Had a 1985 Turbo...gorgeous but quite problematic. Traded for a yellow 1999 V8 twin turbo....had it for 20 years with minor issues. Went to "Ferrari Day" at Limerock Park in Connecticut with a couple of Ferraristi friends of mine (F355, 360 respectively) . The lovely yellow 99 Esprit was a main attraction in the sea of Rosso Corsa. Made my day!!!!
There are two kinds of former Lotus owners: 1. Owner’s who are still paying off their 2nd mortgages that paid for all the service and parts necessary to keep their cars running; and 2. Owners who slag their Esprits off to the next victim as quickly as possible. I had a fully, 100%, restored Esprit S4S. I drove it 3K miles in 8 mos. and spent $5K in repairs; left me on the side of the road twice.
I live in Cornwall, Connecticut near Lime Rock Park and I owned a 1973 Lotus Europa John Player Special for 27 years and I’d often bring it to Lime Rock to race it and for shows. It always amazed the amount of attention it got, considering it was surrounded by lots of very expensive cars. I’m one of the lucky Lotus owners in that I had very few major problems with it, but I’m also a Lotus certified mechanic so I knew how to maintain it. It never went outside in rain or snow, and it was kept as dry as possible. I’ve owned Ferrari’s, Lamborghini’s, and now own a 1972 Maserati Ghibli 4.9 SS that I will never part with. Still, I’ve yet to find a car that handled like the Europa. The Ghibli is very stable and sure footed, but it’s a very large car and a completely different feel than the light and fast Europa. It’s too bad that Lotus never had excellent build quality, because they’re such addictive cars to drive.
@@Mike-rk8pxAgreed. Except for the (abysmal in my case) build quality, it was a fantastic car. For a car in such seemingly extraordinary condition, it was a rolling nightmare.
Iain’s videos remain the very best at mixing British charm with solid information and the joy of the hobby. As a Lotus fan, I really appreciated this one. Thanks for another great dream car review, Iain!
Absolutely I’m the least mechanical minded person out but love these and can follow them with ease and appreciate the work done on the Cars. But as a motoring historian first class.
Highly recommend the Soup Classic Motoring RUclips channel where an S2 Esprit is painstakingly being restored and documented beautifully in stop motion.
As a kid of about 7 yrs old I was with my uncle in Birmingham when we walked past a garage. Parked on the forecourt was the most incredible thing I’d ever seen. I stood and looked at this spaceship for an age. The owner of the garage obviously saw me in awe of this thing. He came out, opened the door and let me sit behind the wheel. Any wonder the Lotus Esprit is probably one of my favourite cars of all time.
Similar thing happened to me but at a dealership in Codnor, Derbyshire (Codnor Motors?). We went out for a family 'Sunday drive' - remember those? I got to sit in an Esprit S1 in White and take a brochure home too. Spent many hours dreaming over that. Finally purchased an Esprit S3 in the late 80's. Had it serviced in Birmingham a couple of times. It may even have been the same Dealership you went to. What are the odds?...
I have an S2 Elise. There is nothing else like it and probably never will be again now. Super agile, amazing steering feel, and super responsive throttle.
I own two Esprits: a 1987 S3 Turbo HCI and a 1994 S4. They both have their own charm but I do have a slight preference for the S3 too. I've just had the turbo redone on the S4, and it’ll be back on the road this week. The S3 is currently getting a full respray and should be ready by February. I absolutely love these cars-it’s fantastic to see them getting some well-deserved attention again!
S3 HC Turbo is 'peak' Esprit IMO. Whilst the later Chargecooler Turbo SE has it's charms, the HC is the model I desire most. Giorgetto Giugiaro styling FTW. Latest model for maximum upgrades/reliability. Absolute classic! You are indeed a lucky man. Enjoy both of those fabulous cars!! 🙏
I am presently restoring a 83 turbo Esprit “Investor Edition” #32 of 50. I really understand your statement about these cars rushed to production!!! I do look forward to driving it at completion! Thanks for the fun video Ian!
@@chandrab the Lotus Forums online are were the most detailed restoration documentation is found. Check out the Restoration threads for the Lotus Esprit.
Great video! Using the leftover Concorde paint for the gel coat is amazing. Those early cars with that Concorde paint gel must be worth a fortune to collectors. They made Concorde and Lotus Esprit back then and we have gone backwards since.
George of Classic Soup Motoring is restoring a Lotus Esprit S3 the majority shot in Stop Motion (Frame) Animation. This is a nut and bolt restoration with hardly a detail left out.
The glorious Lotus Esprit will still look futuristic in 2076........Wonderful lines- an iconic design. As a late 70's, early 80's junior school boy, I was obsessed with the Esprit and regularly doodle sketched the Esprit on the back page of my exercise books! lol
My Dad loved your channel and had a newer Lotus Esprit Turbo which he adored. Sadly he passed away a few months ago but he loved your channel, so interesting
Thank-you Ian for the history lesson on this gem. This brought back an early childhood memory of one of these blowing past me as a kid leaving me in awe. Then the discussion abounded on what it was. After going to the library and going through a bunch of automobile history books, I found this car and became enamoured. It's a rare thing to see in Canada let alone in the prairies, but for about 7 seconds I was a lucky farm kid seeing this pass us on the highway near our farm sometime in the late 80's.
