An interesting opportunity on a potentially epic car
Discussion
I was speaking with one of my colleague at work today and the topic of cars came up. I was taking about my GT6 and he mentioned that his brother is looking to get rid of his Lotus Esprit SE Turbo now that he has been made redundant. This instantly grabbed my attention as I have always liked the Esprit. Apparently the car needs a bit of work. The petrol tank leaks, the exhaust manifold need replacing and it will need a respray as it has been stood outside for quite while without a cover over it. I'm sure that there would be some other things needing doing to it as from the sounds of it, it hasn't been looked after too well in the six or seven years he has had it. Apparently it does run and the breaks have recently been overhauled but it obviously doesn't have an MOT.
I have some pictures of the car here:
Loads more here: http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y73/wizardskills/...
Interesting this is the car back in 2003 in a magazine feature.
http://www.lotusespritworld.com/ERoadtests/SEvVent...
I'm not too familiar with the Esprit but I'm sure they can throw up some quite substantial bills so what should I be looking for if go to see it? Any advice would be most welcome from someone who know a bit about Lotuses.
According to my colleague I may be able to secure if for around £2 -3k. With that mind, do you think it is worth a punt?
I have some pictures of the car here:
Loads more here: http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y73/wizardskills/...
Interesting this is the car back in 2003 in a magazine feature.
http://www.lotusespritworld.com/ERoadtests/SEvVent...
I'm not too familiar with the Esprit but I'm sure they can throw up some quite substantial bills so what should I be looking for if go to see it? Any advice would be most welcome from someone who know a bit about Lotuses.
According to my colleague I may be able to secure if for around £2 -3k. With that mind, do you think it is worth a punt?
Does look good mate. As you know I also know nothing about them but I am more than happy to help you with the project.
Best advice I can give you is to try and calculate the cost of the repairs you do know about as a starting point.
For to be worth £10-12k surely?
Would go in on it with you if I had the cash avaliable.
Best advice I can give you is to try and calculate the cost of the repairs you do know about as a starting point.
For to be worth £10-12k surely?
Would go in on it with you if I had the cash avaliable.
Well worth a punt at that price. Leaky petrol tank(s) are common and would cost about £400 a go plus fitting. Engine needs to be checked. Usual stuff like when cam belts changed, exhaust manifolds crack, turbos can go. Check all the electrics too - always a likely problem on a fibreglass car. any more advice needed pm me or look out for more on here.
Everything you need to know about Esprits here:
http://www.lotusespritworld.com/
http://www.thelotusforums.com/
I've had my S4 ten years now (same running gear, engine etc as the SE) & I still get a buzz when I open the garage door, i'm still loving it. If you can get it for 2k then its a bargain HOWEVER, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A CHEAP ESPRIT. You have to love it & treat it as one of the family as it will want your time & money. Mine seems to be linked to my Barclays bank account, when ever I have a bit of money she demands it, but when i'm skint she behaves & asks nothing. I've just got it back from an engine out C service, done by an Esprit specialist who has looked after it since ive had it, so that's cam belts etc, new exhaust manifold & anything else it needed, £2,500 all in.
I'm convinced that if you wanted one when bond turned it into a sub in 1977 then you will love it (its called the bond affect)but if its just a faze your going through then it will beat you up, make you feel silly & make you cry. Some Esprits don't enjoy being a Lotus anymore & they are the dogs, others love overtaking & chasing superbikes & they are fun but those are normally looked after by owners that would rather sell you their wife than their car.
Saying all that just go for it, I bought the first one I went to see, didnt know anything about them & was very lucky
http://www.lotusespritworld.com/
http://www.thelotusforums.com/
I've had my S4 ten years now (same running gear, engine etc as the SE) & I still get a buzz when I open the garage door, i'm still loving it. If you can get it for 2k then its a bargain HOWEVER, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A CHEAP ESPRIT. You have to love it & treat it as one of the family as it will want your time & money. Mine seems to be linked to my Barclays bank account, when ever I have a bit of money she demands it, but when i'm skint she behaves & asks nothing. I've just got it back from an engine out C service, done by an Esprit specialist who has looked after it since ive had it, so that's cam belts etc, new exhaust manifold & anything else it needed, £2,500 all in.
I'm convinced that if you wanted one when bond turned it into a sub in 1977 then you will love it (its called the bond affect)but if its just a faze your going through then it will beat you up, make you feel silly & make you cry. Some Esprits don't enjoy being a Lotus anymore & they are the dogs, others love overtaking & chasing superbikes & they are fun but those are normally looked after by owners that would rather sell you their wife than their car.
Saying all that just go for it, I bought the first one I went to see, didnt know anything about them & was very lucky
Thanks for the advice guys. I had fully expected it to be quite expensive to fix up. After speaking with some of the guys on the Lotus forums I'd be looking at a minimum of £6k to sort the fuel tank, manifold and the respray. That is also including a "C service" (cam belt etc). I am sure however that other things would need doing like clutch and suspension.
