpensive: they list S1 and S3, so hopefully you can ID your S2 version

Dave

[G_Reaper]

Hi Vin

 

My car rear quarter window as a very early S2 might be the same as the window you have. It is a solid frame the same as the door window frame with the glass mounted in it. I have a photo of the passenger side window on the Photo bucket photo set please see the link below and let me know if your window is the same.

 

http://s985.photobucket.com/user/G_Reaper/embed/slideshow/

 

Cheers Mike

[LOTUSMAN33]

That is the ones I bought Dave, top man!

Mike your quarter window does look like an S1 type, never seen an S2 like that before.... Cool stuff so must be very early!

Dave

[vintaylor]

cant open the link on my phone but from what Dave is saying it looks like its the same part .. Mine has the entire window frame in it.. I'm located in Malta though but id be happy to post it over if you like

[G_Reaper]

Cheers Dave for the info.

 

Vin if you drop me an email with some contact details and info on costs I am sure we can have a deal.

 

Cheers Mike

 

mikeyounger at talktalk dot net

[vintaylor]

PM Sent

[vintaylor]

Hi Vin

I bought a big roll online through eBay so have enough to do the interior as well, think I bought 10 metres but can't remember as long time ago. It sticks really well though which is a bonus mate.

My body got booked in for the 22nd April today with someone reliable and decent so things are looking up for the S1 which has been on hold for what seems like ever!

Finally got the vent grilles done for the dash thanks to a friend who is restoring his Orange S1 and provided the pattern.

image.jpg

I just need to get the engine running this month now before the body comes back so the challenge is on

Dave

 

Hi Dave,

 

Did you use a bitumen based insulation for the interior or just the chassis to body padding?  Wurth here in Malta stock a bitumen based sound deadoning material that is priced quite well.  But not sure if this will add a lot of weight to the body rather then a foam based material

[johnpwalsh]

Rear hatch gas struts from a Mark 2 VW golf fitted mine perfectly.

[LOTUSMAN33]

Hi Vin

Mine was bitumen based and worked really well, bonding was superb and the end result looked good. Weight was not really an issue as the 10 metre roll was not that heavy to start with.

If you can find it locally in Malta I would go for it, I used aluminium tape to seal the edges to prevent moisture getting trapped.

Dave

[vintaylor]

Hi Dave,

I can get hold of this in Malta 

 

http://www.wurth.co.uk/data/productdocuments/050705.pdf

 

price is €29 for 6 sheets of 55cm x 25cm .. so I'll probably need at least 2 boxes but I reckon I can do it for under €100 and maybe have some left over for the chassis to body mountings

 

Would you happen to have a picture of the insulation installed in your body shell?  Did you insulate under the fibreglass interior sill panels (the ones used to mount the ashtray, seat belts and handbrake to)

[LOTUSMAN33]

Well she finally goes for paint this coming week and should look great as the guy doing it has been a specialist for over 30 years, people may have seen that I am seriously considering letting her go as been offered my JPS back which meant an awful lot to us. I am not 100% as spent so much and have everything to finish. I know I should keep going but need the space back as my wife wants a classic mini which I know will take a lot of my time.

I bought the S1 when let down on Essex 007 and have spared no expense to date laying out over £17000 already before paint, I have many rare parts and the hard bit is completed to a very high standard.

I will no doubt regret it in the future as seem to remember my JPS was pretty scruffy under all that lovely gold/black exterior!

Although not an Essex to me it is the next best thing and I do feel the S2 lines are the prettiest of all the Esprit's.

If anyone is interested just PM me, I will get the body back on and continue to build until it goes. I am certain it will be a concours winner one day as lots of attention to detail has been paid.

Also the later S1 has the benefits of improved vent system, stiffened chassis, improved air induction, cross drilled crank, improved pedal box etc.

If you think I am mad you are probably right but know when done I will be afraid to drive it which is not me, I like to sit on the wing, drive down lanes and park it where I want which won't happen with this car I feel.

I like a bit of patina and a few digs and scratches as shows originality, walking around the NEC last weekend seeing over restored cars with barriers around them really got my mind thinking!

I am sure someone will give it that kind of love but think I would get bored with reliability!

Dave

[v8vantage]

Great news Dave, nice to hear another JPS coming home and going to an appreciative former owner. Which of your 2 previous ones is returning? I seem to remember you mentioned you had number 13 and 99. Number 8 has just turned up in Somerset, it's been off the road since 2003.