Interesting to have an Esprit featured. I'm a proud owner of a 1988 Peral White Lotus Esprit Turbo. Purchased it when I was a 23 yr old. Going on 30 yrs now. The car has never let me stranded. Not overly pricy to maintain either. Gates T188 timing belt is around $80. And just a little bit of work to do the job ;) Don't try it at home. The little 2.2L really ROCKED when the General Motors injection system replaced the Bosch set up. All the sensors & ECM are form a DOHC Quad Four engine (randomly available at the pic your own part wreckers). Yes, the steering is "delicious." If driven over pocket change. Not only can you tell through the steering it was a quarter .... you can tell its its landed on heads or tails :) Now, if only the collector car world would give these handmade works of art the credit they deserve !!
@@FridgeProductionsLtd it's nothing to do with the lighting, the back of the pop up lights give you a good idea of where the front of the car is. They are a physical marker
Fabulous. I rebuilt an engine for one of these a while ago. 11:1 compression, twin 45 Dellorto’s, 105 rally spec cams. 2.2L and it made just over 200hp at the flywheel. Fabulous in this very light car.
There was a black Lotus Esprit Turbo on the 1983 Car and Driver (US) cover, and a very young me fell in love on the spot. The perfect, clean wedge shape and those NACA ducts on the rocker panels, it looked like the future.
Wonderful as always. No matter what I’m watching if I see.Ian Tyrell pop up in a message, I’m watching it instantly. Brilliant video, thank you again. I am but a peasant who will never be able to afford one of these cars, yet I am a king watching these videos. They would be too short if they were only one hour long. Rochester, New York.
The spoiler on the back isn't a Gurney Flap. A Gurney Flap is attached to the trailing edge of a wing; it's the small straight edge that sticks up. The story is that in 1971 Gurney was the owner of Bobby Unser's Indy Eagle, were testing at the oval in Phoenix, AZ, and Unser complained the handling was terrible. Gurney had driven the Ferrari with the spoiler, and thought that something similar on the back of the wing would improve the airflow. Unser went out, and his laptimes were slower. What happened was Unser drove slower because he didn't want others to find out how good the new piece was. The Gurney Flap became ubiquitous as teams figured out what he'd done, and is even now still in use
Really good video, thanks. Got mine last June, white S3 N/A with 52,200 miles on the clock. One finally off the bucket list. Just smile every time I go into the garage.
Dear Ian, Thank you for another wonderful report on such an interesting and exciting car. I remember exactly how I was sitting in the cinema in Germany with my girlfriend, just 18 years old, when Roger Moore got into this car, which I didn’t know at the time-amazing! Your video gives us all the details and the knowledge about the circumstances of its creation. Without music and without any over-the-top effects, it’s truly impressive! Thank you very much, take care, and we’re all looking forward to the next exciting video!
I don't always get to watch as soon as the videos are out, but I always watch! "... which is not idea, really." Typical Ian politeness/understatement. As always, you're appreciated. It's great to see the new subscribers.
“The Spy Who Loved Me” was the first Bond film I ever saw and made a huge and lasting impression on me. So great to get all this extra information and trivia about it, especially about the submarine and the Concorde paint!
Yes, the first film I ever saw too... I remember the S1 rolling off the ferry in Sardinia, it looked space-age compared to the other stuff on that ferry. I remember having nightmares about Jaws and could never understand why James Bond dropped him in the water instead of just leaving him attached to the magnet!
Boy oh boy😍😍😍 What an honor, so much details never seen before only Sir IAIN can go into such technical aspects with ton's of knowledge & experience👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 Thanks for sharing Sir IAIN, Stay Blessed🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Another cracking video, thanks! Autocar mag tested an Esprit S3 in June '81: the report noted the revised engine's fatter torque curve, peaking at 160lb-ft compared to the S2's 140lb-ft, while peak power remained at 160bhp. The testers wound the car up to a peak of 135mph, with 0 - 60 in 6.7s and 0 - 100 in 20.9, so it was pretty quick for the time, aided by the light kerb weight (1,150kg). The car was priced at £13,500; the S3 turbo was £17,000 at the time. For comparison, a 911SC cost £16,500 in 1981.
I went to Scotland to watch the RAC rally 1985 ish, start parc fermé was in a exhibition centre in Glasgow, my friend saw an Esprit S3 on display and thought one day..and sure enough he bought one a few years later, fabulous motor.
There's a Polaroid of me about 5 years old sat in the Bond Esprit outside the Bethel St fire station in Norwich, I still remember feeling Uber Cool grabbing that steering wheel, call me 005 !!
My only time in an Esprit was as a passenger driven by Gerry Marshall who put in a few fast laps of Brooklands courtesy of an incentive day by Lotus Software.Excellent memories of flying down the straights and hardly slowing for the corners.
Sublime video Iain! So much information, delivered brilliantly. The older Esprits look even more contemporary than the later cars i think- they’ve aged better.
A company my mum worked for in the eighties had one as a promotional gimic, and she was handed the keys as she was seen as a safe pair of hands to look after it when it wasn't needed, anyway she said it was a bumpy ride but smoothed out wonderfully once you hit 90+.
Thank you for doing this video! Nice to see the Esprit getting some much deserved love and attention. I'm currently working on an S1 and what's left of an S2 on my channel. I have a ton to learn and I'm enjoying every minute! I didn't know about the drive shaft issue, thanks for sharing!
