Description
A classic, iconic, rare and unique British sports car.
Built in 1977, first registered in 1978.
Specifications:
1973cc Lotus type 907 Alloy engine (Accepted in the under 2 litre race classes) producing over 200bhp.
Lightened rods and cranks
Forged racing Pistons
Custom cams (no details available)
Twin Dellorto 45 DHLA Carburettors
Lumenition ignition system
Ported with steel followers
Custom Dry sump with pinned bearings
Lightweight flywheel
Tilton twin plate clutch plate and cover
Modified Turbo Esprit S3 gearbox
30 litre alloy foam filled fuel cell
Holley racing fuel pump
Competition fuel filters and taps
Braided Fuel lines
Willwood calipers (front) with vented discs
Modern Girling style calipers (rear) with standard discs
Braided brake lines
Tilton adjustable brake bias
Line Lock (Front wheels)
Bespoke performance exhaust (meets track noise limits)
New rose joints
Custom rose joint rear links
Custom rose joint upper wish bones front
New adjustable AVO racing dampers.
Full fast road/ track alignment by Allon White Sports Cars
Front mounted engine oil cooler
Braided oil lines
Full Roll cage from front to rear
Image BRM Style 17" wheels with Good Year Eagle F1 tyres (Rear)
Japanese Racing 16" wheels with Good Year Eagle F1 tyres (Front)
Partial interior trim inc dash binnacle
Original Esprit gear knob
MOMO steering wheel (a two spoke, not the Prototipo pictured)
Single Corbeau racing seat
TRS harnesses
Fire extinguishers, plumbed in to cabin and engine bay
The sale will also include the following:
Original Citroen/ Maserati gearbox (as originally fitted to the Esprit)
Original Girling brake calipers
Set of Image 17" BRM style wheels (front)
LotusBits stainless big bore exhaust (requires repacking)
Esprit rear valance and bumper
Set of racing mirrors
Miscellaneous interior and exterior parts
Lotus Esprit Owners Manual
Small portfolio of racing results and photographs
Folder of works carried out and receipts.
Between 2015 and 2018 the car was subject to extensive work, with Thunder Road Cars, SJ Sportscars and other engineering specialists, to increase reliability, drivability and overall safety.
Further works between 2020 and 2022 to address mechanical issues.
Latest work and service in August 2024 at Allon White Sports Cars included:
Rebuilding dampers
New wheel bearings
Replaced driveshaft universal joints
Replaced gear linkage bushes
Replaced oil pipes with braided pipes
New oil filter
Oil change
Brake bleed and balance
Carb tuning
Full suspension geometry and wheel alignment
The car bears the scars of a racing past, and cosmetically it is rather scruffy in places. But, the car good mechanically, performs well, smells heroic, and sounds epic!
The car has been looked after, and all that I could afford has been spent on it; however, there will always be more work to do in order to maintain this car. It is currently in a "ready to go" state. This road legal Esprit was competitive race car for many years with a number of documented podiums, wins, and class wins in the hands of its previous racing driver owners, Andy Reeves and John Dickson.
Initially built to compete in the Historic Sports Car Club (HSCC) 70's Road Sports Series, it went on to race with Heritage, SRGT and 750 Motor Club around the UK circuits and at Spa Francorchamps Summer Classic and Spa Six Hours Barry Sidery Smith races.
I acquired the car form John Dickson in 2013, after seeing it race at Spa, and it continued racing with Cheng Lim until late 2014 when I retired it, due to the escalating costs, and set about making the car more fast road/ track day focussed.
This turned out to be a long, costly and very stressful period!
The fun started returning at the start of 2019 with attendance at a number of motoring events, where the car was subject to great interest and praise. The cars 2019 highlight was completing a 1200 mile, 3 day road rally from London to Edinburgh; it received a trophy and a feature in Practical Performance Car Magazine.
The car continues to draw attention at events, and particularly when out on the road.
In my opinion the car is awesome, it looks awesome, fully engages me and makes me feel alive.
It is aggressive, noisy and really hot; the car remains a "racing car".
To get the best from it, the driver is required to deliver the same level of input, effort and involvement that would be given on the track (what I am suggesting here is that the drive, whilst often epic, is not relaxing at all, and quite a work out!), then it is rewarding and great fun.
As much as I love this car, I struggle to find the time to drive it and give it the attention it needs; I will forever regret selling it as I have given it my all, and there will never be another like it.
But I concede to the fact (with some heavy persuasion from my family) that it is now time for a new owner to take on this car, get it back on the track, and enjoy using it how it was intended.