[LOTUSMAN33]

Hi Roo

It is number 099, I lost contact with 013 but know it was restored and living in Germany last time I saw it. My wife used to work weekends so my son and I used to make all kinds of journeys in 99, he used to call them his adventures! We were talking some time ago and he said that was his favourite car ever so sowed the seed really, Anna asked if we could ever get it back which is where I am now. It had a few battle scars but the interior was great and thankfully it has not been restored so just the way it was. The engine has been rebuilt which is a bonus. It won't be cheap but hey it had memories!

What is the story with 008?

Regards

Dave

[v8vantage]

Current owner has had it since 1992, it was last MOT in 2003. It has 50,000 miles since new. Owner says it needs some light restoration.

[LOTUSMAN33]

Sounds like a nice car, is he putting it back on the road? It is great when lost cars turn up!

Dave

[v8vantage]

I believe he plans to put it back on the road. he has had lots of enjoyment from it and still loves the looks, even when it's parked!

[LOTUSMAN33]

Good day for me and the Lotus today as my birthday and I finally said goodbye to the body shell after 2 years of being let down, it was picked up bang on time and loaded with great care. It should have gone yesterday but held off due to bad weather and after keeping it dry for so long didn't want it drowned!

I had to remove several bodies of various rodents today as the cat has been climbing through the gear selector hole to torment and devour her prey!

On arrival we were met by Neil who owns the bodyshop, he was enthusiastic and very helpful getting it unloaded along with Paul who turns out to be one of my sons best mates dads! Small world.

The guys have given me a few ideas and I certainly feel although the wait has been a long one I have made the right choice, they will call me throughout the job so I can get pictures, and I feel assured she is in safe hands. Neil has even offered to deliver the individual panels to prevent transport damage when finished which was kind.

All going well they will also be painting my S2.

Hopefully this will reignite my lost love for the car, yesterday I started getting things out the loft to work on before the body comes back like my new old stock fuel tanks, engine cover which has vent holes cut in it, rear quarter window frames and lots of other bits so should keep me very busy.

Although the S2 has taken so much of my time I still plan to get the S1 running and ordered a load of parts yesterday as I have been taking bits and pieces as required to fix the S2. The plan is to get the body reunited with the chassis within 3 weeks of its return allowing me to do any black work underneath, sound proofing, fitting the fuel pump and tanks as well as tidy up of the loom.

Dave

[vintaylor]

Great stuff Dave!  Does this mean you are keeping the s1?

 

 

Have you decided on a colour?

And Happy Birthday of course  

[vintaylor]

And speaking of cats in esprits ... my girlfriends cats have found themselves a new play house! 

 

 

 

[LOTUSMAN33]

Thanks Vin, they look happy enough in the new car house, hope they don't use it as a scratch post!

Still undecided on the S1 but do feel better about it, I have spoken to lots of nice people who are interested when done or running again so going to keep my options open. The car is going in White/Tartan but have no idea how long Neil will take. I have told him not to rush it but as a small bodyshop he only has room for three cars at any one time. Hopefully between 4 and 6 weeks giving me time in the summer months to do what I need before another wet winter!

I posted your headlamp knob and shaft today mate so should be with you next week hopefully.

Dave

[vintaylor]

Hi Dave,

 

They just like to sleep in it .. In the end the idea of wrapping the wooden post used to hold the body in carpet worked out well as they have kept them busy clawing away at them!

 

Should look great in white and tartan! looking forward to seeing the finished problem.

 

Sometimes its better to let them work on it in their free time as this keeps them away from getting fed up of it and trying to get it out of the workshop asap.. Mine spent a year and a half in a workshop! but to be fair the sprayer does this work part-time

[LOTUSMAN33]

Agree totally Vin and your car paintwork clearly demonstrates it.

One job I did get done was the number plates, I wanted the aluminium type with raised plastic digits from the 70's but found only specialist companies doing them which was not cheap so thought I would have a go myself, really pleased how they cam out and should look great on the car.

Good job the registration is simple as only certain original 70's digits are still available. I tried for the S2 but failed so may go Beaulieu auto jumble this year for the weekend and see what turns up.

Dave

[vintaylor]

That looks fantastic!

 

In Malta we have to keep the official plates provided by the goverment.. They are in fact aluminium and have raised lettering but don't really have that 70's look to them :

 

[LOTUSMAN33]

Cool, always wondered how they made the pressed plates, that type was my second option and probably what the S2 will receive when I get the original number back from the DVLA.

Dave

[pete]

thought you could only get a number plate from a registered number plate supplier