I absolutely loved this Episode. I owned an '84 Esprit 3 as my Daily Driver for a few years in the late 80's. Every drive was an occasion. It was Lotus Yellow with Black/Grey Marcasite interior and absolutely beautiful. I'm delighted to see via the DVLA website that it is still registered! I agree that it really was the 'sweet spot'. I bought mine based upon Car Magazine reviews, having the Turbo Galvanised Chassis and all the previous cars NVH problems 'ironed out'. In my view it was a "Turbo without the potential expense". Despite the typical L.O.T.U.S. acronym that surrounds these cars, I never had an issue with mine - and often did my own servicing. You mentioned the steering. Are you aware that it's a Triumph Herald rack? The (fantastic) gearbox is from a Citroen SM. The rear lights are Rover SD1. The door handles & column stalks are British Leyland Marina/Allegro. It was/is a real 'bitsa' - but what a car! I'm also delighted to the Lambo Jalpa in the background, as that was the car I replaced my Esprit with. The Jalpa was the "Big Boy's Fiat X1/9" with the Targa Roof et al. It was great but never used as a 'daily'. If I could have one car back, I'd have my Esprit 3. In truth, I'd go one better and have the final "High Compression" version of the Esprit the HC N/A. Probably not Lotus Yellow this time (I've mellowed), rather the fabulous Metallic Green with a Light Tan Leather interior. Is that too much to ask??
PS: 1) Whilst the Maserati Boomerang was an amazing design, it's a pity you didn't show a picture of the Silver Esprit show car. It was fabulous. The rake of the windscreen made almost a straight line with the bonnet and the rear had a 'clam shell' design. Those were some of the details that Colin Chapman had to productionise.. 2) the kick tail on the Turbo Esprit was too extreme and was causing nose lift, so they added a small lip in the leading edge of the rear slats to reduce downforce. I wonder whty they didn't just reduce the kicktail? Maybe it was just to make it look more dramatic!
My neighbor had a mid 80's turbo and he drove the wheels off that thing, he passed about 4 or 5 years ago, was still driving that car to the grocery store.. was a cool dude and i do miss the sound of the after market exhaust and turbo's.
Hi again Iain. From memory I don't think ever to have seen one in the real; an S1, 2 or 3 that is. These are so genuinely remarkable and recognisable. Very much a Giugiaro design indeed. No disrespect intended however Giorgetto distinctly was on that angular design language with the Audi 50, VW Passat, Scirocco, Golf at the time. Especially on the Esprit that expression has played out masterfully, far above the aformedmentioned. The original Esprit's look both spectacular and a bit reticent in an extremely well balanced manner. Thank you for the in-depth elucidation and taking us along is such symbol from a extraordinary era 💓
Many years ago I was driving between Auchterarder and Perth in my old integrale, I came across a red non turbo S2, we both hit the loud pedal, he had the edge on me. Always loved the Esprit.
You have to love the styling. I talked to a group arriving at a hotel all Lotus Cars a few years back in the highlands. Out of the ten cars only one had made it unscathed. The others all had problems, two had broken down but made it after roadside fixes, bits had fallen off, bits had come loose, bits had stopped working and bits had popped open. It’s all good it’s an adventure but this was day one 😂 still brilliant seeing them all pull up. Lotus do a retro version full Electric and it will sell like hot cakes.
Today’s video reminded me of the magazines from my childhood; Esprit Turbo vs. 930, BB512 and Countach. As a 13 year old, I was in love with the Esprit sharp design (best looking Lotus ever!) but was dreaming of the Italian V12s of course! So many memories 😉
Thank you, Sir for this video. I haven’t even finished it yet but I know it’ll be wonderful!! Thank you so much for your passion for cars and your RUclips content! Sending my very best wishes to you and yours this holiday season from the US!!
I have an S3 Turbo and it’s an incredible car. Surprisingly fast, even by today’s standards and sublime handling. I had no idea about the Concorde paint or the fact that the base of the Bond submarine was made from a raw, uncut mould. Fascinating! Great video 😊
Have always admired this car from day one- almost fifty years later it's still fresh and beautiful. As for the Series 3, I could accept the smoothed off update for the V8 engine.
I’ve owned a bunch of these for 30+ years and currently am a long term owner of a V8 SE. One of its duties in recent years was the school run with my son. A few years ago when he was about 5-6 years old we had a ”bit of a discussion” in the school car park one morning as he wouldn’t get out of the car until i “finally showed him” where the submarine button was. He didn’t back down until i suggested i might show him the ejector seat button instead. Yeah, i know that was the DB5, but it worked on the little chap. He just turned 12 and regularly says “Daddy, that will be my car one day won’t it?”.
Kamm back, or the aerodynamic principle that was discovered by Professor Kamm, dates back to the thirties. It was a young Peter Brock, while working under Harvey Earl at GM, who had access to their records, which had all of Kamm's work in their archives that they acquired from the military, post WW2, who used it to pen the Daytona coupe on a napkin in his mid 20s. The design was so unflattering and outlandish, that no one at Carroll Shelby's company wanted to help him in the process. We'll, after seeing how fast the first one was, seems everyone did a 180. Fun fact, one or two of the Daytonas were farmed out to Italian Coach builders who had the same stigma, so their end results were a tad different in the rear than the other cars/drawings they were given. It's subtle but if one of the Italian built cars is next to one of the American built ones, it becomes blatantly obvious. Also, the Gurney flap is usually a strip of metal riveted or screwed to an existing wing or spoiler that is not generating enough downforce. In other words, if Gurney took that Lotus you are showcasing onto the track, and was disappointed in rear grip at speed, he'd come into the garage and rivet a metal strip across the back of the car that protruded past the molded in spoiler. Then he'd go out n test it. Depending upon how it handled, he'd come back in and make a taller or shorter one, fix it, and test again, repeat as necessary until desired result attained.
