This thread will follow the trials and tribulations of getting a fire-damaged S1 back on the street.
The origins of this car is discussed in another thread here: http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f164/esprit-series-1-sad-274657/
I am the buyer of said fire-damaged car. This is her new home, at least for a while. The car on the left is my 1979 Lotus Esprit S2 JPS 24. Charro has displaced my 73 Mustang convertible to the other garage.
![]()
My purpose in this thread is to help those that might find themselves doing some of these tasks, or just are interested in what is required to restore an Esprit.
I originally bought this car with the intention of making her into a convertible, like the St. Tropez cars produced in the early 1980s out of Turbo Esprits. Convertibles are in my blood. In all the old family pictures, there's always a convertible or two in the background. When Charro got to me in Orlando from Michigan, I discovered that the body wasn't too badly damaged, and I couldn't see myself removing good fiberglass to do my project. However, if you have a fire-damaged Esprit tucked away in a barn somewhere, maybe we can talk.
From the opening, let me clarify something. I am NOT restoring this car, as one thinks of restoring a car to factory original. The costs involved with that would be huge, and there is just not a payback on that. Instead, this is a recommissioning. I want to get the car back on the road, and make it a reliable driver. I have owned my JPS for over 25 years, and have fixed just about everything at one point r another. That car requires that things be done to a particular standard, the way it was done from the factory. Charro, on the other hand, doesn't require the same standard. For instance, the rear glass is not available, and engine covers are difficult to find and expensive. Getting all the bits and pieces to put the glass back in, with trim, and engine cover, with an air box, ducting, blower motors, etc. would be a huge financial hit. However, putting in a set of louvres donated from another Esprit owner and leaving the engine bay partially finished seems like a better way to do things.
Strap in. It's going to be a long voyage....
Bill
The origins of this car is discussed in another thread here: http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f164/esprit-series-1-sad-274657/
I am the buyer of said fire-damaged car. This is her new home, at least for a while. The car on the left is my 1979 Lotus Esprit S2 JPS 24. Charro has displaced my 73 Mustang convertible to the other garage.
My purpose in this thread is to help those that might find themselves doing some of these tasks, or just are interested in what is required to restore an Esprit.
I originally bought this car with the intention of making her into a convertible, like the St. Tropez cars produced in the early 1980s out of Turbo Esprits. Convertibles are in my blood. In all the old family pictures, there's always a convertible or two in the background. When Charro got to me in Orlando from Michigan, I discovered that the body wasn't too badly damaged, and I couldn't see myself removing good fiberglass to do my project. However, if you have a fire-damaged Esprit tucked away in a barn somewhere, maybe we can talk.
From the opening, let me clarify something. I am NOT restoring this car, as one thinks of restoring a car to factory original. The costs involved with that would be huge, and there is just not a payback on that. Instead, this is a recommissioning. I want to get the car back on the road, and make it a reliable driver. I have owned my JPS for over 25 years, and have fixed just about everything at one point r another. That car requires that things be done to a particular standard, the way it was done from the factory. Charro, on the other hand, doesn't require the same standard. For instance, the rear glass is not available, and engine covers are difficult to find and expensive. Getting all the bits and pieces to put the glass back in, with trim, and engine cover, with an air box, ducting, blower motors, etc. would be a huge financial hit. However, putting in a set of louvres donated from another Esprit owner and leaving the engine bay partially finished seems like a better way to do things.
Strap in. It's going to be a long voyage....
Bill
