Bell & Colvill Turbo...

[Bibs]

Anyone know the whereabouts of any of the B&C turbo conversion Esprits?

[ChrisJ]

Gareth Jones (Portocruz) had one in 2010, looks like he still had it in 2013 - clicky

[Portocruz]

Hi there yes I still have mine, Do you need information or anything in particular

Regards

Gareth

[ChrisJ]

Hi Gareth.

 

I'm sure that Bibs will be along in a moment, however, in the meantime do you have any pictures?

 

Also, whereabouts are you?

 

Chris

[Bibs]

Pics would be ace! Also, would you like to sell it please?

[Portocruz]

I'm near Tunbrdge wells in Kent, I've owned it for 11 years now and it's cost a small fortune to keep running as original with the turbo setup, I haven't seen or heard of another surviving so it very rare as you guys know, sorry Bibs I won't be selling it, even with the amount of pain and torture it puts me through I still love it!,

Funny enough I've never really taken any photos but I will over the weekend as it's the annual pilgrimage to the Goodwood Revival so I'll get some there, let me know your emails so I can send some over, cheers guys

Gareth

[Bibs]

Fair enough. If you change your mind I can get a very healthy offer for your car arranged

 

You can post the images on here, no problem.

 

I'm about 10 miles north of you, just outside of West Malling

[Portocruz]

I've just realised I'm guessing your the chap who organises the Lotus Festival at Brands, fantastic weekend by the way, I was planning on bringing the Esprit down but having 2 young boys and they both love Brands I couldn't obviously get them both in the Esprit! Next year though definitely

[Bibs]

Very kind of you to say

[Portocruz]

Hi Bibs great to meet you a few weeks ago, you've got me thinking, I never thought I would say this but yes everything is for sale at a price!, it would be good to meet wih the chairman at Bell and Colvill sometime to have a chat and just to see what's on the table, I'll try and make the next meeting for a beer

cheers

Gareth

[Bibs]

Let me know when you want to pop over mate. Would be nice for you to have a read of all their archive paperwork too

 

[ChrisJ]

Any pictures yet 

[Portocruz]

[910Esprit]

Very nice.....

[ChrisJ]

That looks good!

 

[The Pits]

Wow! What's it like to drive? More laggy than the factory Turbo hopefully!

[Portocruz]

It's a lot of fun, you've definitley got to drive it like you mean it! It doesn't like to be pussy footed around

[Bibs]

Beauty! That's a real piece of history right there

[Mark Blanchard]

Looks superb and better without the yellow Speedlines.

[Portocruz]

The yellow speedlines didn't last a day!

It also came with a hideous private numberplate, it took nearly 2 years to trace and prove the original 1978 plate which shows it was bell and colvill's press car 

[The Pits]

Have you ever driven an early factory Turbo Esprit for comparison?

I know that the current owner of B&C is a huge Giugiaro Esprit fan, I imagine your car would be his holy grail!

[Portocruz]

Must admit I havent driven any other lotus, but it would be interesting to see the difference between the factory car, the books and reports from the time always say that the Bell and Colvill  turbo car was more brutal with the delivery of power, she does fly when you get the turbo singing!,

[The Pits]

I have a 1981 dry sump Turbo so perhaps we could arrange something. It would be an interesting encounter to write up for here and perhaps the magazine, if you were willing?

Either way hope to see the car at some point during the year. Any plans to bring it to the TLF event at MBW or the Brands festival? 

[Portocruz]

she spends the winters surrounded by Italian beauty then we get reacquainted in spring, if I'm still the custodian then that sounds a great idea, I've always planned to bring her to TLF but Ive got 2 young petrolheads so it's s bit difficult 

[Loose Cannon]

Remember this on Ebay yonks ago. I quite liked the yellow Speedlines...