@iain_tyrrell no sir. THANK YOU, for keeping these classics on the road and sharing them with us mere peasants, who can not afford most of what you n your crew wrench on daily.
Hi Ian, after the Lotus it's more than time to feature a TVR. Next month my ex-Saudi 4.3 Liter Big Valve Griffith will be back in the UK and I would voluntarily turn myself in for a service at your facility to do this video in case you would choose the car the man himself, Mister Trevor Wilkinson said about that of all the TVRs it'ss the sweetest of all. And the same from Neill Anderson, TVR chassis development engineer; asked about his ideal Griffith : "I wouldn't have power steering; it robs it of a bit of sensivity. I 'd have the old suspension kit, and I'd have the 4.3 engine; the big-valve version, which was the sweetest all round".
A very cool car. I am reminded of another very light 2wd vehicle whose colour was added to the body panels before moulding. A big favourite of mine for many years. Also with fully independent suspension and a separate chassis, although the bodywork was ABS rather than GRP.
I so loved the Esprit when it came out, such a great looking design! ...And then 007 used it! 👍🏻 Always wanted one, but was never brave enough to risk the reliability! Great vid Iain! 😃
Thanks Iain! It's great that you finally covered the Lotus Esprit. Also agree the earlier Esprit's are the better looking than later versions. The Peter Steven's refresh was apt for the time though.
Fascinating insight into the Lotus Esprit and I agree that the near original design still looks very clean today, the later iterations were too rounded and fussy.
no tyre guy will be sticking weights onto the outer rims of my ’85 Turbo Esprit…. love this car so much, have had mine for twelve years, can’t let it go. So comfortable (even at 6’3”)!
I have never seen weights on the outer rims of these cars before - but I guess all Esprits that don't have them are wobbling about 😅 No need to stick them on the outside, potentially ruining the lacquer that stops the finish from corroding.
"Using leftover Concorde paint" is possibly my most favorite car trivia in the last decade. So good.
And when I heard that I would say must be fun to match!
The very first Series 1 Land Rovers manufactured used leftover Spitfire paint from the war.
I wonder if it was British or French paint.
@@williambrandt9254 turn it into a positive: a trip to IWM Duxford to sample the test Concorde paint.
The very first SAAB's were all green from leftover tank paint.
Had a 1985 Turbo...gorgeous but quite problematic. Traded for a yellow 1999 V8 twin turbo....had it for 20 years with minor issues. Went to "Ferrari Day" at Limerock Park in Connecticut with a couple of Ferraristi friends of mine (F355, 360 respectively) . The lovely yellow 99 Esprit was a main attraction in the sea of Rosso Corsa. Made my day!!!!
There are two kinds of former Lotus owners: 1. Owner’s who are still paying off their 2nd mortgages that paid for all the service and parts necessary to keep their cars running; and 2. Owners who slag their Esprits off to the next victim as quickly as possible.
I had a fully, 100%, restored Esprit S4S. I drove it 3K miles in 8 mos. and spent $5K in repairs; left me on the side of the road twice.
I live in Cornwall, Connecticut near Lime Rock Park and I owned a 1973 Lotus Europa John Player Special for 27 years and I’d often bring it to Lime Rock to race it and for shows. It always amazed the amount of attention it got, considering it was surrounded by lots of very expensive cars. I’m one of the lucky Lotus owners in that I had very few major problems with it, but I’m also a Lotus certified mechanic so I knew how to maintain it. It never went outside in rain or snow, and it was kept as dry as possible. I’ve owned Ferrari’s, Lamborghini’s, and now own a 1972 Maserati Ghibli 4.9 SS that I will never part with. Still, I’ve yet to find a car that handled like the Europa. The Ghibli is very stable and sure footed, but it’s a very large car and a completely different feel than the light and fast Europa. It’s too bad that Lotus never had excellent build quality, because they’re such addictive cars to drive.
@@Mike-rk8pxAgreed. Except for the (abysmal in my case) build quality, it was a fantastic car. For a car in such seemingly extraordinary condition, it was a rolling nightmare.
Cool story ❤
_Loads Of Trouble Usually Serious_
Iain’s videos remain the very best at mixing British charm with solid information and the joy of the hobby. As a Lotus fan, I really appreciated this one. Thanks for another great dream car review, Iain!
Well said!
@@lewbarrett 100%. We are lucky Harry convinced him to start the channel.
Absolutely I’m the least mechanical minded person out but love these and can follow them with ease and appreciate the work done on the Cars. But as a motoring historian first class.
It was so space age for a 1975 design , still looks amazing
Highly recommend the Soup Classic Motoring RUclips channel where an S2 Esprit is painstakingly being restored and documented beautifully in stop motion.
As a kid of about 7 yrs old I was with my uncle in Birmingham when we walked past a garage.
Parked on the forecourt was the most incredible thing I’d ever seen.
I stood and looked at this spaceship for an age.
The owner of the garage obviously saw me in awe of this thing.
He came out, opened the door and let me sit behind the wheel.
Any wonder the Lotus Esprit is probably one of my favourite cars of all time.
