My Lotus - almost finished!

[marcos]

I think this is OK for non-Maserati!

I don't mention it that often when chatting as I don't remember it, but I have Lotus and went to see it today. I have never driven it, bought it in bits in early 2004! I drove down to Marcos Heritage today to see what the progress was and found it outside, driving under its own power and almost finished!

Pictures below showing the before and after. Engine and gearbox have been out, it's has been a total restoration and should be the best in the country when it is finished. It is a 1981 dry-sumped Series 3 Turbo Esprit, one of the very first turbo cars and very special order to NOT have the Essex Petroleum paintscheme (look it up if you don't know the history!). It has always been gloss black, but the interior colours are new; biscuit with black alcantara.

A very modest 210bhp, but with 1100kg or so, it sould be quite sprightly for its vintage.

The shape isn't for everyone, it's ultra-80s, but as a child this and the Maserati Bora were the cars I wanted. Unfortunately this is the one I can have right now!

 

[Parisien]

The dogs Lewis...respect....!....great to see the cars of that era coming into their own again!


P

 

[marcos]

Don't see too many of them about, that's for sure! And with Lotus F1 racing in black and gold again, it even looks quite current!

Hope it drives well, have driven a modern twin-turbo V8 version but I think this will seem quite crude by comparison. Though maybe not, my old beater of a 911 drives like a dream!

 

[Parisien]

I can remember the cars with the fine coachlines of gold........which *** company was it sponsored them?

Cigarette....lol

P

 

[BennyD]

Was it John Player?

 

[marcos]

Yup, JPS. Have a very big original poster on he wall from the 1974 F1 GP of Monaco with the Type 72 driven by Ronnie Peterson...

 

[Andyk]

Was it John Player?

Jahn Player were sponsers of one of the greatest Lotus F1 cars ever...The black and gold cars....

Lewis she looks brilliant.....Love the shape and what you have done to here inside and out.....How about bringing her along to Llandow on June 2nd...WOuld be great to see her going around the track..

 

[Dan!]

Fantastic, what a thorough and amazing restoration!

 

[ENZ525]

That looks fantastic Lewis, superb

 

[2b1ask1]

Wow a real credit and dedicated restoration super.

 

[conaero]

Beauuuuuutiful Lewis, always loved them. Is it the same model as this? (Not engine, but series)

[video=youtube;wfq0cE17JX8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfq0cE17JX8[/video]

The guy selling the blue one is quite like you also, especially his mannerism.

 

[marcos]

Yep, mine's a series 3, the very first turbo though his is a basic one Very cheap though! The one they show in the VT at the beginning in silver on track is the same.

His piston rings need replacing looking at that blue smoke

 

[GransportFan1]

I am loving that Lewis, looks wicked.

 

[Andyk]

Must say they did a good job of that Esprit....If it was for sale I would have been tempted

 

[marcos]

As with the Marcos though, I have spent many times the value of the car on the restoration... so not a viable sale for me as usual.

When it's finished and stickered up it should look incredible. As long as the engine holds together...

 

[ADM]

ah that looks fantastic..great job.

 

[lozcb]

As with the Marcos though, I have spent many times the value of the car on the restoration... so not a viable sale for me as usual.

When it's finished and stickered up it should look incredible. As long as the engine holds together...

Credit where its due Lewis , hats off to you , looks like its come together really well , hope next months pay check is a biggun , it will need to be , or one of the test rigs comes up trumphs with a nice fat bonus of x amount of barrels per day , look forward to a meet up where we can do some tyre kicking


warm regards loz

 

[Easyplan66]

love that interior.......great cars

 

[JayOne]

Very nice , I spotted this outside the Marcos Heritage as they are based just a few minutes away from me

 

[marcos]

Very nice , I spotted this outside the Marcos Heritage as they are based just a few minutes away from me

Interesting... the car went stright from the paitnshop to the mechanicals place so some correction/buffing/polishing is needed but we wanted to make it the last thing. Would you mind popping in and seeing Rory (saying I sent you obviously!) and giving a quote for the work? Otherwise he has to zip it down to the paintshop which costs me the time of two mechanics as well as delivery and collection!

Loz - welcome back