1978 S2 - Save, Restore, Cherish

[Shenton79]

While driving from Norwalk to Waterbury, CT (USA) in the fall of 2013, I spotted a dozen or so cars gracing a driveway entrance to a presumably abandoned commercial building.  I ventured off the highway and on to the driveway, which upon closer inspection had some pretty neat cars gracing the overgrown grassy edge of the driveway.  I exited my truck and walked towards the building with the intention of knocking at the door.  As I approached, I heard a voice..."STOP RIGHT THERE".  I immediately put my hands up in the air.  I couldn't see where the voice was coming from, but he continued..."WHAT DO YOU WANT?".  After a very anxious scan of the windows on the building I saw the man yelling at me and said "Sorry sir, just a car guy interested in your classics".  He quickly replied...."YOU GOT CASH?", to which I said (hands still in the air, hahah) "No sir, sorry for the misunderstanding, I'll get out of your hair." As I turned around he yelled..."WAIT ONE SECOND".  So I did....

He came down and asked if the truck and trailer in his driveway was mine and I explained that it was.  He apologized and explained to me how many people come to his property taking pictures and even stealing things.  He has to be very aggresive these days with these folks...he even brought me over to meet his crazy ass dog and told me I was lucky he didn't release him on me! hahah.  I asked if anything was for sale and he said that everything was for sale.  I asked about a Corvair, he blurted out "3500".  I asked about an Edsel station wagon, he grunted and grumbled "2500".  We went on to talk about cars, collecting, etc...for the next 20 minutes.  He said, if you're serious, I'll show you the back...."You interested" he asked.  Yes sir....lets check it out.  

He guided me past his nutcase dog who would have broken his own neck for a taste of my ankle and fresh Timberland boots.  One swift kick of a rusting metal gate and its like the heavens opened up....there I stood at the foot of the largest collection of sh!t I have ever laid eyes on.  There must have been 150-200 vehicles lined up in 5-6 rows.  The variety of his cars was from the very new, which he would hack out the important guts and sell them on ebay, to the very collectible, such as a Chrysler 300, 4-5 Packards, Dodge Duster, Chargers.  He had 50's-60's police and taxi vehicles, milk trucks, fire trucks, busses, pick-ups...you name it.  But everything was completely ROACHED and he wanted high dollar for everything.  As I was leaving without any real interest in anything...I noticed a really sad little Esprit hiding between an ambulance and a taxi cab.  I spent 20 minutes with it and asked if "that" was for sale.  He said "yeah...for $6 GRAND".....and "if you want that gem, you'll have to pay for it"......"James Bond drove that car".  

I wrapped up with small talk and a promise to come see him again one day.  That day would be Aril 30, 2016...

I found a white Lotus listed in Craigslist that was sold before I could even see it.  It had no engine or transmission, and no title either.  The seller wanted $3500, and told me he sold it for $3000 and felt the guy got a good deal.  Thats is when I started posting to the Facebook group "Lotus Esprit Group".  I revitalized an old post about the junkyard Lotus and asked about value, and it seems to me that folks in the group felt that $2500 was a good price.  So....I called Howard the owner of the car hoard and asked him if he still had the Lotus.  The second he said yes...I got my truck connected to my trailer, hit the bank and drove to see him.  I told him that I will only come up if he will negotiate on the price and he said that if I had "green" money...then we can talk all day.  I said to be honest Howard, I only have a couple grand, but I really want that Lotus and I think its fair at $2K.  He said nothing less than $2500, and I said....Okay, we'll talk about it when I arrive.  

I showed up, re-inspected the car, went back to Howard with $1000 in my hand and he told me to get back in my truck, lol.  I said Howard...Its completely gone!....He said....and its $2500 an no less.  I smiled and said, okay, lets pack her up then and handed him $2500...only, and only because I felt prices have gone up a little on these, especially if an unrestored roller was going for $3K. 

Without further ado, I present my 1978 lotus Esprit S2 saved from a field of broken dreams in Connecticut, USA. 

I am fairly mechanical and my father has a full restoration shop with lifts, paint booth, and 2 full time guys.....if I loose steam on my own. I plan a full restoration of my own doing, and will thank everyone in advance now for your help and patience with my questions! hahah

First question - What on earth have I done?!  

Second question - Anyone from Connecticut on here?

I'd love to invite any CT people in here for beers and a walk around my car with me before I start.  

Best to all...
Shenton

 

[ChrisJ]

Look forward to reading this - and seeing the pictures of the restoration

Great so far

[C8RKH]

Nice story and welcome. Look forward to seeing the piccies of how this develops and turns out.

[Rolls]

I love it when another resto kicks off from ground zero. Can't wait.

fun times ahead!

[silverfrost]

Fantastic find Shenton,  You guys risk your necks over on that side of the pond classic car hunting !  Great story and lucky find, 2500k is good money for a complete car in my eyes, even though it looks sad at the moment, it is complete.   Plus your very lucky with your farther having the workshop with ramps and spray booth. 

I do envy you lot on that side of the pond with the land you guys have, i think i would be a hoarder though if i had space to keep more cars. 

Look forward to the tear down, plenty of pictures needed. !  and put another speedline alloy wheel on it ! with all its faults at the moment that is the only one that would concern me for the moment lol. 

[jcslocum]

Dude, you are one crazy mofo to deal with that nut job. Good on you for actually doing it and buying it. It's great to see a car get saved and not just turn to dust in his back lot, like so many other vehicles.

 

I have just moved to MD from NY near the Poughkeepsie area and we did have a family farm in Kent for 90 years. I'm not from the area anymore, but I do get back there and would want to view the corpse you have dragged home...:-)

 

 

[Lou R]

Shenton,

Great find !  I live in New Jersey and have a 79 S2 that's just like yours.  Carnival Red with gold decals and black lower body trim.  Can't see the interior of your car but I'm guessing it's probably black (tinted to a greenish hue by now from sun exposure) or maybe tan ?  $2500 seems like a pretty fair price for that car - they're hard to come by which should help when/if you ever decide to sell.  I've had my car for a number of years now and am doing a slow nut and bolt restoration.  I've already completed the chassis with all new suspension, steering and brake parts, refurbished Speedline wheels and I have a ton of new and restored parts that are ready to go back on the car when their turn comes.  I overhauled the transaxle myself and am starting on the body now.  Hopefully, it'll be ready to paint by the end of this summer (I'll be doing that myself as well).  Still a million jobs to do (engine, rebuild wiring harness, re-trim interior, etc. etc.) but I'll get to all of them eventually.  Feel free to PM me with any questions you may have.  I'm not an expert but most Esprit owners probably know more than they may realize.  Additionally, using this forum will only make your restoration easier.  I was in Connecticut (Berlin) a month ago on another British car quest - too bad you didn't have the S2 then otherwise I would eagerly have dropped by for a look.  If I'm up that way any time soon I'll contact you.  You're welcome to stop by my residence if you find yourself in northwest New Jersey.

Best of luck.

Lou R

[rajesprit]

Nice story, you wont regret it, just looking at it every morning is enough to make you happy and is worth the 2500$, then comes the day you drive it, it will be a grin from ear to ear!

[Freemason]

Spare wheel on the LH rear? Hope you also got the original rim. Looking forward to following this, please take lots of pics.

Subscribed!

[Shenton79]

Hi guys!

Thanks again for all the great advice and comments.  Luckily, the 4th speedline wheel was in the passenger seat when I bought it :-)

I'll be starting a thread for the restoration today....I will start breaking her down this and next weekend. 

 

Best regards to you all,

 

Shenton

 

 

[ChrisJ]

Look forward to following your progress.