Sunroof question -- just curious

[lotusespritse]

Does anyone know why the sun roof opening was made much smaller on the later Esprits?

On my SE, the opening was right where the sun visors ended. On my V8, the trim extends several inches back, which makes it feel much less open.

I did notice they wisely switched to real glass. The plexi top on the SE bubbled from the heat.

[BlackSheep]

My 88 and 97 look the same to me? Maybe they changed the v8 in 98

[lotusespritse]

Originally Posted by BlackSheep

My 88 and 97 look the same to me? Maybe they changed the v8 in 98

Probably. New interior for 98.


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[lotus4s]

I don't believe the opening changed from the SE to the end. I had one of the earlier Saratoga plexiglas tops fitted to my S4s at one point and it fit perfectly. The glass top that came with the S4s fits every Esprit to the last one, same part #...

[lotusespritse]

Originally Posted by lotus4s

I don't believe the opening changed from the SE to the end. I had one of the earlier Saratoga plexiglas tops fitted to my S4s at one point and it fit perfectly. The glass top that came with the S4s fits every Esprit to the last one, same part #...

Talking about the overall opening which is smaller, not just the hole in the fiberglass.


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[lotus4s]

Never noticed any difference in the size of the openings. Does your glass have an obscuration band around the edge?

[Type82]

Is Saratoga still in business? I did a Google search and couldn't find anything pertaining to Lotus Esprit only Porsche.

I did see one for sale once on eBay but it was for a Stevens Esprit if I recall. My car has the composite roof and I would love a glass one even if it's plexy-glass.

[04ESPRIT]

Originally Posted by lotusespritse

Does anyone know why the sun roof opening was made much smaller on the later Esprits?

On my SE, the opening was right where the sun visors ended. On my V8, the trim extends several inches back, which makes it feel much less open.

I did notice they wisely switched to real glass. The plexi top on the SE bubbled from the heat.

The interior headliner trim is a different part # from the SE's to the V8's, but I don't know readily know why it's changed.

[sleekgt]

Originally Posted by lotusespritse

Does anyone know why the sun roof opening was made much smaller on the later Esprits?

On my SE, the opening was right where the sun visors ended. On my V8, the trim extends several inches back, which makes it feel much less open.

I did notice they wisely switched to real glass. The plexi top on the SE bubbled from the heat.

I have a factory OEM glass sunroof (supposedly from a V8) that is on my 88.

My understanding is any plastic (Plexiglas(TM)) sunroof is aftermarket and would be different.

When you say 'opening', you seem to be referring to the actual CLEAR portion of the glass roof? My glass roof has about 3 inchs of black border on the front edge - is THAT what you are talking about?

The actual roof opening on the car is supposedly the same on all Stevens Esprits, but that's my theory as the sunroof part number is the same. I do know the later Stevens front bonnet is different than my 88 so maybe they did the roof too.

Here's a photo of my sunroof:

[lotusespritse]

My SE came with factory plexi top. Same with other friends with SE's.

I am taking about the interior trim panel that holds the visors. It extends into the opening to make it smaller by several inches.


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[BlackSheep]

Originally Posted by sleekgt

I have a factory OEM glass sunroof (supposedly from a V8) that is on my 88.

My understanding is any plastic (Plexiglas(TM)) sunroof is aftermarket and would be different.

When you say 'opening', you seem to be referring to the actual CLEAR portion of the glass roof? My glass roof has about 3 inchs of black border on the front edge - is THAT what you are talking about?

The actual roof opening on the car is supposedly the same on all Stevens Esprits, but that's my theory as the sunroof part number is the same. I do know the later Stevens front bonnet is different than my 88 so maybe they did the roof too.

Here's a photo of my sunroof:

Only difference I see in my 88 and my 97 is that my 88's composite roof is slightly tapered in at the rear of it, and my v8 does not.. And my V8 has a headliner and my 88 does not. You are correct, the front bonnet on my 88 does not have the black "rounded" trim towards the windshield that the 97 does.. I believe they changed that to give the car a more rounded look when they went to the V8 design.