Esprit S2 (1978) help please.

[sagalout]

Hi guys, have just had a call from a friend about his old S2. Hes owned it for 21 years it's a 78 on a T reg.He is the 3rd owner and it's done 55k miles.
It's stood a long time but is apparently sound but needs a respray over the dulled silver. It starts and runs well and has done less than 100 miles since it's last MoT a few years ago. Loads of extras/replaced bits etc but he's loosing his garage space shortly and is looking for a buyer or assistance with a value. i can't help as I'm a TVR and bike guy so I've come to the oracle of knowledge on all things motoring. There's much more he or I can tell you but he's in need of help. The cars in Wiltshire.
Though I might have it myself if I could only think of something to do with it.
Regards
Please post or e mail me if you can be of assistance.

[britten_mark]

Hi
I think these things are difficult to value. They don't have the collectability of the S1s and they are much more common. I love 'em to bits, but I seem to be in a minority. I went looking for an S1/S2, ended up buying a newish one in the end, but saw plenty in the process.

A real dog is worth buttons;
A basically sound car with a good chassis but which was really a running restoration went for £3500 locally;
An excellent but unrestored 98k miler with bills for tens of thousands went for a sniff under £5000 in London;
A home restored S2.2 was advertised for £6000 in the home counties, but I don't know if it sold.

Fairly depressing if your friend has owned for years and thinks he is sitting on a goldmine, but there are people who appreciate them. If the car is sound, but factoring in a respray (costly) I would say £3500ish.
Cheers
Mark

[sagalout]

Hi Mark, thanks for that help. He knew he wasn't sitting on a goldmine. Lotus OC have just come back to him with £3-£4k and he would be happy with that. Really just wants to see it put to use. It was his pride and joy but work/house/life has simply got in the way of "restoring" it and now his mother in law is moving to a flat he has no where to store it. He lives in London with no garage. He has a Company car with one on the street parking space allotted. It really only needs a tidy up as the silver paintwork has faded/crazed (laquer?). It runs and passed an MoT 100 miles/couple of years ago. Been dry stored.
If you know anyone that is interested, please give me a call. Must go soon.

>> Edited by sagalout on Thursday 12th June 08:11

[britten_mark]

Can you give any info on interior colour/trim, or rest of car?? I would love to give an old one a home as a commuter car (I work 2 miles away, and its all downhill so I can freewheel if it breaks down!). Have just bought a GT3 though, so credits are all used up, at least for a couple of years.
Realistically I would just have to put the word out. It's a shame as this is just the sort of car I wanted when I set out looking (ie sound but needing a respray, so I could make it look like that gorgeous gold press car lotus used for the launch of the S2).
Any pictures??

>> Edited by britten_mark on Thursday 12th June 22:46

[polowonder]

Hello, I am from Belgium, and come to England on June 21st (yes, next Saturday) to have a look and maybe buy a Lotus Esprit. If the car is nice enough, I'll pay cash.
So, I don't have much time left, please e-mail me some pictures and details.
PS. I am not a trader, but a private person looking for a car for myself.

[sagalout]

Hi, thanks for all your help. My mate has now sold the car to a Ginetta V8 owning colleague. Keep an eye open for a Silver S2 around the Wiltshire area.