Similar thing happened to me but at a dealership in Codnor, Derbyshire (Codnor Motors?). We went out for a family 'Sunday drive' - remember those? I got to sit in an Esprit S1 in White and take a brochure home too. Spent many hours dreaming over that. Finally purchased an Esprit S3 in the late 80's. Had it serviced in Birmingham a couple of times. It may even have been the same Dealership you went to. What are the odds?...
I have an S2 Elise. There is nothing else like it and probably never will be again now. Super agile, amazing steering feel, and super responsive throttle.
I own two Esprits: a 1987 S3 Turbo HCI and a 1994 S4. They both have their own charm but I do have a slight preference for the S3 too. I've just had the turbo redone on the S4, and it’ll be back on the road this week. The S3 is currently getting a full respray and should be ready by February. I absolutely love these cars-it’s fantastic to see them getting some well-deserved attention again!
S3 HC Turbo is 'peak' Esprit IMO. Whilst the later Chargecooler Turbo SE has it's charms, the HC is the model I desire most. Giorgetto Giugiaro styling FTW. Latest model for maximum upgrades/reliability. Absolute classic!
You are indeed a lucky man. Enjoy both of those fabulous cars!! 🙏
I’ve coveted the Esprit since I was 15. I’m 62 now 🤪. The S4 is just gorgeous. I really should own one before I die.
I was lucky enough to drive an Esprit a couple of years ago for Classic Car magazine - quite an experience!
I am presently restoring a 83 turbo Esprit “Investor Edition” #32 of 50. I really understand your statement about these cars rushed to production!!! I do look forward to driving it at completion! Thanks for the fun video Ian!
Thanks. Hope all goes well with your great project
By 1983, it wasn't rushed into production. That was the S1! Which was essentially a prototype.
Are you documenting the restoration....Facebook esprit group or youtube?
@@chandrab the Lotus Forums online are were the most detailed restoration documentation is found. Check out the Restoration threads for the Lotus Esprit.
I can’t believe how modern this car looks. It’s always been one of my favourites
Great video! Using the leftover Concorde paint for the gel coat is amazing. Those early cars with that Concorde paint gel must be worth a fortune to collectors. They made Concorde and Lotus Esprit back then and we have gone backwards since.
George of Classic Soup Motoring is restoring a Lotus Esprit S3 the majority shot in Stop Motion (Frame) Animation.
This is a nut and bolt restoration with hardly a detail left out.
The glorious Lotus Esprit will still look futuristic in 2076........Wonderful lines- an iconic design. As a late 70's, early 80's junior school boy, I was obsessed with the Esprit and regularly doodle sketched the Esprit on the back page of my exercise books! lol
My Dad loved your channel and had a newer Lotus Esprit Turbo which he adored. Sadly he passed away a few months ago but he loved your channel, so interesting
Thank you so much for that. Happy to have done that
Still my dream car. I have loved these as long as they've been around...
Thank-you Ian for the history lesson on this gem. This brought back an early childhood memory of one of these blowing past me as a kid leaving me in awe. Then the discussion abounded on what it was. After going to the library and going through a bunch of automobile history books, I found this car and became enamoured. It's a rare thing to see in Canada let alone in the prairies, but for about 7 seconds I was a lucky farm kid seeing this pass us on the highway near our farm sometime in the late 80's.
Thank you for sharing!
Interesting to have an Esprit featured. I'm a proud owner of a 1988 Peral White Lotus Esprit Turbo. Purchased it when I was a 23 yr old. Going on 30 yrs now. The car has never let me stranded. Not overly pricy to maintain either. Gates T188 timing belt is around $80. And just a little bit of work to do the job ;) Don't try it at home. The little 2.2L really ROCKED when the General Motors injection system replaced the Bosch set up. All the sensors & ECM are form a DOHC Quad Four engine (randomly available at the pic your own part wreckers). Yes, the steering is "delicious." If driven over pocket change. Not only can you tell through the steering it was a quarter .... you can tell its its landed on heads or tails :) Now, if only the collector car world would give these handmade works of art the credit they deserve !!
Always one of the highlights of the weekend, a video from Iain. What RUclips is best at.
Love the pop-up lights saying 'good night' ,nice touch.❤
If you want to park - you need the Headlamps to be up otherwise you cant see where the car starts.
Thank you
@@10zollit has side lights
@@FridgeProductionsLtd it's nothing to do with the lighting, the back of the pop up lights give you a good idea of where the front of the car is. They are a physical marker
@MrSlurry I never have a problem driving my S1. 2,000 miles this year alone.
Fabulous. I rebuilt an engine for one of these a while ago. 11:1 compression, twin 45 Dellorto’s, 105 rally spec cams. 2.2L and it made just over 200hp at the flywheel. Fabulous in this very light car.
The early’80s Turbo was literally my poster car. I could stare at that shape endlessly. 🥰
Soup classic motoring has been DIYing a S1 esprit restore in stop motion. Fantastic channel
Highly recommended. A great watch. 👍
Soup is a fun series! But isn’t it a Series 2??? I’m far from a Lotus expert..
S2. I agree Soup YT is brilliant, if a bit irregular!
There was a black Lotus Esprit Turbo on the 1983 Car and Driver (US) cover, and a very young me fell in love on the spot. The perfect, clean wedge shape and those NACA ducts on the rocker panels, it looked like the future.
What a stunner, knocked it out the park this week.
