HIGHLY COLLECTABLE LOTUS ESPRIT S2 1978

Lotus Esprit S2 Yellow with Beige Leather interior

This car is completely original - as made by Lotus in 1978.

Date of Reg 17th November 1978 T

Vin 7809/0502G

2. 0 Litre 907 Engine. 2 x Twin choke Dellorto Carbs

Front Suspension. Independent. coil springs. wishbones. anti roll bar and dampers

Rear Suspension -  As above but lower wishbones. semi trailing arms and telescopic dampers

As of 2004 there were only 390 original 2. 0 Lotus Esprit's on the road in the UK. That figure is now much lower and this is a chance to own a piece of motoring history.

The Lotus Esprit was designed in 1975 by an Italian named Giorgetto Giugiaro and took the Paris motor show by storm.  By 1976.  the Lotus Esprit S1 was introduced to the UK market.  Everyone can remember that iconic moment when they saw the white Lotus being driven by James Bond in 1978. The Lotus Esprit S2 was unveiled with many improvements over the original - most notably.  the wheels and aerodynamic additions.  along with the cooling. resulting in a much better car.

I have owned this S2 for 11 years and it really has been my pride and joy - my dream was always to own a Lotus Esprit after seeing James Bond drive his. Now due to various circumstances.  I have to part with it. The speedo reading is 96 000 miles but has not worked for a long time. but in the years that I have owned it it has hardly been used.

The car comes with a huge history file with bills and receipts going back years and years with bills totaling thousands of pounds.

When I brought the car I drove her around for a few years - enjoying the admiring glances from everyone who saw her.  Eventually.  I thought it was time to overhaul the engine. so off it went to a friend of mine to undergo a rebuild. This was done over a period of a couple of years due to my finances but the following work was done and all parts were brought from SJ sports cars.

New pistons and liners. new bearings. cylinder sleeves honed.  head skimmed and overhauled. All valves were removed cleaned and ground. new clutch with pressure plate and thrust bearing upgraded.  gear change pivot bush upgraded.  poly anti roll bar bushes and poly lower link bushes.  New fuel pump and reconditioned brake calipers with new pads. Exhaust manifold. nbsp; various pipes gaskets and obviously head gasket. timing belt. plugs point and leads. Oil cooler. hoses and new tyres.

So.  after getting her back.  she drove and handled beautifully with great oil pressure and the engine back to full strength.

I drove the car around for a year or so.  only really at the weekends and then the timing got knocked out and she started to run a bit rough.  Unable to get the money together to get the car transported to a garage.  I left her on my driveway.  I started her every week just to keep the oil and water moving around but last week the starter motor went.  

So that leaves me in a position of leaving her on my driveway and just looking at her every day and never knowing when I will be able to get it sorted or selling her to a good home who will be able to put her back on the road again and enjoy driving her.

The car currently has no MOT and is not driving so it will need transporting. The car is currently SORN - the engine only needs a small amount of work to get it up and running again.

The paintwork on the car is average for it's age and has crazed and blisters in a few areas.   common with any fibre glass car so. it really does need a respray.

The interior as I said is original from 1978 and does need a re-trim.  the door cards are split and the seats need repairing and during the bad weather we have had.  rain has got through the door seals.  so is a little damp and musty.

The electric windows work a little slow but they are fine and the head lamps lift and lower as they should.

I am being 100% honest and this car is a project.  but with paintwork and a re-trim and a small amount of mechanical work.  this car will be one of the best S2's on the road and in the best colour too.

I do have a spare exhaust back box and an original replacement leather steering wheel as the one on the car needs replacing. I also have the Original Lotus workshop manual.

I am happy to sell internationally but the buyer will have to arrange the transportation.

It would be advisable to come and view this car before bidding if possible.  You are very welcome to call me on 07557 477963 to arrange this or for any further information.  

Thank you for looking.

Also published at eBay.co.uk

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