Esprit Picture & Video Thread

[ChrisJ]

 

[stephenwhyte]

Just watched it - loved it.....Harry’s brilliant!!!👏👏

[Lotusfab]

Unleashed! 

[Lotusfab]

Well done Mr Chapman!

[Fridge]

Snap!

I too, partly inspired by Harry' Garage video, but mainly for testing purposes, took the S1 for a 50 mile round trip yesterday evening.

 

[JNW3]

Me too - like buses these white S1s 😜

[Fridge]

@JNW3 I think you're taking social distancing to a whole new level.

[Bibs]

That's his "normal"  

[PhilW]

On 24/05/2020 at 19:13, ChrisJ said:

 

Great video.  And unbelievably jealous of his trip.

Only recently heard of Harry after he took his Esprit on another trip.  Would love to meet him and just talk about cars.  I find him just a down to earth decent guy.

[Bibs]

I met him at the Evija launch last year and had a really nice chat with him, he's is exactly that

[Fridge]

As someone who works in professional video production his techniques are annoyingly crude, but mixed with his enthusiasm, knowledgeable and unpresuming demeanor his films are standouts in a media world which has become more flash and trash.

The first video of his I watched was his Muira test drive, then one of his Testarossa videos. Seeing him wax lyrical about his Turbo HC is one of the best adverts for this classic there is. His subsequent forays in it just cement it further as a car to own and enjoy. His passion for it comes across with genuine pleasure, not the mock awe we see from many other presenters.

As someone with a background in documentary production, where things are often presented 'as is' (its literal Latin translation), the Harry's Garage videos evoke an earlier period of factual entertainment, unencumbered with a need for the gloss of showbiz. In perhaps a way that James Burke did when describing quite complex and foreign concepts to a wider, less-informed audience. In a way, less is more.

Perhaps in media terms Harry's Garage evokes the Lotus philosophy of 'added lightness'? That is informative without the froth.

[C8RKH]

Nice post that @Fridge. I think I get what you are saying (I am about as creative as a dead frog). What I like about Harry's videos is the simpleness. No big trashy music, no bling bling look at me and look my lifestyle etc.  He is basically just a bloke (obviously a well off one) who loves cars for what they are, as opposed to what he perceives they say about him. Totally different to the dumb ass videos from the nauseating Schmee, the dumb Blondie ("oh look, a kill switch he he he"), etc.

Schlick presentation/production is OK, but I think Harry shows that there is little substitution for enthusiasm, passion and KNOWLEDGE.  Harry probably appeals to one of us as he is the sort of guy we would like to spend the afternoon with, in a nice country pub, with good grub and beer/wine just talking bollocks about cars, but not in a showy "look at what I've got" manner or way.

I guess the Shmee's and Blondie are more focused at the younger generation which is all about "me, me and me" which is probably why this grumpy old fart finds them annoying.

[nello]

I've watched all his Video's multiple times over! Pretty much my ideal situation right there - lovely Cotswold farm and a barn full of crackers! For those that don't know Harry founded EVO magazine........a proper pertrolhead.

[Giniw]

 

(I haven't watched to it yet, but it looks interesting! — still I think I have already seen a few bits from that video, but this upload is 1h long)

Edited May 27, 2020 by Giniw

[Giniw]

@mike_sekinger > well as I watched it I suspected a few guys in the video could be from here and apparently I wasn't wrong!

Edited May 27, 2020 by Giniw

[Steve4012]

Enjoying the ray's today.

[Lotusfab]

Looks great!

[Steve4012]

Thanks!

[Giniw]

A nice photo of Harry Metcalfe's Esprit:

https://twitter.com/octane_magazine/status/1267413834752380928?s=20

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EZavIdFWkAAqs-m?format=jpg&name=large

 

Edited June 2, 2020 by Giniw

[hedgerley]

As a long time fan of Harry's Garage and an EVO subscriber since Day 1, he has been at the top of may Petrolhead Superhero list for a long time (Henry Catchpole is a close second). I doubt his crown will ever be taken. This has been on my wish list since about 1978, when it would have be in my dream alongside the Esprit. I'm almost there, having owned a 1992 Zephyr 1100 for the past 15 years, along with the current V8. I have started perusing the classifieds since Harry announced its arrival . Better get one soon before I'm to old old and feeble to hold the damn thing up.

 

[gvy]

I didn't use the esprit much lately and because an old Esprit that doesn't drive is destined to fail, I thought it is better to start using it again, so here we go . Lets start with small neighbourhood blasts , after a proper warm up of course. What always amazes me when driving it , is how quick and nimble it steers in and out of bends on B roads at speeds between 60 and 100km/u

And it is such a dramatic shape. I have it for many years now and it keeps me wanting to turn around and look at it when I walk away. Also I keep getting tumbs up.

2020

 

20200606_133713 by gvygvy, on Flickr

 

Edited June 6, 2020 by gvy

[Escape]

Great to see your car out again Geert! Having been a passenger once, I fondly remember the cornering during your neigbourhood blasts. A tribute to both your Esprit and yourself. 😉

When walking up to my SE yesterday, in the otherwise empty industrial estate, I too was reminded of the dramatic shape. Looking fast and purposeful, even when parked. 😎

I should have taken a picture... And I had just driven a (small) tractor, so everything seemed fast, even walking. 😄

Filip

[ChrisJ]

 

[ChrisJ]

[stephenwhyte]