Thanks man! I really thought these wheels would look stellar. When I approached the manufacturer about making forged and concave rears in 18x11.5 they were super stoked and it turned out pretty great. Cheers !
Reid, Thanks so much for your kind words. Black and Gold on a Lotus always has set my pulse to quicken and when the opportunity came to put this car together it really seemed to work out. It looks fast just standing still. Thanks for watching. More to come ! Cheers!
I recently bought a 1998 Esprit V8 with PUK chip,modified cat, and those blow-off valves that put a smile on your face every time you shift. All I can say is that I pray for sunny days to take it out for a spin. Beautiful machine!
Congrats on your well appointed purchase ! Yes, I envy those that live in Arizona or California and can drive these every day in the sun and glory. Thanks for watching and for your comment. Cheers!
@@TimsEnthusiastGarage I see in the video that you're in a cold place,looks like the northeast to me. I'm in Connecticut, and yes,I also envy the good weather from other states. Cheers!
Robert Rishel thanks so much for you kind words. I hope you subscribe as I have a few more videos coming that you may like. Lotus is such a historic marque and often gets left out in conversations about Porsche and Ferrari. The jps era was amazing. So glad it sparked good memories for you. Cheers!
Beautifully done. Generally I hate aftermarket wheels and external gold trim, but this is fantastic,. The nod to the JPS livery is fantastic, plus the wheels are simple and match the car well. Low, wide, cambered, they just look great. Every change you made adds a little without losing the overall shape and style. Great job.
Bren Travis I count myself as EXTREMELY fortunate. I get to drive great cars and I have always been able to chase my dreams. What more can you ask for. Cheers!
Good review of a great looking car! Having never seen this car in person, the first time I saw it in the pits rolling past at Mid Ohio I instantly had to stop and take a picture!
biotequity thanks so much for watching. I work hard trying to make videos I would enjoy watching on cars I think others would really appreciate. It’s been a great hobby / vocation for me. Cheers!
@@TimsEnthusiastGarage I am in the NYC area (Hoboken NJ) and if you would like to review a ultra-mint F355 spider Rossa Barchetta 6-speed OR a California30 - I have them both at your disposal.
biotequity I have had many requests for f355. I nearly bought one but was just in love with the Alfa Romeo 4c and thus just bought one of those. I am bringing my QP to a shop in NJ (it’s in fairlawn ) and could possibly reach out to you at that time.
In the early 80's I owned a auto repair shop specializing in foreign cars. One day a company brought me a 1977 JPS lotus esprit that had been repossessed from the owner. They said nobody could shift it. We removed the Maserati transmission and found that the shift levers were made of stamped steel, not cast or forged, and they bent quite easily. Well we fixed it but then the company that brought it to me refused to pay my bill. Well I used that Lotus as a parts chaser for my shop for almost a whole summer before I got paid!!! great Vid!
Oh man, GREAT story! Everyone complains about the Renault box in this car but it was FAR better than the Citroen/Maserati box of the earlier cars you referenced. These got better with age. I recently sampled a final edition and it was really amazing. Thanks for watching!
Nick Zandes thanks so much for taking the time to watch and comment. I have a lot of new episodes coming out. Two in the near future featuring my Lotus Esprit S4S. Cheers and stay tuned!!
I remember seeing a JPS liveried Esprit on a stand at Victoria Train Station in London as a raffle prize promo and having a feeling of a love sick teenager for days after, lol. It was beautiful then and still is now. Thanks for sharing.
Man, Thanks so much for this comment. Yes, I feel the same way. When Team Lotus was briefly in F1 here a few years back seeing that livery and those cars on track gave such a powerful sense of nostalgia. Cheers and thanks for watching!
Vroom vroom. That sounds great. But it looks AWESOME! Those Tarmacs just make the car! They look even better than the originals and that's saying something. Great overview. Thank you!
Thanks man. I love the AWI wheels that came on the car in this era. The OZ futura is pretty sexy as well but after talking with Matt at fifteen52 and realizing they could do custom forged wheels and were willing to do a CAD file for the concave rears my mind was made up. They LOOK AMAZING on the car and as much as I tried it's hard to relay that in photos or videos. Thanks so much for your kind words and for watching. Subscribe if you would be so kind as there is much more to come. Cheers!
That’s a really great video - I had an Excel SE and a new Turbo Esprit back in 1990 and I’ve always missed them both but I think you’ve just inspired me to go and find one of these before it’s too late, really glad I watched this. It’s nearly 4am in the UK at the time of writing this and I should’ve been asleep a long time ago, now I can’t wait to get up and start the search!
Stuart Cutmore you should try a 93 or 94. They are the best and have been on the hunt myself. I’m so glad my video worked as intended and rekindled the love. Subscribe and thanks for watching!!
Bro, you nailed it on style. Those wheels are incredible! Love the black and gold. I'm not crazy about the stickers (unless you're getting paid), but I get that is part of your homage to JPS. I've found myself at times perusing the Esprit section of eBay Motors from time to time... maybe it's time to take those listings a little more seriously. :)
So, yeah, some are paid sponsors, and the "elf", "heuer" and "senna" stickers are nods the legacy of the brand. Long term just the accents will remain but I have to say, when I walk up on this thing it seriously makes my heart skip a beat even after owning it all these years. Thanks for watching my friend!
