1982 Lotus Turbo Esprit - Essex Blue (RHD)

[Conni82]

Hello all

 I am going to be starting my lotus project in the coming weeks. Originally I was going to sell the car but have decided to challenge myself and start the rebuild process of a 1982 Lotus Turbo Esprit. While I am familiar with working on Turbo cars and have a nice mechanical/fabrication background I have never worked on a lotus. I have done a large amount of research over the past year after thinking I had come across an Essex car. Now knowing more about Lotus history and the car I am aware it is not LOL. My goal is to get the car back to the way it was when it left the Hethel plant for the first time. I will be logging all of my work on here and will definitely be needing guidance from this wonderful lotus community. But first things first I want to know if it is possible to get a full detailed spec list of the car from lotus so I know what has been changed over the years.

I am aware that the paint, engine, trans, are all original. 

Any help on this first topic and many to come would be greatly appreciated. 

VIN: SCC082910CHD11405

 

Edited November 17, 2016 by Conni82

[Stuart Monument]

If you contact Andy graham at lotus he should be able to inform you of the original spec and other useful information. £40 for the certificate of provenance and other info. Well worth the money 

 

p.s car looks lovely 

[Conni82]

Thanks for the help, and thank you. these pictures are a bit old. i will be posting current pictures of the car after i get it all cleaned out and up in the air

 

thanks again

[TAR]

That looks like a great project. I wish you good luck. keep us posted of the progress.

 

 

[ChrisJ]

It's the best year for it

Chassis number is 56 after mine, so built sometime after July 1982 - but it has the old style indicators, mine has the newer ones.

First registered 19 Nov 1982. Last taxed in the UK in 1988

Look forward to some more pictures and reading about your progress.

Chris

 

[Conni82]

yes i will be posting as i go.

Is their a way to see how many esprit turbo cars came in blue (A16)  from Hethel

This car does have a overhead radio console on the ceiling as well. was that a factory option from lotus or a modification a previous owner made? i only ask that because their is obviously a radio on the dash that just doesn't look like it fits properly. as you can see in the picture above. 

 

connor

 

[Dan E]

Connor you really don't want a worthless roof stereo, wrap it up and send it over here to me. 

looks like a great project someone has obviously had a go at an Essex Rep, oh and yes roof stereo a very expensive option but as I say they are worthless today. 

Good luck 

Danny 

also well worth joining the forum

[molemot]

Interesting....it seems younger than mine....WRU 295 X...which isn't an "Essex" although was painted in Essex blue. I'm away from mu records at the moment, so can't give chapter and verse.

Have fun with the restoration...(!)

[Barrykearley]

It's horrible - shall I wire you some money and arrange a shipping container ? It's need repatriating!!

[Barrykearley]

I'm sure that cars been pictured on here before....

[Conni82]

i posted a few pictures 2 years ago i think now, on here of it when i first found it to find out more about the car.

[ChrisJ]

1 hour ago, Conni82 said:

Is their a way to see how many esprit turbo cars came in blue (A16)  from Hethel

Yes, this is what you want http://www.lotuscars.com/ownership/certificate-provenance

It should tell you how many cars came in your colour in 1982. I've found if you ask a specific question - i.e. how many in total were A12 - Andy will try his best to answer you.

Chris

[Conni82]

molemot i am interested to see what you come up with. 

chrisJ thank you, i will be looking into that and am looking forward to getting the cert. 

thanks again boys

[RichardJGC]

Great to see another 82' being restored...mine is currently undergoing a full nut/bolt restore and is 16 cars before yours.

Will be following progress with great interest.

Latest progress pics of mine below.

Richard

 

[Andyww]

82, a vintage year for Esprits!

[Conni82]

Revisiting this post years later. The deal fell through with the car. I was able to get back in contact with the owner last year in the fall of 2020. I was finally able to purchase the car and take ownership. I have since received the certificate of provenance and wanted to share with whoever was interested. 

Edited September 6, 2021 by Conni82
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