Esprit Turbo project car - part3 - the further continuation

[RichardJGC]

This is from the Bond car which went to auction a few years back

 

[Lotusfab]

2 minutes ago, stephenwhyte said:

Interesting the gearstick shaft is the thicker black one on your car Fabian - would have thought it should be the thinner chrome one?🤔

Very impressive spot! Nothing gets past you guys! I may have to live with that - the thought of any more work doesn't appeal! 

Oh no, I'm going to have to take it apart! 😫😫😫😫😫😫

[stephenwhyte]

One of the things I love about the earlier Turbos was the silver shaft - much more elegant than the stumpier thicker black one but understand why you’d want to leave it Fabian👍

[RichardJGC]

Dont leave the steering wheel that way up either 😉

[Lotusfab]

😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫

RM610

Thanks to Andy,  it's all tested and working, it doesn't  dissappoint. Will be the finishing touch on this Bond car. It's like a piece of equipment from Jodrell bank, lights up like a Christmas tree!  Now how do I get that gearstick out? 😩😩😩😩

[stephenwhyte]

Always trying to help I promise - I did swither whether to post about the gearstick but my Esprit OCD issues got the better of me.

So glad you’ve got the roof stereo all working - must be a very cool thing to have in a Turbo Esprit👌👏

[Steve4012]

The chrome gear levers were thinner in diameter and prone to snapping in half as mine had done and had been welded back together. This meant I no longer had the lift for reverse though which I didn't like. You may struggle to find a chrome one intact. I was happy to upgrade to the beefier black lever for peace of mind.

[Lotusfab]

25 minutes ago, RichardJGC said:

This is from the Bond car which went to auction a few years back

 

Have you got any more Bond car close ups?

[RichardJGC]

I think most of them were posted earlier on in your thread when you were researching the ski mounts and also on the Bond Car thread a while back.

 

[Lotusfab]

Thanks Richard. Interestingly the rear wheels are BBS not Compomotive! 

Glad you pointed out the steering wheel!

[stephenwhyte]

And the bonnet decal had clearly been reapplied as it’s positioned too far left to be factory original 

[RichardJGC]

Not sure those door speakers are Bond spec either. I imagine this car had quite a hard life over the years. Who knows what is now original.

[Lotusfab]

Not sure, is this the Deezer car? If so the Deezer one doesn't have any door speakers???

[RichardJGC]

No this is the car with the plaque which sold for £120,000? a few yrs back and ended up in the middle east. Will it ever be seen again?

[Lotusfab]

[stephenwhyte]

This is it here Richard

https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/event/lotus-from-bond-film-set-to-go-under-the-hammer-88895044#lotus-turbo-esprit-car-from-the-1981-james-bond-film-for-your-eyes-picture-id88895593

Auction car and Deezer car

[Lotusfab]

Just to make this the most comprehensive Bond car blog ever here's some more snaps.....sorry Bibs 😬😬😬

If anyone from the film industry is reading this my Bond cars will be available for a movie very soon! 

[Lotusfab]

Door card stripped. The usual speaker holes to get rid of. Original covering chassis number and model written underneath! 

Door wiring.

[Lotusfab]

I didn't film this!

 

If I did it would have been the Spy Who Loved Me Theme!

[Fridge]

Filmed by an LED obsessive by the looks of things.

[Lotusfab]

On 01/08/2018 at 06:03, skiing said:

Ahem. Interestingly for those who are interested in roof stereos - there seem to be four models I can find info on. the RM700 (which seems to be top of the range), the RM610 or RM E-610 which is the Essex car fitment. There is the RM310 and then also one called the RM555 which I have seen one picture of on a blog - This seemed to allow you to select components for your stereo including cassette deck, radio tuner and graphic equalizer. This looks an earlier model and a bit more analogue than the RM610 or RM700.

Henry, have you got any cockpit stereo original  fitting pictures you could post? I'm interested how Lotus fixed it. I can work a solution but I prefer to copy the original. Thanks.