...always wanted a Lotus Esprit. I'd have settled for any year; whatever became available. As it happened, a 1980 928 came along and we just couldn't pass it up, so that's where our focus is now. Really enjoyed this video, you've really packed in a lot of information. Great review and build. I'll always
Such a sweet build. I too have been swooning over the Esprit wedge since I was a grade school lad. I have such a soft spot for British cars. Jaguars, Astons, Land Rovers, Lotus. The British know how to coddle, thrill, and make me covet. I've been following the trajectory of Esprit values for around 5 years now. Along with the Porsche 928, they remain an outstanding exotic value. The S4's catch my fancy most of all, although your build has piqued my interest in the V8 series. Hopefully in the next year or so I'll be able to pull the trigger. I've subscribed to your channel. Thanks for being an outstanding resource. Cheers.
Travis Katz thanks for your comment and your compliment! These cars are certainly at the pinnacle of cars I can afford. The S4 is probably my favorite too, especially when fitted with the optional OZ futura wheels. It's interesting you mention the 928 as that is a car I have been looking for to add to season 2. Cheers and thanks for watching.
Tim, enjoyed this video muchly. Beautiful paint, JPS livery is the cat's meow, agree with you totally, on everything you said on how to have big-time respect for this beautiful car. P.S. I have a '98 V8 stock (last 6yrs.) and leaving it that way!
Good grief, that is spectacular. Love the John Player livery. It is astounding that it’s 20 years old, the design does honestly look so fresh. I was just watching another Esprit video and they said that the lack of gearboxes finally killed the Esprit but the factory was in our local news coverage area, as a teen, and I seem to recall them saying that the cross member above the windscreen was too close to occupant’s foreheads in a front impact and there was nothing to be done about that - so therefore type approval sadly killed off this wonderful creation. I could be wrong but that’s what I seem to recall. So fabulous. Thanks for the great vid.
Fantastic video, beautiful car! AN Esprit has been my dream since a mid-80s turbo parked right in front of me in a lot in Florida, and I was blown away by how low, wide, and flat the angles were. One day I will own one. One day.
I am confident that one day you will reach your goal of owning one. It is one of the few cars that never looks anything but shockingly innovative. The countach is similarly outlandish. By comparison many modern super cars just look like they are trying too hard. Cheers and thanks for watching!
I couldn't agree more. I think the appeal is enhanced by the fact that they are affordable if you find the right one. But even independent of cost, they are a special car. There is a V8 here in Raleigh that I see from time to time. It always makes my day.
This has been my all-time favorite car since I was a little kid, just like you said. I would love to own one in the near future, maybe this is the year? I'll keep you posted! Thanks for the info, Tim!
Rich D I love the S4S/Sport 300 and V8 cars. The looks/ performance ratio is perfect. I think for most people the car needs the V8 to be properly “exotic”. I don’t know the I agree as the 4 cylinder cars actually have some handling benefits over the V8 but both are great. I have never driven the Euro only GT3. That looks to be pretty great as well. Thanks for watching. Subscribe as more videos are on their way!
That is an absolutely beautiful car. In my opnion, there isnt a better looking mid 90's supercar, and that includes the Countach, 911 and the 328/308 Ferrari. There's just something about them.Classic car.
Supercouperformance online have them on sale for low price and check out Sccoa.com and tccoa.com, big follower with these cars. They are really cheap to purchase but boy do they look iconic like ur lotus. Had my transmission and engine rebuilt, the only ford problem to these cars were a small radiator to the size of engine. Supercouperformance has a larger replacement for these cars. Ford made them till 97 I believe. Happy hunting. Enjoy.
Fantastic video!! I've recently got my first Esprit which needs work doing to it but I can't wait to finally be able to enjoy it. It's a 89 Stevens, so I'm really happy to hear your positive comments on the 4 cylinder variants! Once again, great video, and your Esprit is stunning!!
I loved , LOVED my non charge cooled 89. It was a pre SE car and was just so lovely to drive. On that one I also updated my clutch line to braided and removed my exhaust warm up valve and replaced with a spacer. They get stuck closed and can cause all sorts of malfeasance. It was a truly great car. I think you will be well pleased!
That is a gorgeous Esprit. I had an '89 Turbo SE, a '95 S4s and a Europa Racecar. I kept the Europa the longest, but for it's time the S4s was a starship. I agree, Lotus NEVER offered kit cars. They offered component cars in Europe to escape VAT. All the components came from a division of Lotus. Yes, they used a lot of parts from other manufacturers and GM and Renault were two of the biggest suppliers. At British Car Day one year, a man with his family was looking at my Europa and he convincingly told them it was a 300HP kit car. I had to correct him much to his displeasure and he still doubted me. But I did tell him that Lotus built a one-off 300HP Europa in conjunction with GKN. It was called the GKN 47 and was powered by a Buick V8 that made 300HP. I also agree with you regarding the gearbox. The Renault gearbox in those old Lotuses was definitely nearly bullet proof. However, the Citroen sourced gearboxes in the Esprits is one I would avoid.
GREAT and very informative comment. This is just the sort of thing I was hoping to spark. The S4S 8: an amazing car, the Europa too is something I have always wanted but they are so tiny. I actually fit better in early Elans or Elites. Thanks for watching and for this great information. The kit car thing has always perplexed me. I'm sure a lot of people would have loved to have been able to buy and Esprit as a kit. Lol. Cheers man and thanks for watching!
Thanks man! It's always tempting to go too low but with a bit of work it sits right in that spot where it looks good and is still Driveable. Thanks for your kind words and for watching!
