esprit turbo 94' blown head gasket

[vegasandre]

Hello all
Thinking about buying this lotus it has a blown head gasket and possible dropped valve and needs a new paint job.
Having wanted a lotus since I was a kid,I thought that this would be a good opportunity to get a very wholesale car. I have read many of your posts, What kind of expense can be estimated to get this puppy running? I cannot do it myself , I would have to sub it out.
Any advice would be great
Thanks
Andre'

[Dr.Hess]

Paint jobs can cost as much as you are willing to spend, but I would guesstimate three thousand and up for something that will look decent. A local top quality body shop charges six large for a paint job. The motor, well, hard to say without knowing what is actually wrong with it. Three to six thousand would not be an out of the ballpark guess, I would think. Unless you are getting this car for 12K, I would look for one in better condition.

Dr.Hess

[Feffman]

Andre:

What they aren't telling you is the white S4 you are looking at on E-bay had a MAJOR accident(previous owner ran it up a guide wire into a telephone pole), removing the best portion of the front end. The frame is bent and it's been sitting outside in all the weather for the better part of a year.

Our local Lotus dealer called me about it when the insurance company called them. It was a mess and still is. The bodywork is at best mediocre.

Feel free to contact me.

Mark Pfeffer - St. Louis Area Lotus Lovers
[e-mail]

[Dr.Hess]

Oooohhh, run away from that one. Five thousand as a parts car, tops, and I wouldn't touch it for more than 3.

Dr.Hess

[vegasandre]

Thanks for your help guys, I appreciate it. The quest continues. Guess there really arent any steals in pricing. Thought I might get lucky. I am not handy mechanically by any means and I know that esprits are labor intensive, but that will ot deter me. If anybody sees anything good in a s4 or v8 esprit, please let me know.
Thanks
Andre'

[feffman]

Andre:

I know of two V8 Esprit for sale. A 1998 silver with limited slip differential asking $41,000. The other a black 2001 with limited slip, AP brakes asking $52,000.

Mark Pfeffer
[e-mail]