The Last Lotus Esprit

[ErnestM]

Belongs to Denis at Oxigin Wheels:

[pic]http://www.espritv8.com/modules/gallery/albums/album30/IMG_1152.jpg[/pic]

More pictures of it and the rest of the annual Winter Park Concours:

[url]Click Here|http://www.espritv8.com/modules.php?set_albumName=album28&op=modload&file=index&name=Gallery&include=view_album.php[/url]

BIG congratulations to Karl-Franz (he of the facts) for taking second place in the SENIOR division (you must win first in class TWICE to be considered a senior)

Enjoy!

ErnestM

[snuffy]

ErnestM said:

...second place in the SENIOR division.. ErnestM

Senior division ? What's that mean then, Karl is over 60 ?

Adrian
Sport 350

[ErnestM]

snuffy said:

ErnestM said: ...second place in the SENIOR division.. ErnestM Senior division ? What's that mean then, Karl is over 60 ? Adrian Sport 350

Not quite. In an effort to have more cars enter, when you win 1st in class twice, you have to compete against all of the other cars that win 1st in their class twice (for instance Ian Crawford's fantastic XJ220).

So (are you listening Jim, Dan, Les, etc etc) now, neither Karl nor I can win 1st in class at the Winter Park Concours any more. I am strongly advocating that all other local Esprits enter this so that we can keep Lotus an ongoing marque at the show.

ErnestM

[snuffy]

I notice the shop in the background sells things that my Mother is interested in ( Crossstitch and knitting ), and she's over 60

Adrian

[Lotusm10024]

It says that this car was built 2/04? I thought all the last Esprit's that were imported to the US were built in December 2003? Do you have the last three # on the VIN? I also have a last run and my last are 603. I know where 604 is, same color but still for sale at the dealer with no mileage. Maybe if I will the lottery.

[kylie]

Congrats Karl, I bet your lounge/garage looks great with all thoese trophies on the shelf!!

Kylie

[ErnestM]

This car was actually built in '04 for Arnie Johnson. When he left Lotus it became available and was shipped to Fox Valley Motors in Chicago. Denis bought it from Fox Valley. This is the absolute last Lotus Esprit off of the line.

ErnestM

>> Edited by ErnestM on Thursday 20th October 01:50

[Lotusm10024]

Not that I don't believe this is the last Lotus ever built, but are you then saying that Lotus made 52 (or what ever the number really was) of "Last Run" Esprit's for the US market. All of these were made in December 2003. Then in January and February Lotus continued to make Esprit's for the European and Asian markets, then on 2/20/04, they go back and make one last US spec Esprit for Artie that just happens to make it back to the US. Why would he not want a European model, right had drive if he was going to drive it in the UK or does he live in the US? I would love to see a picture of the sticker on the door that says "Feb04". Again, I fully believe that this was the last Esprit ever built until the next one is built in a few years, it is just a strange story of events, but I guess all Lotus stories eventually end up being strange.

[Lotusm10024]

[ErnestM]

Arnie (my bad) was CEO of Lotus Cars USA until he tendered his resignation shortly AFTER this car was built. The car went into limbo for a while and then was released to Fox Valley (who got it by virtue of them being the #1 Lotus dealer in the States). It was a US spec car because Arnie lived (and still does) in the States.

ErnestM

Article:
www.lotusespritworld.com/EOtherstuff/EndofProduction.html

[wedg1e]

Just after I bought my Esprit (I think two days later) there was a nerws item on TV over here about the last Esprit rolling off the line... and the car featured was definitely yellow... and it was Feb '04.

>> Edited by wedg1e on Thursday 20th October 08:00

[Lotusm10024]

Do you know the last 3 digits (serial number) on the Last Esprit? I have 603, I know where 604 is and I just found the owner of the last black one at 609. I would be interested to know the last number, which would also determine how many they built in Jan and through February 2005.

Thanks.

Bob Dz.

[ErnestM]

I'll send Denis and email and ask him. However, I seem to remember reading somewhere that VIN numbers don't necessarily translate into numbers built or some such. I think this was discussed when one of the TurboEsprit members bought their Esprit.

ErnestM

[Lotusm10024]

I found this on another thread about the new Esprit. Anyway, half way down they talk about the last esprit and is shows that it is number 10621.

www.lotusespritworld.co.uk/ERoadtests/Autocar_Feb04.html

[robert87hci]

My congrats to Karl for getting the last Esprit. On the subject of numbers and Ernest M's message about a turbo Esprit member trying to figure the vin's that could be me. I've been searching for 4 years to find the closest vin to mine which came up on eBay
a month or two ago... 60911, I'm 60919. I've found others below or above however this is the closest I've come to my vin. I have the book to break down production numbers, but Lotus was never really good with the figures. If anyone wants the break down of the G cars vin let me know.
Cheers,
Robert

[judgea]

Robert, interesting, I never paid attention to that until I saw your post. Mine is 61006, manuf. Feb., 1987. Mark J. 87 HCI.

[ErnestM]

robert87hci said:

My congrats to Karl for getting the last Esprit. On the subject of numbers and Ernest M's message about a turbo Esprit member trying to figure the vin's that could be me. I've been searching for 4 years to find the closest vin to mine which came up on eBay a month or two ago... 60911, I'm 60919. I've found others below or above however this is the closest I've come to my vin. I have the book to break down production numbers, but Lotus was never really good with the figures. If anyone wants the break down of the G cars vin let me know. Cheers, Robert

'twas not Karl. The gent's name is Denis. He owns Oxigin wheels (www.oxigin.com) His company actually makes the wheels that were on his Esprit.

Karl still has his gorgeous S4s.

ErnestM

[robert87hci]

Thanks for the correction EM. On the subject of vin numbers, I found a nice gent up in Vermont who has 60937, black with grey interior. Took some pictures of our cars side by side {mine is black} and it looked awesome. Mark, if you have that plastic dash and would like to upgrade to wood I have the connection. When I replaced the binnicle in my car I had French Walnut panels made to relieve the eye sore of the bowed plastic around the gauges. Randy has a large selection of veneer's to choose from and he makes them on aluminum panels instead of the OE so they do not warp. The finish is FLAWLESS! It kills me when people look at it and they have to "touch" it. The price was very reasonable for the three pieces. Contact me off list at [e-mail] for more details if interested.

Cheers,
Robert

[jbrookstone]

Last Esprit? Now for a... lagging Esprit?

Hello, gentlemen. I'm a newcomer with a mystery. I've just purchased a 2003 Lotus Esprit V8, that appears to be outfitted as a 2003-1/2 (i.e. 2004 everywhere but California). The stainless steel wire grills are there, and the right shift knob and HVAC controls, the tire monitoring system is present. But... the plate on the drivers side door indicates a build date of June 2003. CARFAX indicates the vehicle was imported to the US in May 2004. It is a former Lotus company car (assigned to John English) that has never been registered before. Purchased from a reputable Lotus dealer. Looks new, drives like new, but 12K miles on the ODO. Sequence number (last three VIN digits) of 545. Yellow with black interior.

So - why would a US-spec car be built one year before it was imported? Is it a 2003 or 2003-1/2 (2004)? And what would the in-service date be? Important from a warranty standpoint.

I've called Lotus USA with these questions - no answer yet.

Jay

[ErnestM]

Any factory warranty would be from the date of purchase and registration by the initial owner unless otherwise stipulated by the purchase agreement. Every State is different so you may want to check your State laws...

ErnestM