Victor vick thanks for your encouragement! I have owned a bunch of esprits but sadly all were black, grey or white. I would love to have yellow, chrome orange , azure blue or a brg 94 mid wing S4. Keep enjoying your car. They are the best kept secret in exotic car ownership
I own a 1989 lotus esprit turbo SE. Instagram lotusesprit_turbo_se. Most upgraded cars fail badly, but this one is an improvement to the original. Brilliant job and maybe inspirational for the future of mine.
great video Tim, sincerely appreciate it. I drive a 350z roadster but surely moving forward, towards an S4 v8 pretty soon. Love these cars love the linear power and handling, ever since i can remember. Thanks again..
I just bought one in yellow. 2001 3.5l. came with the both glass and fg roof aaaaand only has 9k miles with 1 previous owner. Although i did pay a good amount of money for it. Definitely wasnt cheap but this is one of those cars you find and hold on to. Very rare car. Jay leno should be proud. lol
You made the right buying decision. I am going to add a colour late car to my collection as well as an S4 mid wing car. They are fantastic cars and finding a one owner car is next to impossible. Good buy! Thanks for watching!
As a teen in the 90's, the non-US cars that had me lusting were mainly BMWs. These days, and mostly by happenstance, my top-ten dream list consists of three cars that are either full blood Lotus, or were Lotus projects of some kind or another. And no Bimmers oddly enough.
When I was a kid I lusted for all things European. Lotus was always the pinnacle for me. I had some real bad ownership experiences with BMW and thus have had less of those
This is a lovely video. I liked the exterior footage. I thought your review was spot on. I owned a 1988 Esprit Turbo for 4 years and a 1998 GT3 for 9 years (which I put 71,000 miles on and was my daily drive). Keep up the good work.
msl 2003 thanks so much for your kind words! My next video review release is my S4S so I do hope you will stop back by in a few weeks for that one. The GT3 is one of the most perfect Esprit spec wise and it’s a shame we never got those here in the states. I love to hear that you put real mileage on one as a daily driver. These cars were fantastic for that as they were truly built to last. Again thanks for watching. Cheers!
Seem to have Forgotten my name I'm hoping to see the factory in July of this year! You definitely owe it to yourself to own one of these home town heroes!
Tim's Enthusiast Garage your tribute livery is amazing... but I think the smoked lights degrades the look... overall great build and great video.....very informational!
+Miguel Garcia I am included to agree with it. When I got the car everything was tinted and the tails were tinted. I removed all the window tint but the tail tint actually grew on me, it's no oppressively dark but good eye mate! Cheers.
jost thias at stock or slightly higher power levels it does just fine. There are several companies who offer up rated internals at prices similar to boxes in the Audi b5 platform. Hardly preventative
Gorgeous car. I want one. Some of the shots driving made me think of my old MR2 SW20. That was a fun car too. An Esprit V8 would satisfy my supercar fetish. That would be Enough. Luv and Peace.
Beautiful when it arrived and still is today.I nearly bought one and the my son became a father.I needed four seats so I bought an Aston Martin DB9.Still dreaming of an Esprit. 👍 👍 👍 👍
Aston Martin the DB9 is a beautiful car. Very under appreciated currently. I drove an automatic recently and loved it. I hope one day you can add an Esprit. They are true uncompromising drivers cars. Thanks for watching, cheers!
My late father bought a new Lotus Elite in London in 1976.A 501 in gun metal grey.It was something else in South London.He made me feel proud of him.It was very expensive back then.About $16000. UK 7k pounds.Look forward to your future posts.👍👍🇬🇧👍👍
Aston Martin I had planned to travel to Thailand this year but with everything going on it’s likely a no go. I hope you are enjoying your time there. It’s a magnificent region
Aston Martin 16k is crazy on 76. I often wonder what my boys will think of all the interesting cars we have owned over the years. I certainly would have been In heaven. My father had a Saab 900 turbo. It was the first year after the Saab 99. Very unique car, I remember him trying to teach my mum to drive manual on it. She never did manage to learn lol. Cheers
For what you spent on that car. You could have an awesome road bike. An awesome Fat Bike. An awesome plus tired hard tail. An awesome plus tired full suspension. An awesome Time Trail bike. So many awesome bikes...
I like bikes but ... what a funny comment. I mean what if someone was like , " for what you paid for that bike you could have an ocean kayak and a wooden handmade kayak and a couple multi person kayaks." Ok. We aren't talking about kayaks or bikes or apple juice. Lol. Cheers man, sorry I offended your bike sensibility. For what it's worth I have a Specialized road bike and love it. It has served me well for a decade now. 16 -17 mph is a really nice speed at which to see the country. Cheers.
Hi Tim. Really enjoyed this video. I have a real fondness for Esprits and am looking at some at the moment. Currently I have a Ferrari 360 but I'm tempted to swap it for an Esprit. Thanks for such a great video, your car looks amazing.
I love the Esprit and it has a special place in my heart. I would rather have my car than an F355 but the 360 is pretty special. Now a 360 AND an Esprit... now we're talking :) thanks for watching and for your comment!
Fezza if you would like to do a straight swap for an S1, I have a 1976 Esprit that you can have, and I'll take your 360. My '76 Esprit has 463,000 miles and a few scratches, the passenger seat is missing, the steering wheel wobbles, the bushes are knackered, the engine sounds a bit rough and needs an overhaul, and my last garage bill was about $4,500. Other than that, it's sort of just about running. Just. So really, it sounds like the perfect swap for you. Ok, I don't mind coming down to a Ferrari 360 from such an elevated position, even though your Ferrari is way cheaper than my Esprit, but you know, I will suffer in order to own your car. What d'yathink? ..Interested?