Wonderful as always. No matter what I’m watching if I see.Ian Tyrell pop up in a message, I’m watching it instantly. Brilliant video, thank you again. I am but a peasant who will never be able to afford one of these cars, yet I am a king watching these videos. They would be too short if they were only one hour long. Rochester, New York.
Thank you! Greetings to you in Rochester
A car so pretty it could double up as both a space ship and the best looking submarine ever.
The spoiler on the back isn't a Gurney Flap. A Gurney Flap is attached to the trailing edge of a wing; it's the small straight edge that sticks up. The story is that in 1971 Gurney was the owner of Bobby Unser's Indy Eagle, were testing at the oval in Phoenix, AZ, and Unser complained the handling was terrible. Gurney had driven the Ferrari with the spoiler, and thought that something similar on the back of the wing would improve the airflow. Unser went out, and his laptimes were slower. What happened was Unser drove slower because he didn't want others to find out how good the new piece was. The Gurney Flap became ubiquitous as teams figured out what he'd done, and is even now still in use
All lies.
@@joesullivan-y9r Care to expound on that?
@@KevZJ Not particularly.
Exactly so! A Gurney flap is set at right angles, and at the rear of an airfoil, not a car body.
Really good video, thanks. Got mine last June, white S3 N/A with 52,200 miles on the clock. One finally off the bucket list. Just smile every time I go into the garage.
Pleasure- lucky you!
I love the story about using paint from
the Concorde. You’re a living encyclopedia, Iain! Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Dear Ian, Thank you for another wonderful report on such an interesting and exciting car. I remember exactly how I was sitting in the cinema in Germany with my girlfriend, just 18 years old, when Roger Moore got into this car, which I didn’t know at the time-amazing!
Your video gives us all the details and the knowledge about the circumstances of its creation. Without music and without any over-the-top effects, it’s truly impressive!
Thank you very much, take care, and we’re all looking forward to the next exciting video!
Love the minimalistic design of the Esprit. Great video, as ususal, Lain!
I don't always get to watch as soon as the videos are out, but I always watch!
"... which is not idea, really."
Typical Ian politeness/understatement.
As always, you're appreciated. It's great to see the new subscribers.
Ha, the closing "wink" from the pop up headlights was a nice touch! Kudos to the editor!
“The Spy Who Loved Me” was the first Bond film I ever saw and made a huge and lasting impression on me. So great to get all this extra information and trivia about it, especially about the submarine and the Concorde paint!
Happy to hear that!
Yes, the first film I ever saw too... I remember the S1 rolling off the ferry in Sardinia, it looked space-age compared to the other stuff on that ferry. I remember having nightmares about Jaws and could never understand why James Bond dropped him in the water instead of just leaving him attached to the magnet!
Love the detailed video Iain, keep up the excellent work.
Full of interesting trivia as always. Brilliant.
Thank you!
Boy oh boy😍😍😍
What an honor, so much details never seen before only Sir IAIN can go into such technical aspects with ton's of knowledge & experience👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Thanks for sharing Sir IAIN, Stay Blessed🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Another cracking video, thanks! Autocar mag tested an Esprit S3 in June '81: the report noted the revised engine's fatter torque curve, peaking at 160lb-ft compared to the S2's 140lb-ft, while peak power remained at 160bhp. The testers wound the car up to a peak of 135mph, with 0 - 60 in 6.7s and 0 - 100 in 20.9, so it was pretty quick for the time, aided by the light kerb weight (1,150kg). The car was priced at £13,500; the S3 turbo was £17,000 at the time. For comparison, a 911SC cost £16,500 in 1981.
Thanks for that- very interesting
You have outdone yourself Iain, what a delight to have your ‘take’ on this example.
Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year
Thank you- the same to you and yours
This car was really a stunning piece of design . Memories of a black and gold JPS Lotus 😊
as always thank you for sharing your incredible knowledge on these wonderful cars
Again, I did learn some things. I really did not know about those Lotuses! Thanks Iain!😍👍
Pleasure- thank you!
I went to Scotland to watch the RAC rally 1985 ish, start parc fermé was in a exhibition centre in Glasgow, my friend saw an Esprit S3 on display and thought one day..and sure enough he bought one a few years later, fabulous motor.
There's a Polaroid of me about 5 years old sat in the Bond Esprit outside the Bethel St fire station in Norwich, I still remember feeling Uber Cool grabbing that steering wheel, call me 005 !!
My favorite Bond movie as I was 6 years old. Very cool car. Thanks Tyrrell.
Pleasure- thank you
Beautiful car . . .great job bringing it back Iain.
My only time in an Esprit was as a passenger driven by Gerry Marshall who put in a few fast laps of Brooklands courtesy of an incentive day by Lotus Software.Excellent memories of flying down the straights and hardly slowing for the corners.
Such a beautiful classic 😍
I love the fact that the British small manufacturers use parts off the shelf .
The upside down Rover SD1 rear lights and Marina door handles etc .
Such a beauty. I love the angles and the purity of design. Such a great car all around. Love the channel Ian, best shop content on RUclips.
Thank you
Wow, awesome video, thank you so much Iain for the brilliant content you create! Really interesting history on the Esprit.
Another great video from TCW! Appreciate the eye candy and the inside/interesting stories you continue to bring to your audience! Cheers/B
Love the Concorde link.. Had a Lotus Sunbeam with that engine🎉🎉
Plenty of so charming comments. Thanks a lot for your respect of the engineers job done.
Excellent work bringing that S3 into use again. Glad you enjoyed the drive sharing it with us 👍
Sublime video Iain! So much information, delivered brilliantly. The older Esprits look even more contemporary than the later cars i think- they’ve aged better.
