Barn find (well sort of)

[barryj]

I am a massive car fan and not just into MB's, one of my favourite ever cars (started by the James bond submarine car) is the Lotus Esprit, I nearly bought a V8 recently but got a Noble instead in the end.

I took my little boy to the Doctors today (Chicken Pox) and saw this in a side street on the way, sad or what? its one of my favourite models the Ltd edition JPS cars to celebrate the F1 victories................................my wife will kill me but I really want to buy it.

 

[glojo]

It looks very neglected but I suppose that might be the picturs?

John

 

[television]

Amazing how fast the rot sets in when unused, that looks like 2-3 years worth of unused car

 

[jaymanek]

looks a lot more than 2-3 years, i have cars on my drive that have not been touched in 5 yrs plus that look better than that!

 

[Parrot of Doom]

I'd be knocking on the door and speaking with the owner.

Also, post the images up on a lotus forum and ask for advice. Don't give the address or reg plate away though as one of them might snap it up! Try and get an idea of the price

 

[wobbly]

I owned a couple of Lotus's in the eighties. I bought my first a Europa at the age of eighteen.

I was a huge fan of them, fun to drive when most of the boy racers had XR3's.

They were the most unreliable cars I have ever owned, every week something needed fixing.

The JPS was indeed the car I dreamt of owning. This one looks like it will need lots of time and money spent on it, but if you have the time and money it would make a fantastic project, so why not.

Dont forget parts are quite oftern sourced from other manufactures, and some parts can be found a reasonable costs, but parts, if you can get them from Lotus, will be expensive.

 

[wobbly]

Quick check on the DVLA website shows it hasnt been taxed since 1991, so probably never used since them.

 

[BTB 500]

At least the body won't be rusting!

 

[janner]

Condition isn't a problem with those cars. You have to totally rebuild them every few thousand miles anyway

 

[barryj]

Condition isn't a problem with those cars. You have to totally rebuild them every few thousand miles anyway

I wasnt actually considering it as a daily drive......................................I have my ultra reliable 630ci for that!

 

[Ian_C]

I say buy it, as you will always be able to sell to a Lotus guy for more than you paid for it....One hopes....

 

[Howard]

If you've got the money and/or time to do it , i think it would be a great project ...

Chances of finding another one are ?

It would never , i suppose, be worth what the restoration costs will be , but if you've always admired that particular model , then i would go for it ....

Bit of a different league , but i have always said that when i get a bit of money ( not soon , thats for sure ) i would have a Mk1 Golf Gti restored to factory condition ....

Go for it !!

H

 

[barryj]

Thats what I was thinking Ian, if its better than it looks do it and keep if its worse sell it on and break even. Look at this:

http://www.king.igs.net/~nadb/jps.htm

Done a Mk2 Golf GTi already! a campaign model in metalic oak green.

 

[Howard]

Nice !!

Go round there , and offer to help them out , clear their driveway blah blah blah

 

[BenzComander]

Make sure it is a JPS, and not just a stickered up standard car.

 

[fuzzer]

I wasnt actually considering it as a daily drive......................................I have my ultra reliable 630ci for that!

is that the old 6 Series or the new one , because with the advent of the 630 and the 650 they missed out the Ci and just call them i

 

[barryj]

I am pretty sure I know which one it is from the registry link above but will confirm later....................

 

[barryj]

is that the old 6 Series or the new one , because with the advent of the 630 and the 650 they missed out the Ci and just call them i

Its a new one but old habits die hard.......................its a Ci in my eyes!

 

[barryj]

I went back to the address where the car was kept and it turned into one of those long stories.......................................a little old lady answered and I enquired about the car and she looked confused and said it wasnt for sale. I gave her a business card that I had already written a polite message on, and she explained the car was her sons.

I walked away but coud see her looking at the card out of the corner of my vision, she then called me and asked if I did glass for Windows (my card refers to the glass manufacturing company I run) I said that I didnt normaly do domestic work but as she was a neighbour I would have a look. Anyway ended up aving to go home for a tape maeasure so I could measure four windows for her that I will do at cost as she is a nice old dear.

With a bit of luck she will give the card to her son.

Anyway back to the car! its in a mess inside and it has a fair bit of grass growing in it! it has a sunroof not sure if they were standard, I managed to take a couple of sneaky pictures. Its number 02 as you can see from the sticker on the flank that makes it a very early car Mario Andreti still has number 1, the interior is correct but well past its usefull lifespan, god knows what the rest of the car is like it has been stood a very very long time I reckon at least 10 years.

Couple of pics:

 

[SG CL500]

this makes no financial sense to restore...
...but you have to (or at least find somebody to do so instead if you don't fancy it)

superb find - have you considered sending in the photos to Classic Car Mag - they have a 'barn find' section - no.2 has to be a special