Esprit convertible moulds

[Paul Coleman]

Some bloke on the Facebook page is looking to get rid of some Esprit convertable moulds if anybody is interested. He's in Warwickshire by the looks of it.

[silverfrost]

I take these are like the Tropez moulds Paul ? 

[Paul Coleman]

6 minutes ago, silverfrost said:

I take these are like the Tropez moulds Paul ? 

I don't really know what they are to be honest...

 

[andydclements]

A collective could purchase and then have a ceremonial burning.

[silverfrost]

Yes they look very much the Tropez moulds Paul going by the body lines in the mould.  Although I am no expert and there was also a lot of variants made by different manufacturers as the. Tropez was not even lotus made.

Agree with Andy above it was a horrible looking conversion for a  car like the esprit IMO .

Hence why not many made which is why those moulds are so clean 

[andydclements]

Summing up the convertible cars: Take out body rigidity and safety (in the event of a crash), add in more weight to lessen the detrimental effects. That's not mentioning the aesthetics.

[eeyoreish]

Looking at the 'stepped' centre section these could well be the St Tropez moulds. Love it or hate it surely these have to be worth saving??

The poster, Brett Mann works at Lotusbits...

[PhilW]

Do we know who owns a StTropez at the moment?  Whatever we think of the conversion it might be nice to make any owners aware of their availability in case of accident etc in the future.

[TAR]

I agree that it would be a shame to lose the moulds if they are true St Tropez.  Someone from the forum already has the other moulds so maybe interested in storing them.

 

[eeyoreish]

@Barrykearley fancy building a St Tropez for your next project? If anyone can... 

[Barrykearley]

I'd fancy it to be fair - I saw a st tropez in bits years and years ago in a small lock up in Gloucester - I liked it - can understand the purist not though

[Stuart Monument]

Anthony had one on here l. Use to be user roger Moore but I think he has changed that. He sold the car on so he will know the new owner. 

[eeyoreish]

I'd love one too. The only problem (aside from money) is bringing myself to hack up a perfectly good G car, which I'd also want to keep!

Anyone know of an 80s Esprit with a damaged roof???

[Matt-watts]

Just done a deal collecting moulds at 9 am tomorrow. SAVED ?

[Paul Coleman]

Well done Matt

Just don't tell your wife where you heard about them or she'll be cursing me hahaha

[Barrykearley]

13 minutes ago, Matt-watts said:

Just done a deal collecting moulds at 9 am tomorrow. SAVED ?

Good man - have a look at the body he has there and take some pics and post up. That may well be useful to someone.

[eeyoreish]

Would be great to know exactly what they are and if it's the full set required to recreate a convertible. Just in case... 

[Chillidoggy]

I have a suspicion that those moulds will sit around and collect dust for ever more.

Actually, 'suspicion' is not the right word to use. 'Hope' would be a better choice.

[eeyoreish]

Very possibly, but either way they're a part of Esprit history so they ought to be preserved and who better to do that than a member of this forum. 

[Barrykearley]

1 hour ago, ian29gte said:

I have a suspicion that those moulds will sit around and collect dust for ever more.

Actually, 'suspicion' is not the right word to use. 'Hope' would be a better choice.

Ahhh come on you miserable old bigger...... folks are gagging for lotus to chop the roof off the evora - this guy was miles ahead of his time

[silverfrost]

Yes quite right Barry about the Evora lol. 

However much as i dislike the Tropez design as it is not to my own personal taste.   I would however be interested to see what other other changes they made to the body structural wise if any ? I.e did they put extra steel pipework in the a or b pillars,  

I know the esprit has a seperate chassis but surely they must of braced these somehow.

Would be nice to see what was done, They remind with the hood on of that renault espace convertible built by the lads on Top Gear.

Not many pictures on the web with hood attached for that very reason as it screams kit car to me imo.

[Chillidoggy]

26 minutes ago, Barrykearley said:

Ahhh come on you miserable old bigger...... folks are gagging for lotus to chop the roof off the evora - this guy was miles ahead of his time

Indeed, I suspect you're right. Thankfully however, Lotus held off from ruining the Esprit lines. And I think their engineers knew it would make the car less rigid, and compromise the handling as a result.

I confess to being biased, having endured getting soaking wet over a period of 26 years in my now-departed Dax Cobra. And then there was the leaking roof in the Stag that only became apparent to back-seat passengers after they'd been sitting down for a few minutes. And the leaking roof in the Scimitar GTC, which some kind soul stuck a knife through, and stole the radio. Before which it used to leak on the drivers seat, the results again becoming apparent after a few minutes. The Cobra had a neat trick of allowing rainwater to creep up the inside of the dashboard, then tumble down behind it to drip on the drivers lap, thus looking like he'd pissed himself.

Convertibles? You can keep them.

[LOTUSMAN33]

Ian

Don't ever buy a M100 then! The only 100% watertight soft top I ever owned was an Astra Bertone which never leaked a drip even in Gail force storms.

Well done to Matt for saving the mounds though and to Paul for bringing them to everyone's attention.

Dave  

[Chillidoggy]

I think it's safe to say I won't ever be buying another convertible of any variety.

[silverfrost]

Never say never, the new ones have those metal folding roofs and these days are tested in monsoon test stations before they leave the line.

I think they look awesome, also stops the ##### from using blades to gain entry or just cutting for sheer jealousy on them these days