A company my mum worked for in the eighties had one as a promotional gimic, and she was handed the keys as she was seen as a safe pair of hands to look after it when it wasn't needed, anyway she said it was a bumpy ride but smoothed out wonderfully once you hit 90+.
The europa may not have been a bread van but it WAS a crumpet carrier.
I definitely enjoyed the video.
Thank you very much for a wonderful presentation.
Thank you too
Thank you for doing this video! Nice to see the Esprit getting some much deserved love and attention. I'm currently working on an S1 and what's left of an S2 on my channel. I have a ton to learn and I'm enjoying every minute! I didn't know about the drive shaft issue, thanks for sharing!
Good to hear- keep up the good work!
A classic, a way ahead of its time
I absolutely loved this Episode. I owned an '84 Esprit 3 as my Daily Driver for a few years in the late 80's. Every drive was an occasion. It was Lotus Yellow with Black/Grey Marcasite interior and absolutely beautiful. I'm delighted to see via the DVLA website that it is still registered!
I agree that it really was the 'sweet spot'. I bought mine based upon Car Magazine reviews, having the Turbo Galvanised Chassis and all the previous cars NVH problems 'ironed out'. In my view it was a "Turbo without the potential expense". Despite the typical L.O.T.U.S. acronym that surrounds these cars, I never had an issue with mine - and often did my own servicing.
You mentioned the steering. Are you aware that it's a Triumph Herald rack? The (fantastic) gearbox is from a Citroen SM. The rear lights are Rover SD1. The door handles & column stalks are British Leyland Marina/Allegro. It was/is a real 'bitsa' - but what a car!
I'm also delighted to the Lambo Jalpa in the background, as that was the car I replaced my Esprit with. The Jalpa was the "Big Boy's Fiat X1/9" with the Targa Roof et al. It was great but never used as a 'daily'.
If I could have one car back, I'd have my Esprit 3. In truth, I'd go one better and have the final "High Compression" version of the Esprit the HC N/A. Probably not Lotus Yellow this time (I've mellowed), rather the fabulous Metallic Green with a Light Tan Leather interior. Is that too much to ask??
PS:
1) Whilst the Maserati Boomerang was an amazing design, it's a pity you didn't show a picture of the Silver Esprit show car. It was fabulous. The rake of the windscreen made almost a straight line with the bonnet and the rear had a 'clam shell' design. Those were some of the details that Colin Chapman had to productionise..
2) the kick tail on the Turbo Esprit was too extreme and was causing nose lift, so they added a small lip in the leading edge of the rear slats to reduce downforce. I wonder whty they didn't just reduce the kicktail? Maybe it was just to make it look more dramatic!
My neighbor had a mid 80's turbo and he drove the wheels off that thing, he passed about 4 or 5 years ago, was still driving that car to the grocery store.. was a cool dude and i do miss the sound of the after market exhaust and turbo's.
Hi again Iain. From memory I don't think ever to have seen one in the real; an S1, 2 or 3 that is. These are so genuinely remarkable and recognisable. Very much a Giugiaro design indeed. No disrespect intended however Giorgetto distinctly was on that angular design language with the Audi 50, VW Passat, Scirocco, Golf at the time. Especially on the Esprit that expression has played out masterfully, far above the aformedmentioned. The original Esprit's look both spectacular and a bit reticent in an extremely well balanced manner. Thank you for the in-depth elucidation and taking us along is such symbol from a extraordinary era 💓
Pleasure as always. You are absolutely right about Guigiaro’s creations. Thanks for your invaluable help- depth comments
Many years ago I was driving between Auchterarder and Perth in my old integrale, I came across a red non turbo S2, we both hit the loud pedal, he had the edge on me. Always loved the Esprit.
You have to love the styling. I talked to a group arriving at a hotel all Lotus Cars a few years back in the highlands. Out of the ten cars only one had made it unscathed. The others all had problems, two had broken down but made it after roadside fixes, bits had fallen off, bits had come loose, bits had stopped working and bits had popped open. It’s all good it’s an adventure but this was day one 😂 still brilliant seeing them all pull up. Lotus do a retro version full Electric and it will sell like hot cakes.
Always one of my favorites
Today’s video reminded me of the magazines from my childhood; Esprit Turbo vs. 930, BB512 and Countach. As a 13 year old, I was in love with the Esprit sharp design (best looking Lotus ever!) but was dreaming of the Italian V12s of course! So many memories 😉
Thank you, Sir for this video. I haven’t even finished it yet but I know it’ll be wonderful!! Thank you so much for your passion for cars and your RUclips content! Sending my very best wishes to you and yours this holiday season from the US!!
Thank you! Very best for Christmas and the New Year to you and yours too
Always loved these my neighbour when I was about 11 got a Jps liveried one was a limited edition he took out in I absolutely loved it so cool 😎
You did not mention THE most important part!!! - POPUP HEADLIGHTS!!! Thank God for last seconds of video :D :D :D Cheers! :)
I have an S3 Turbo and it’s an incredible car. Surprisingly fast, even by today’s standards and sublime handling. I had no idea about the Concorde paint or the fact that the base of the Bond submarine was made from a raw, uncut mould. Fascinating! Great video 😊
Aside from the Concorde paint, the thing looks fast even standing still!
Very cool indeed!