I have had great experiences with all the Esprit's I have owned. This one has been around for a good bit of time and I can honestly say in terms of durability they really are great cars. As you can see in the video I don't exactly baby it but it is stored in doors in a relatively low humidity environment which likely helps keep the gremlins away. Thanks for watching!
I can’t stop drooling over that car. What a masterpiece.
Jim Hartley thanks so much !
That's one of the nicest Esprits I've ever seen, those wheels compliment that body shape so well.
Thanks man! I really thought these wheels would look stellar. When I approached the manufacturer about making forged and concave rears in 18x11.5 they were super stoked and it turned out pretty great. Cheers !
I think they're Fifteen 52's? Those look great on really everything that includes a slant or any sharp edges. This Esprit, Lamborghini, etc.
InoxEdge gold wheels always take away from any color or design,car is nice but the wheels look like puke.
Tim, your car is achingly beautiful. I can't believe I let myself forget about these cars. Thanks for helping me find a new old obsession!
they are truly worth the obsession! Cheers and thanks for watching.
One of the most beautiful cars ever made IMO. I've always loved these cars.
Nicholas R I completely agree :)
Ayrton Senna lives and will never be forgotten... Congratulations for your choice of painting ...Brazil !!!
That is probably the greatest color combination I have ever seen on a Lotus. I have a 02 Trans am that's Black and now has gold Hurst wheels.
Thanks man. Yeah. Black and gold is a win on a TA as well. Thanks for watching!
Most beautiful example of an Esprit I've ever seen. Love the JP livery.
Reid,
Thanks so much for your kind words. Black and Gold on a Lotus always has set my pulse to quicken and when the opportunity came to put this car together it really seemed to work out. It looks fast just standing still. Thanks for watching. More to come ! Cheers!
The black/gold JPS livery takes any car to that next level
I recently bought a 1998 Esprit V8 with PUK chip,modified cat, and those blow-off valves that put a smile on your face every time you shift. All I can say is that I pray for sunny days to take it out for a spin. Beautiful machine!
Congrats on your well appointed purchase ! Yes, I envy those that live in Arizona or California and can drive these every day in the sun and glory. Thanks for watching and for your comment. Cheers!
@@TimsEnthusiastGarage I see in the video that you're in a cold place,looks like the northeast to me. I'm in Connecticut, and yes,I also envy the good weather from other states. Cheers!
Jorge D yes, Ohio. I love the seasons but wish we had a bit more snow to make all the grey days worth while.
looking at that car never gets old timeless classic and sounds great too
djturk254 thanks for watching. Yes. The Esprit is timeless!
Great car and fantastic prescription for keeping an older exotic on the road without over-modifying it. Thanks for sharing!
Adam Herbig thanks for watching!
VERY NICE VIDEO!!! ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO WATCH SOMETHING SO GOOD FROM A REAL CAR ENTHUSIAST!!!!AMAZING CAR!KEEP UP MAKING ALL THESE NICE VIDEOS.
ΔΗΜΗΤΡΗΣ ΔΗΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΥΛΟΣ thanks for watching! More to come 👌🏼
Wowzers that's a beautiful color with the gold rims!
Thanks 🙏
Love this car! I'm 51 and that JPS livery is just so cool to me, reminds me of the lotus F1 cars of the 70's and early 80's. Nice car, nice video.
Robert Rishel thanks so much for you kind words. I hope you subscribe as I have a few more videos coming that you may like. Lotus is such a historic marque and often gets left out in conversations about Porsche and Ferrari. The jps era was amazing. So glad it sparked good memories for you. Cheers!
This car is so beautiful... Right colors, right wheels... what a treat
Lucio Amorim thanks for watching and for your kind words. Please subscribe, more to come!
Also my salute for cheering on Ayrton Senna. Very proud Brazilian here :)
Subbed, of course!
Beautifully done. Generally I hate aftermarket wheels and external gold trim, but this is fantastic,. The nod to the JPS livery is fantastic, plus the wheels are simple and match the car well. Low, wide, cambered, they just look great. Every change you made adds a little without losing the overall shape and style. Great job.
Nick C cheers and thanks for watching !!
Congratulations on working hard and earning a beautiful and aspirational car. You must love the Diablo too.
Bren Travis I count myself as EXTREMELY fortunate. I get to drive great cars and I have always been able to chase my dreams. What more can you ask for. Cheers!
Was surprised at the popping and crackling of the exhaust! Beautiful!
noche te ipsum thanks! Yes it sounds amazing. The pops are really low and lovely
I always loved espirt but this car its from another planet.....amazing
Wow thanks man!
Good review of a great looking car! Having never seen this car in person, the first time I saw it in the pits rolling past at Mid Ohio I instantly had to stop and take a picture!
Lucore Auto thanks for watching! The Esprit is a seriously eye catching car. Glad to be the steward of this bit of British ingenuity. Cheers!
Tim your production is fantastic. Period.
biotequity thanks so much for watching. I work hard trying to make videos I would enjoy watching on cars I think others would really appreciate. It’s been a great hobby / vocation for me. Cheers!
@@TimsEnthusiastGarage I am in the NYC area (Hoboken NJ) and if you would like to review a ultra-mint F355 spider Rossa Barchetta 6-speed OR a California30 - I have them both at your disposal.
biotequity I have had many requests for f355. I nearly bought one but was just in love with the Alfa Romeo 4c and thus just bought one of those. I am bringing my QP to a shop in NJ (it’s in fairlawn ) and could possibly reach out to you at that time.