As such I just don't think it is viable at £2.5-3k purchase price. If it were less than £1k then maybe. I'm going to see if I can get some concert prices on things just to check the figures but it doesn't look hopeful
As such I just don't think it is viable at £2.5-3k purchase price. If it were less than £1k then maybe. I'm going to see if I can get some concert prices on things just to check the figures but it doesn't look hopeful
Wizardskills said:
Thanks for the advice guys. a minimum of £6k to sort the fuel tank, manifold and the respray. As such I just don't think it is viable at £2.5-3k purchase price. (
Theres still money in the deal though, once done you will have a great time & its got to be worth 8k-10k. I paid 15k for mine 10 years ago & its worth that now, you will get your money back in the end.
I bought this one for three grand a few years ago.
It was mechanically sound, but cosmetically a bit scruffy.
Once I had added up the cost of getting it to a reasonable standard, there was no question that it wasn't financially viable.
Sadly, I sold it on for £2750 before I started spending on it. I'm certain that it was the right decision.
If you want a really nice Esprit (or any other classic car for that matter) it is invariably cheaper to buy an immaculate one than to fettle a scruffy one.
Replacing cracked manifolds and leaky petrol tanks are unpleasant jobs. In fact, most jobs on an Esprit are fairly nasty, whether it is swapping a steering rack or fitting a new radiator.
But you can forgive the car most of these foibles, providing that the bodywork is nice and the interior is immaculate, because that's where the real money can be spent.
It was mechanically sound, but cosmetically a bit scruffy.
Once I had added up the cost of getting it to a reasonable standard, there was no question that it wasn't financially viable.
Sadly, I sold it on for £2750 before I started spending on it. I'm certain that it was the right decision.
If you want a really nice Esprit (or any other classic car for that matter) it is invariably cheaper to buy an immaculate one than to fettle a scruffy one.
Replacing cracked manifolds and leaky petrol tanks are unpleasant jobs. In fact, most jobs on an Esprit are fairly nasty, whether it is swapping a steering rack or fitting a new radiator.
But you can forgive the car most of these foibles, providing that the bodywork is nice and the interior is immaculate, because that's where the real money can be spent.
I would go for it and do the jobs yourself at your own time. This way, you can wait for parts to come up on classifieds and sales etc.
I would take this project on so if you decide not to go ahead then please pass it onto me.
Alternatively, if you decide to buy it then feel free to contact me anytime for any help and assistance on parts and contacts for service and any other technical issues.
Regards,
David Walters
I would take this project on so if you decide not to go ahead then please pass it onto me.
Alternatively, if you decide to buy it then feel free to contact me anytime for any help and assistance on parts and contacts for service and any other technical issues.
Regards,
David Walters
Hey mate,
i just myself bought a Lotus Esprit and I paid 7k for it also knowing it needed the petrol tanks doing.
I paid just over 1k for two alloy petrol tanks plus all pipes etc, all the belts for a big service despite the fact they were only done 2k ago (I dont like to risk it).
I have looked into doing the alloy tanks via a Lotus dealer (quoted at nearly 2k in labour) Vs doing it with a very knowledgable friend with all the tools.
Needless to say I am doing it myself and will be paying him a few beers. All in all its probably a 20-25 hour job so but something that can be done in your own time.
I think I had a bargain at what I paid so at the price of yours I would be biting off the hand.
i just myself bought a Lotus Esprit and I paid 7k for it also knowing it needed the petrol tanks doing.
I paid just over 1k for two alloy petrol tanks plus all pipes etc, all the belts for a big service despite the fact they were only done 2k ago (I dont like to risk it).
I have looked into doing the alloy tanks via a Lotus dealer (quoted at nearly 2k in labour) Vs doing it with a very knowledgable friend with all the tools.
Needless to say I am doing it myself and will be paying him a few beers. All in all its probably a 20-25 hour job so but something that can be done in your own time.
I think I had a bargain at what I paid so at the price of yours I would be biting off the hand.
Petrol tanks on an Esprit are time consuming rather than technically complicated.
I did my o/s tank and it took about five hours to whip out the old one and about half that time to put it all back together again.
After all the effort to get it out, my petrol smell turned out to be a leaky gasket under the sender unit, which was easily accessible without removing the tank.
Not one of the nicer jobs on an Esprit, but I found replacing the radiator much more unpleasant.
The thought of paying a Lotus dealer to the tanks (or the radiator) would make me weep.
I did my o/s tank and it took about five hours to whip out the old one and about half that time to put it all back together again.
After all the effort to get it out, my petrol smell turned out to be a leaky gasket under the sender unit, which was easily accessible without removing the tank.
Not one of the nicer jobs on an Esprit, but I found replacing the radiator much more unpleasant.
The thought of paying a Lotus dealer to the tanks (or the radiator) would make me weep.
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