Have always admired this car from day one- almost fifty years later it's still fresh and beautiful. As for the Series 3, I could accept the smoothed off update for the V8 engine.
I’ve owned a bunch of these for 30+ years and currently am a long term owner of a V8 SE. One of its duties in recent years was the school run with my son. A few years ago when he was about 5-6 years old we had a ”bit of a discussion” in the school car park one morning as he wouldn’t get out of the car until i “finally showed him” where the submarine button was. He didn’t back down until i suggested i might show him the ejector seat button instead. Yeah, i know that was the DB5, but it worked on the little chap. He just turned 12 and regularly says “Daddy, that will be my car one day won’t it?”.
Having all of the electrics work in a fiberglass car is amazing, in an English fiberglass car it's a bloody miracle!
That was such an interesting one, thank you
I had a turbo se in the late 80`e and loved it.Went to millbrook for the launch and did180 on the high speed bowl.Still got the paper weight.
Fantastic programme, thank you!!!!😊
Pleasure- thank you too
Kamm back, or the aerodynamic principle that was discovered by Professor Kamm, dates back to the thirties. It was a young Peter Brock, while working under Harvey Earl at GM, who had access to their records, which had all of Kamm's work in their archives that they acquired from the military, post WW2, who used it to pen the Daytona coupe on a napkin in his mid 20s. The design was so unflattering and outlandish, that no one at Carroll Shelby's company wanted to help him in the process. We'll, after seeing how fast the first one was, seems everyone did a 180. Fun fact, one or two of the Daytonas were farmed out to Italian Coach builders who had the same stigma, so their end results were a tad different in the rear than the other cars/drawings they were given. It's subtle but if one of the Italian built cars is next to one of the American built ones, it becomes blatantly obvious. Also, the Gurney flap is usually a strip of metal riveted or screwed to an existing wing or spoiler that is not generating enough downforce. In other words, if Gurney took that Lotus you are showcasing onto the track, and was disappointed in rear grip at speed, he'd come into the garage and rivet a metal strip across the back of the car that protruded past the molded in spoiler. Then he'd go out n test it. Depending upon how it handled, he'd come back in and make a taller or shorter one, fix it, and test again, repeat as necessary until desired result attained.
Thanks for that
Very interesting. 👌👌👌
@iain_tyrrell no sir. THANK YOU, for keeping these classics on the road and sharing them with us mere peasants, who can not afford most of what you n your crew wrench on daily.
The GM designer was Harley Earl, not Harvey.
@jimanderson1355 Oops spellchecker struck again...
Hi Ian, after the Lotus it's more than time to feature a TVR. Next month my ex-Saudi 4.3 Liter Big Valve Griffith will be back in the UK and I would voluntarily turn myself in for a service at your facility to do this video in case you would choose the car the man himself, Mister Trevor Wilkinson said about that of all the TVRs it'ss the sweetest of all. And the same from Neill Anderson, TVR chassis development engineer; asked about his ideal Griffith : "I wouldn't have power steering; it robs it of a bit of sensivity. I 'd have the old suspension kit, and I'd have the 4.3 engine; the big-valve version, which was the sweetest all round".
It does depend on what comes into the workshop but we’ll see. Thank
Another superb and informative video Iain in your words Tickety-Boo
Thank you
A very cool car. I am reminded of another very light 2wd vehicle whose colour was added to the body panels before moulding.
A big favourite of mine for many years.
Also with fully independent suspension and a separate chassis, although the bodywork was ABS rather than GRP.
The Esprit is timeless!
Iain, interesting aerodynamics on that car--small changes can make significant differences.
Just thought “ these tyres need replacing “
IT “ needs new boots “ one second after I thought
Great video 😎🙌🏴
I so loved the Esprit when it came out, such a great looking design! ...And then 007 used it! 👍🏻 Always wanted one, but was never brave enough to risk the reliability! Great vid Iain! 😃
The Turbo was the dream car of my youth thanks to Test Drive (the computer game).
Still my dream car today, turbo or non.
Fabulous looking car
Greetings from Athens, Greece. Always loved the Esprit’s, they look fantastic, fun fact… this car has Ford door mirrors, used in many Ghia spec Ford’s
Thanks and greetings to you too
Concorde paint! Wowzer! Excellent video!
Thanks Mr T. As always your knowledge and experience, shines through 🎉
Thank you
Tyrriel wearing sunglasses driving a wedge shaped car is movie-material.
Really enjoyed this, thanks and Happy Christmas to you and your team.
Thank you- the same to you
Thank you- the same to you
Thanks Iain! It's great that you finally covered the Lotus Esprit. Also agree the earlier Esprit's are the better looking than later versions. The Peter Steven's refresh was apt for the time though.
Fascinating insight into the Lotus Esprit and I agree that the near original design still looks very clean today, the later iterations were too rounded and fussy.
I do love your work and info.God bless you my friend
no tyre guy will be sticking weights onto the outer rims of my ’85 Turbo Esprit…. love this car so much, have had mine for twelve years, can’t let it go. So comfortable (even at 6’3”)!
Why not? Its the best way to get perfectly balanced tires.
I have never seen weights on the outer rims of these cars before - but I guess all Esprits that don't have them are wobbling about 😅 No need to stick them on the outside, potentially ruining the lacquer that stops the finish from corroding.
l really like super nice lines of this Lotus Esprit S3.....l also like the non Turbo engine S3 as well........Thank you Lain.....
Old F-4 pilot Shoe🇺🇸