New Circle tail light retrofit to, possible?

[OmeyHomey]

hey guys, Is it possible to get the circle tail light and retro fit onto a 98-2001 V8 ? I saw a few on ebay and i noticed they were 98's with circle lights and i was huh "huh?!?!". I dont know if it was a typo or if that really was correct. I just wanted to make sure if it was possible and if so how much it would cost and if it could be done DIY (do-it-yourself).

THanks guys.

[Tpup]

I know several people have done it. Removing the old rear panel is not hard, don't know about the cost to do it.

Roy

[karlfranz]

The round tail light transom can be retrofit onto older vehicles but it does require body modification. Whether it's a DIY job or not is up to your confidence in doing body work.

Others (LPbC, SJ) sell kits that require less body modification and are easier to install.

Expect to pay over $1,300 to have this done to an Esprit.

[dirk989]

MotoConcept can get you these for a good price. The parts come unpainted. The install can be done in a couple hours. The only tricky part is that you have to enlarge the holes where the old lights used to sit. You only cut parts that will not be visible after the new install so the cuts do not have to be pretty. However, you MUST have a good tool for cutting the fibreglass in some pretty small and confined places. I would also suggest covering everything very well before cutting because the dust from cutting will cover EVERYTHING around you.

Dirk Carnahan

[Ye Olde Esprit]

Carefull when making such an alteration to an older car.

Dunno whatthe situation is in the US market, but here in the UK there are some who are suggesting modifications of this type to older cars can devalue it significantly in resale.

Yes, I thought it was odd too since many would say the modification is an improvement. But just research it in case you want to sell your car later.

Nicholas

[OmeyHomey]

cool, so it is possible. $1300 is kinda $$ but i guess if i want to get an older car but still want circle lights its still possible. As far as value, in reality it shouldn't change b/c after all its buyers demand that dictates value of the car, if buyer likes newer styling then he will pay slightly more for the car (at least thats a possibility). thanks for the info guys

[karmavore]

I like modifications but when I buy my Esprit I will prefer an unmolested one. You will NEVER reclaim the value of mods unless you part them out separately. Never.

Luke.

[unity1]

Ye Olde Esprit said:

Carefull when making such an alteration to an older car. Dunno whatthe situation is in the US market, but here in the UK there are some who are suggesting modifications of this type to older cars can devalue it significantly in resale. Yes, I thought it was odd too since many would say the modification is an improvement. But just research it in case you want to sell your car later. Nicholas

I dont agree with this. I've had several people openly offer me more than the going rate because my car looks the way it does. You could not do it for profit or even guarantee return on investment if you pay someone else to do it. However it certainly wont be worth significantly less than a standard example of similar condition (if done well).

Its true a purist wont pay and try to knock down the price if selling. TBH not many of them left now anyway as a younger generation move into the areana how prefer what they like and not what they are told.

[Ye Olde Esprit]

unity1 said:

I dont agree with this... it certainly wont be worth significantly less than a standard example of similar condition (if done well)....

Steve,

Agreed. I don't feel it is a hard and fast rule, it all depends on the buyer, and what he thinks of the mods you have done.

I have wanted to do many alterations to my original 92 spec SE, and will do them. I feel that the right buyer for my car will appreciate the work I intend to do, and that will usually be an Esprit enthusiast rather than a classic car buyer.

My point was only that if someone does these, and later may want to trade the car in to a dealer, I would advise to think it over carefully in that case, because often dealers interpret the market differently.

I took the highwing off my car and replaced it with the earlier glassback, and also put on larger V8 spec wheels and S350 brakes. When I queried a couple of dealers on it's value/desireablility, they had a very different perspective to us on the changes.

Now, I felt that they are wrong in the sense that a Lotus (Esprit) buyer will most likely appreciate the changes. However, was I in a position where I wanted to trade it in or sell it quick, they'd most likely try to be difficult about it.