[red vtec]

On 01/08/2018 at 21:34, RichardJGC said:

No this is the car with the plaque which sold for £120,000? a few yrs back and ended up in the middle east. Will it ever be seen again?

And yet the DB5 from Goldeneye Just went for nearly £2million. Esprit are hugely undervalued. 

[Fridge]

Comes down to desirability @red vtec, as well as prominent marketing. As well as rarity, like with most classic cars.

Aston Martin prices will probably always outweigh Lotus cars. They are in a different league really. Though the DB5 was manufactured in similar numbers to the Esprit S1.

The fact that 1960's classic drive like trucks in comparison (especially the DB5), is of little consequence.

The Goldeneye DB5 was featured in a full sequence, racing Famke Jansen in here Ferrari 355(?), but with a legacy of the original in Goldfinger (another full and extensive sequence), and briefly featured in Thunderball. Whereas the Esprit Turbo/Turbo Esprit was used fleetingly in FYEO. Apart from it self-destructing and carrying skis it's presence in the film was minimal by comparison, and as a consequence is largely forgotten by those outside of the Lotus community. The Esprit S1 is a different matter, which appeared in a highly memorable sequence, which was integral to the plot. The mini-sub being used to spy on Stromberg's undersea laboratory. TSWLM also had a greater budget, having to make up ground on a lengthy legal battle which delayed the film franchise, and also to counter the lack lustre box office performance of The Man With The Golden Gun which preceded it. This bigger budget meant an increase in marketing spend, from which Lotus Cars and the Esprit S1 was able to benefit.

These are just the views of a producer, who deals with screenplays, as well as advertising and marketing.

[red vtec]

On ‎04‎/‎08‎/‎2018 at 13:55, Fridge said:

Comes down to desirability @red vtec, as well as prominent marketing. As well as rarity, like with most classic cars.

Aston Martin prices will probably always outweigh Lotus cars. They are in a different league really. Though the DB5 was manufactured in similar numbers to the Esprit S1.

The fact that 1960's classic drive like trucks in comparison (especially the DB5), is of little consequence.

The Goldeneye DB5 was featured in a full sequence, racing Famke Jansen in here Ferrari 355(?), but with a legacy of the original in Goldfinger (another full and extensive sequence), and briefly featured in Thunderball. Whereas the Esprit Turbo/Turbo Esprit was used fleetingly in FYEO. Apart from it self-destructing and carrying skis it's presence in the film was minimal by comparison, and as a consequence is largely forgotten by those outside of the Lotus community. The Esprit S1 is a different matter, which appeared in a highly memorable sequence, which was integral to the plot. The mini-sub being used to spy on Stromberg's undersea laboratory. TSWLM also had a greater budget, having to make up ground on a lengthy legal battle which delayed the film franchise, and also to counter the lack lustre box office performance of The Man With The Golden Gun which preceded it. This bigger budget meant an increase in marketing spend, from which Lotus Cars and the Esprit S1 was able to benefit.

These are just the views of a producer, who deals with screenplays, as well as advertising and marketing.

I agree the DB5 had more screen time etc, There were three cars used in GoldenEye two for driving, another for the harbour. It wasn't that long ago DB5 were being put on the scrap heap, it's only the value now that makes them worth saving. A full resto can easily cost £300,000 on top of the car in the first place. Two of the cars I have dealt with have sold for £1.3million & £1.9million+  Aston have been clever in making the most of the Bond link, even DB7, DB9 etc have the cache even though never been near a Bond film. 

I think the Esprit is still an iconic Bond car as people not into Lotus often still refer to them as "is that the James Bond car?" The screen time is far less, but the link is there. I cant recall anyone saying that about a 2CV.

Esprits are so undervalued, although the prices have increased over the past few years. I think they will start to take off now, look at he price of basic stuff such as RS turbos, Golf GTI's etc... This is the view of someone who deals with investment cars.

 

[Fridge]

It's over 20-30 years since DB5s were crushed. Rough examples were still in their £1,000s in 1988.