In the early 80's I owned a auto repair shop specializing in foreign cars. One day a company brought me a 1977 JPS lotus esprit that had been repossessed from the owner. They said nobody could shift it. We removed the Maserati transmission and found that the shift levers were made of stamped steel, not cast or forged, and they bent quite easily. Well we fixed it but then the company that brought it to me refused to pay my bill. Well I used that Lotus as a parts chaser for my shop for almost a whole summer before I got paid!!! great Vid!
Oh man, GREAT story! Everyone complains about the Renault box in this car but it was FAR better than the Citroen/Maserati box of the earlier cars you referenced. These got better with age. I recently sampled a final edition and it was really amazing. Thanks for watching!
Esprit has been my dream car since 1990, I know it's much affordable exotic now, so I know I will make my budget dream dream come true. Great video.
Souky Phetsinor I wish you luck in getting an Esprit! Getting one of your own will be an amazing day!!
Same. I chose a Model 3 instead. Might still get one in the future to have one though
One of the best looking cars in the 90's ever, imo.
vhawk8080 agree!!
Amaizing car,I really love the lines,only one true of a kind...
Thanks for watching and for your comment. The Esprit is a gift to the enthusiast and still very affordable.
You nailed it!! Except for the stickers, I think the look is amazing!!
David O Rodriguez thanks my friend. I realize the livery is an acquired taste. Cheers and thanks for watching
Absolutely love the car and the look. Love the wheels
Nick Zandes thanks so much for taking the time to watch and comment. I have a lot of new episodes coming out. Two in the near future featuring my Lotus Esprit S4S. Cheers and stay tuned!!
@@TimsEnthusiastGarage Thanks Tim, Looking forward to the future features/episodes.
I remember seeing a JPS liveried Esprit on a stand at Victoria Train Station in London as a raffle prize promo and having a feeling of a love sick teenager for days after, lol. It was beautiful then and still is now. Thanks for sharing.
Man, Thanks so much for this comment. Yes, I feel the same way. When Team Lotus was briefly in F1 here a few years back seeing that livery and those cars on track gave such a powerful sense of nostalgia. Cheers and thanks for watching!
Vroom vroom. That sounds great. But it looks AWESOME! Those Tarmacs just make the car! They look even better than the originals and that's saying something. Great overview. Thank you!
Thanks man. I love the AWI wheels that came on the car in this era. The OZ futura is pretty sexy as well but after talking with Matt at fifteen52 and realizing they could do custom forged wheels and were willing to do a CAD file for the concave rears my mind was made up. They LOOK AMAZING on the car and as much as I tried it's hard to relay that in photos or videos. Thanks so much for your kind words and for watching. Subscribe if you would be so kind as there is much more to come. Cheers!
Subscribed. Keep em coming! Thanks Tim.
I have to say, my childhood favourite, used to play the video game.
Tomasz Kiryk believe me I feel like I am in the game like half the time I am driving it
What a beauty man!
That’s a really great video - I had an Excel SE and a new Turbo Esprit back in 1990 and I’ve always missed them both but I think you’ve just inspired me to go and find one of these before it’s too late, really glad I watched this. It’s nearly 4am in the UK at the time of writing this and I should’ve been asleep a long time ago, now I can’t wait to get up and start the search!
Stuart Cutmore you should try a 93 or 94. They are the best and have been on the hunt myself. I’m so glad my video worked as intended and rekindled the love. Subscribe and thanks for watching!!
I watched this video three days ago and the background music is still playing in my mind.
That’s either a good or bad thing. Sorry if it is bad :) thanks for watching
Absolutely LOVE the JPS livery and wheels! Simply amazing taste !
Thanks so much!!
Would be honored if you would be so kind as to subscribe. Cheers!
Subscribed the minute I saw the JPS livery and wheels!
Normally I cannot stand watching Americans talk about British cars...but this guy is interesting, very informative and his car is the nuts!......
Cheers and thanks for watching !
Saw this at diamond cellar this last summer. Great build. I also live about 10 minutes away from mid Ohio! Awesome track.
Thanks for watching and for your comment. Mid Ohio is an amazing road corse !
John Player Special! Epic paint job!
Thanks man!
beautiful car! love the black and gold combo.
Plus its sounds awesome!
Thanks for watching. yeah the engine note is pretty stirring
Great video. I wish you all the best of luck with you're beautiful car. Jon from Ireland Dublin....
Thanks for the kind words. The car is a true joy to drive or even just look at. Cheers Jon!
As a former esprit owner
Thanks sooooooo much!!!!!!!!!!
You'll own one again. There was a a year and a half where I didn't have one. It was rough.
Definitely one of the classy looking cars in the industry. A head Turner without the gaudiness of most exotics!
I always loved the look of the Esprit V8 or not, those gorgeous lines and low profile. Love it!
Every time I see it in the garage I get a little smile on my face. The roof line is so low even parked next to the 911
Bro, you nailed it on style. Those wheels are incredible! Love the black and gold. I'm not crazy about the stickers (unless you're getting paid), but I get that is part of your homage to JPS. I've found myself at times perusing the Esprit section of eBay Motors from time to time... maybe it's time to take those listings a little more seriously. :)
So, yeah, some are paid sponsors, and the "elf", "heuer" and "senna" stickers are nods the legacy of the brand. Long term just the accents will remain but I have to say, when I walk up on this thing it seriously makes my heart skip a beat even after owning it all these years. Thanks for watching my friend!
