[amanda11270]

My brother started this discussion the other day about how long it takes to make a Rolls Royce which is several weeks, then a Toyota can be built in a day due to the automation involved.

Anyone know how long it took an Esprit from start to finish to be assembled, not counting the engineering of course, just the building of the car?

 

[OnAir]

Apparently it took 584 man-hours to assemble an Esprit. With multiple people working on a car, it took about a week to produce each one. Link.

A few pics of the assembly process.

 

[amanda11270]

That's a informative link, very cool to see the body being formed into shape. I bet it took some perfecting to get that procedure right. Thanks for the info.

 

[sleekgt]

The various books (Simister?) I have mention ~500 man hours/ 3 months to complete an Esprit.

Note the 76-87 G cars were all hand-laid bodies while the S cars 88-04 were formed using VARI process (Vacuum Assisted Resin Injection).

Lotus History - The Toyota and GM Years

 

[amanda11270]

Thanks for that link also, the work they did making these fiberglass bodies is I think amazing.

 

[roadtalontsi]

thats an awesome link. thank you for sharing.

 

[mpesik]

I had this awesome book from the mid eighties about the Esprit.
I recognize some pics.
I miss that book!
Unfortunalely it was sold to someone on storage wars along with much else.
I canot find that great book again anywhere!,,,

 

[04ESPRIT]

Mike,
There's also the V8 Final Edition Build website!
Lots of great photos here.
Lotus Esprit V8 Build Record
Derik

Apparently it took 584 man-hours to assemble an Esprit. With multiple people working on a car, it took about a week to produce each one. Link.

A few pics of the assembly process.

 

[mpesik]

Mike,
There's also the V8 Final Edition Build website!
Lots of great photos here.
Lotus Esprit V8 Build Record
Derik

Thanks a lot for that.
Really..

 

[OnAir]

Hey Derik,
Thanks. :up: I was looking for this one! I was sure that I had bookmarked it, but for the life of me I couldn't find it again! What a great site, eh?

Mike,
There's also the V8 Final Edition Build website!
Lots of great photos here.
Lotus Esprit V8 Build Record
Derik