So it is worth thinking about depending on how you see your future with your car. If I had to sell my car, most definitely, I'd use LEW's For Sale (www.lotusespritworld.co.uk/sale.html) section to do so as the target audience is going to know what and why everything was done, therefore value it properly.

Loved you car BTW yesterday, we were two cars behind you in the convoy

Nicholas

[karlfranz]

Nicholas,

Keep in mind that all dealers are going to use any excuse possible to claim your car is worth less when you try to trade it in. Unlike other marques where a value is placed on keeping the car as close to the original spec as possible (Ferrari notably), the Esprit has not really ever been valued that way. Pay no attention to what the dealer claimed. Putting V8 wheels and Sport350 brakes will definitely not decrease the value of any older Esprit.

Cheers,

Karl-Franz :-)
www.espritfactfile.com

[dictys]

Ye Olde Esprit said:

I took the highwing off my car and replaced it with the earlier glassback, Nicholas

Damn, if I had known I would have offered a swap, my SE glassback & spolier for the high wing back and spolier. I will just have to save my pennies instead.

Racespeed are just finishing of a rear light conversion which does not involve any cutting and uses Diablo rear lights. This works out cheaper than using the Lotus ones.

Rgds
Dictys 89 SE

[Ye Olde Esprit]

dictys said:

Damn, if I had known I would have offered a swap, my SE glassback & spolier for the high wing back and spolier... ...Racespeed are just finishing of a rear light conversion which does not involve any cutting and uses Diablo rear lights. This works out cheaper than using the Lotus ones.

Hey, I probably would have gone for it back then. However, I have actually decided to put the louvred boot lid and highwing back on.

Perhaps it has something to do with a woman I met recently into leather and whips but I feel it gives the car a mean and nasty sexy look with the rest of my tweeks that will match the new 350hp motor I'm having assembled for it

However, if you do get a boot lid, and still need a highwing, I have two since I've got Kato's one as well as my own.

As for the Racespeed conversion, I'd love to see that as I had been wondering about alternative routes on the same theme. IIRC the diablo lights look a lot like the old AM Vantage rears and might be like the ones on the McLaren F1?

Nicholas

[dictys]

I want to put the louvred boot lid on with a sport 300 wing, I'll end up searching for a car that been front ended I expect.

The Racespeed item should be ready soon, Owen at the Reading branch was explaining it all to me when I popped in to order some turbogrooved disks for the front end. It sounds better than the Lotus mod, but I'll have to see a finished item to truely judge.

Rgds
Dictys 89 SE

[superdave]

If anyone is thinking of doing this mod then don't get one from SJ Sportscars. Doors Hendrie bought one and it took over 6 months! When he took it to his local bodyshop who deals with top maques type cars said the panel was a load of crap to put it bluntly.
They will have to spend lots of time flattening and filling it to get it to their standards.
Personally I like the mod but don't know if I would do it myself. It does make the car more modern. I saw Steve Wright's yesterday and it does look cool.
To the right buyer I think individual car can get a bit more money if modified tastefully. Tastefully to one person on the other hand could be completely different to the next person.


Cheers,


Dave Walters

[karmavore]

I will perfer real lotus lights when I buy my Esprit and my kit. So many parts aren't 'lotus' unique already, why add more..? :-)

Plus 'diablo' light sounds so kit car. Seems more like a Max or Super Street mod when you put it like that.

[karmavore]

"They will have to spend lots of time flattening and filling it to get it to their standards."

Then what did he say when he saw the rest of the cars body? :-)

[unity1]

karmavore said:

"They will have to spend lots of time flattening and filling it to get it to their standards." Then what did he say when he saw the rest of the cars body? :-)

[FJ40]

Did mine and it turned out great. More like a day after you cut the glass and install the new wire harness. REmember also that you have to get the parts painted. I used PBC and am happy with the kit and service. Looks much better as expressed by most that have the before and after look.

Dan