...always wanted a Lotus Esprit. I'd have settled for any year; whatever became available. As it happened, a 1980 928 came along and we just couldn't pass it up, so that's where our focus is now. Really enjoyed this video, you've really packed in a lot of information. Great review and build. I'll always
DigitalJeremy thanks for watching and for your comment ! These are very underrated and very special. Enjoy your 928!!
Such a sweet build. I too have been swooning over the Esprit wedge since I was a grade school lad. I have such a soft spot for British cars. Jaguars, Astons, Land Rovers, Lotus. The British know how to coddle, thrill, and make me covet. I've been following the trajectory of Esprit values for around 5 years now. Along with the Porsche 928, they remain an outstanding exotic value. The S4's catch my fancy most of all, although your build has piqued my interest in the V8 series. Hopefully in the next year or so I'll be able to pull the trigger. I've subscribed to your channel. Thanks for being an outstanding resource. Cheers.
Travis Katz thanks for your comment and your compliment! These cars are certainly at the pinnacle of cars I can afford. The S4 is probably my favorite too, especially when fitted with the optional OZ futura wheels. It's interesting you mention the 928 as that is a car I have been looking for to add to season 2. Cheers and thanks for watching.
Wow this sounds ridiculously good
Tim, enjoyed this video muchly. Beautiful paint, JPS livery is the cat's meow, agree with you totally, on everything you said on how to have big-time respect for this beautiful car. P.S. I have a '98 V8 stock (last 6yrs.) and leaving it that way!
Jeff Pollard thanks so much for this post!
Good grief, that is spectacular. Love the John Player livery. It is astounding that it’s 20 years old, the design does honestly look so fresh. I was just watching another Esprit video and they said that the lack of gearboxes finally killed the Esprit but the factory was in our local news coverage area, as a teen, and I seem to recall them saying that the cross member above the windscreen was too close to occupant’s foreheads in a front impact and there was nothing to be done about that - so therefore type approval sadly killed off this wonderful creation. I could be wrong but that’s what I seem to recall. So fabulous. Thanks for the great vid.
Thanks so much for watching !!
You are right about the fit and finish. I have a ferrari 348 and I was uttery shocked by the simplicity of it. Feels like a kit car, in some places.
I actually ended up with my GranSport because I couldn't find a nice 348 . Still hoping to find one some day soon
Fantastic looking car. love it. Thanks.
Cheers man! Thanks for the comment and for watching !!
still one of my favorite car designs of all time. so classic and modern at the same time.
Bmo SWFL I absolutely love them. Really hope to have two or three in the garage at some point. They are such an overlooked gem.
Fantastic video, beautiful car! AN Esprit has been my dream since a mid-80s turbo parked right in front of me in a lot in Florida, and I was blown away by how low, wide, and flat the angles were. One day I will own one. One day.
I am confident that one day you will reach your goal of owning one. It is one of the few cars that never looks anything but shockingly innovative. The countach is similarly outlandish. By comparison many modern super cars just look like they are trying too hard. Cheers and thanks for watching!
I couldn't agree more. I think the appeal is enhanced by the fact that they are affordable if you find the right one. But even independent of cost, they are a special car. There is a V8 here in Raleigh that I see from time to time. It always makes my day.
This has been my all-time favorite car since I was a little kid, just like you said. I would love to own one in the near future, maybe this is the year?
I'll keep you posted!
Thanks for the info, Tim!
Carlos Simon Ramirez be sure to let me know if you get one! Cheers!
The best Lotus ever built IMO.
Rich D I love the S4S/Sport 300 and V8 cars. The looks/ performance ratio is perfect. I think for most people the car needs the V8 to be properly “exotic”. I don’t know the I agree as the 4 cylinder cars actually have some handling benefits over the V8 but both are great. I have never driven the Euro only GT3. That looks to be pretty great as well. Thanks for watching. Subscribe as more videos are on their way!
That is an absolutely beautiful car. In my opnion, there isnt a better looking mid 90's supercar, and that includes the Countach, 911 and the 328/308 Ferrari. There's just something about them.Classic car.
Beautiful, lucky u to have such a diamond in a ruffle. Got my 1990 ford thunderbird supercoupe as my dream car. Thanks for showing us an icon.
Tempest Xmen7 thanks man. Never had a Super Coupe. Would love to find a nice one.
Supercouperformance online have them on sale for low price and check out Sccoa.com and tccoa.com, big follower with these cars. They are really cheap to purchase but boy do they look iconic like ur lotus. Had my transmission and engine rebuilt, the only ford problem to these cars were a small radiator to the size of engine. Supercouperformance has a larger replacement for these cars. Ford made them till 97 I believe. Happy hunting. Enjoy.
Fantastic video!!
I've recently got my first Esprit which needs work doing to it but I can't wait to finally be able to enjoy it.
It's a 89 Stevens, so I'm really happy to hear your positive comments on the 4 cylinder variants!
Once again, great video, and your Esprit is stunning!!
I loved , LOVED my non charge cooled 89. It was a pre SE car and was just so lovely to drive. On that one I also updated my clutch line to braided and removed my exhaust warm up valve and replaced with a spacer. They get stuck closed and can cause all sorts of malfeasance. It was a truly great car. I think you will be well pleased!
Love the JPS livery!
Thanks man! I love it too. Thanks for watching!
I have watched this at least 4 times now, and just can't wait to go pick up my Yellow V8 Esprit this month.
Joey Shreve I’m excited for you my man. Thanks for the views. You will love it. I never tire of Esprits.
Wonderful video, inspiring man- keep up the great work sir. I bought a 1990 Lotus Espirit SE 2.2 turbo after watching. I love it!
Awesome! I have some 4 cylinder videos on here as well. If you have watched them, you know I am a fan :)
That is a gorgeous Esprit. I had an '89 Turbo SE, a '95 S4s and a Europa Racecar. I kept the Europa the longest, but for it's time the S4s was a starship. I agree, Lotus NEVER offered kit cars. They offered component cars in Europe to escape VAT. All the components came from a division of Lotus. Yes, they used a lot of parts from other manufacturers and GM and Renault were two of the biggest suppliers. At British Car Day one year, a man with his family was looking at my Europa and he convincingly told them it was a 300HP kit car. I had to correct him much to his displeasure and he still doubted me. But I did tell him that Lotus built a one-off 300HP Europa in conjunction with GKN. It was called the GKN 47 and was powered by a Buick V8 that made 300HP. I also agree with you regarding the gearbox. The Renault gearbox in those old Lotuses was definitely nearly bullet proof. However, the Citroen sourced gearboxes in the Esprits is one I would avoid.
GREAT and very informative comment. This is just the sort of thing I was hoping to spark. The S4S 8: an amazing car, the Europa too is something I have always wanted but they are so tiny. I actually fit better in early Elans or Elites. Thanks for watching and for this great information. The kit car thing has always perplexed me. I'm sure a lot of people would have loved to have been able to buy and Esprit as a kit. Lol. Cheers man and thanks for watching!
Such a gorgeous car. Driven a few Esprit models, now I hope to one day own one!
I hope you get one too. It’s such an enthusiast car. So many things that check “car guy” boxes
Great commentary and I really like what you have done to your car. From the colour scheme, wheel choice, ride height to the sound of the exhaust.
Thanks man! It's always tempting to go too low but with a bit of work it sits right in that spot where it looks good and is still Driveable. Thanks for your kind words and for watching!
Great video and man these cars are awsome, got a 2000 esprit v8 in yellow and never get bored with it.
Victor vick thanks for your encouragement! I have owned a bunch of esprits but sadly all were black, grey or white. I would love to have yellow, chrome orange , azure blue or a brg 94 mid wing S4. Keep enjoying your car. They are the best kept secret in exotic car ownership
Very tastefully done
I own a 1989 lotus esprit turbo SE. Instagram lotusesprit_turbo_se. Most upgraded cars fail badly, but this one is an improvement to the original. Brilliant job and maybe inspirational for the future of mine.
one of most beautiful cars in the world..... i wanna have it.... just one :D
Try to grab one before they sky rocket in price. They are great machines. Thanks for watching and for your comment.
I own and drive a black '88 turbo with V8 wheels, engine chip, and modified exhaust. i love it! However, the V8 is on my bucket list.
great video Tim, sincerely appreciate it. I drive a 350z roadster but surely moving forward, towards an S4 v8 pretty soon. Love these cars love the linear power and handling, ever since i can remember. Thanks again..
It's definitely a car to cherish. I think they will increase in collectibility quite a bit in the coming years. Thanks for watching!
I think the most remarkable thing about the esprit, is that it cost half of what a ferrari 355 did. Its essentially the same thing.
Man this is such a nice car. I really love it. Good job bro.
Thanks man! Really appreciate it and thanks for watching
It is an awesome car. Love the styling.
ShockerJoe thanks :)
I just bought one in yellow. 2001 3.5l. came with the both glass and fg roof aaaaand only has 9k miles with 1 previous owner. Although i did pay a good amount of money for it. Definitely wasnt cheap but this is one of those cars you find and hold on to. Very rare car. Jay leno should be proud. lol
You made the right buying decision. I am going to add a colour late car to my collection as well as an S4 mid wing car. They are fantastic cars and finding a one owner car is next to impossible. Good buy! Thanks for watching!
As a teen in the 90's, the non-US cars that had me lusting were mainly BMWs. These days, and mostly by happenstance, my top-ten dream list consists of three cars that are either full blood Lotus, or were Lotus projects of some kind or another. And no Bimmers oddly enough.
When I was a kid I lusted for all things European. Lotus was always the pinnacle for me. I had some real bad ownership experiences with BMW and thus have had less of those
Always loved this car.
I love the Black and Gold John Player Special livery from 80s F1!
Me too! Thanks for watching man. Hope you subscribe, I will be posting more images and video of the this car soon.
Cheers!
Such a beautiful Lotus Esprit
Thanks man
This is a lovely video. I liked the exterior footage. I thought your review was spot on. I owned a 1988 Esprit Turbo for 4 years and a 1998 GT3 for 9 years (which I put 71,000 miles on and was my daily drive). Keep up the good work.
msl 2003 thanks so much for your kind words! My next video review release is my S4S so I do hope you will stop back by in a few weeks for that one. The GT3 is one of the most perfect Esprit spec wise and it’s a shame we never got those here in the states. I love to hear that you put real mileage on one as a daily driver. These cars were fantastic for that as they were truly built to last. Again thanks for watching. Cheers!
BEAUTIFUL CAR
Cheers!
always wanted one, only live 20 miles from the lotus factory here in Suffolk uk, but I still haven't bought one! stunning cars.
Seem to have Forgotten my name I'm hoping to see the factory in July of this year! You definitely owe it to yourself to own one of these home town heroes!
I live in Norfolk, so not far from the factory either, I have seen a surprising number of derelict Esprits near here.
Yellow Esprit at the 1978-80 LA Auto Show it was from another planet.
Great video- your passion really comes across. Thanks for the upload
Thanks so much for this comment. It really is comments like this that keep me going.
Tim's Enthusiast Garage it's a pleasure. Thanks for making great watchable content. I've subscribed!
Ooooof! Beautiful! Glad I found this channel. Found it through Lucore's channel BTW.
Thanks for watching ! Glad you found me. Lucore is a great bunch of guys.
i dont know way but i think the wing on this car its one of the best looking out there
Yeah the wing this year is perfect. It's almost too much which is to say, perfect :)
Tim's Enthusiast Garage your tribute livery is amazing... but I think the smoked lights degrades the look... overall great build and great video.....very informational!
+Miguel Garcia I am included to agree with it. When I got the car everything was tinted and the tails were tinted. I removed all the window tint but the tail tint actually grew on me, it's no oppressively dark but good eye mate! Cheers.
jost thias at stock or slightly higher power levels it does just fine. There are several companies who offer up rated internals at prices similar to boxes in the Audi b5 platform. Hardly preventative
Looks and sounds great
Cheers man! Thanks for watching and for appreciating the exhaust note :)
Gorgeous car.
I want one.
Some of the shots driving made me think of my old MR2 SW20.
That was a fun car too.
An Esprit V8 would satisfy my supercar fetish.
That would be Enough.
Luv and Peace.
I love MR2s oddly they are one of the few cars I have never owned. Love the Esprit. They are just the best . Thanks for watching
Great video, thanks
Thanks for watching. More to come!
good lord that sound
Good advice, Buy one now before everyone else realizes how great they are and skyrocket in price!
EXACTLY
Beautiful when it arrived and still is today.I nearly bought one and the my son became a father.I needed four seats so I bought an Aston Martin DB9.Still dreaming of an Esprit. 👍 👍 👍 👍
Aston Martin the DB9 is a beautiful car. Very under appreciated currently. I drove an automatic recently and loved it. I hope one day you can add an Esprit. They are true uncompromising drivers cars. Thanks for watching, cheers!
@@TimsEnthusiastGarage Best wishes from an Englishman in Thailand.Your Esprit is beautiful. 👍 👍
My late father bought a new Lotus Elite in London in 1976.A 501 in gun metal grey.It was something else in South London.He made me feel proud of him.It was very expensive back then.About $16000.
UK 7k pounds.Look forward to your future posts.👍👍🇬🇧👍👍
Aston Martin I had planned to travel to Thailand this year but with everything going on it’s likely a no go. I hope you are enjoying your time there. It’s a magnificent region
Aston Martin 16k is crazy on 76. I often wonder what my boys will think of all the interesting cars we have owned over the years. I certainly would have been In heaven. My father had a Saab 900 turbo. It was the first year after the Saab 99. Very unique car, I remember him trying to teach my mum to drive manual on it. She never did manage to learn lol. Cheers
Didn't know there was even a 4 banger version. Would be cool to have one.
yeah man, they are pretty amazing. Thanks for watching!
very nice looking car
Thanks for watching!
Marcos at P.U.K. is a great guy. I echo your applause for him.
He certainly is. Cheers and thanks for watching!
Looks amazing
NonSense Garage thanks!
For what you spent on that car. You could have an awesome road bike. An awesome Fat Bike. An awesome plus tired hard tail. An awesome plus tired full suspension. An awesome Time Trail bike. So many awesome bikes...
I like bikes but ... what a funny comment. I mean what if someone was like , " for what you paid for that bike you could have an ocean kayak and a wooden handmade kayak and a couple multi person kayaks." Ok. We aren't talking about kayaks or bikes or apple juice. Lol. Cheers man, sorry I offended your bike sensibility. For what it's worth I have a Specialized road bike and love it. It has served me well for a decade now. 16 -17 mph is a really nice speed at which to see the country. Cheers.
Great video. I hope you can get more Lotus to review.
I will be featuring an Exige S and an Elite as well. Stay tuned!
I love this car so much 😍
me too, me too. Cheers!
Hi Tim. Really enjoyed this video. I have a real fondness for Esprits and am looking at some at the moment. Currently I have a Ferrari 360 but I'm tempted to swap it for an Esprit. Thanks for such a great video, your car looks amazing.
I love the Esprit and it has a special place in my heart. I would rather have my car than an F355 but the 360 is pretty special. Now a 360 AND an Esprit... now we're talking :) thanks for watching and for your comment!
Esprit V8 best looking car by miles I choose mine over a 360 and glad I did for every 80 Ferrari you might get 1 V8 well rare 😳👍
Fezza if you would like to do a straight swap for an S1, I have a 1976 Esprit that you can have, and I'll take your 360.
My '76 Esprit has 463,000 miles and a few scratches, the passenger seat is missing, the steering wheel wobbles, the bushes are knackered, the engine sounds a bit rough and needs an overhaul, and my last garage bill was about $4,500.
Other than that, it's sort of just about running. Just.
So really, it sounds like the perfect swap for you. Ok, I don't mind coming down to a Ferrari 360 from such an elevated position, even though your Ferrari is way cheaper than my Esprit, but you know, I will suffer in order to own your car.
What d'yathink? ..Interested?
great choice of colors, and the wheels, while not original look the part
Cheers and thanks for watching. Subscribe as there is more to come
Great video report on this car!
Good and informative video. I want one of those but have held back due to durability-issues. But I realize now that it`s not crap, at least...
I have had great experiences with all the Esprit's I have owned. This one has been around for a good bit of time and I can honestly say in terms of durability they really are great cars. As you can see in the video I don't exactly baby it but it is stored in doors in a relatively low humidity environment which likely helps keep the gremlins away. Thanks for watching!