Another JPS Esprit undergoing restoration

[Burg57]

I've been a Lotus fan since the very early 70's when my inspirational Science teacher took a group of young lads to Silverstone for the British Grand Prix practice day (I was hooked for life). I had a Europa Special in the the late 70's and now all those years later I bought my dream car, a JPS Esprit! Couldn't afford a nice one but found one that had been stored for over 20 years and was looking tired with a seized engine which all meant it was within my price range. Photo attached of the car when we got it home, it was one of those cars that looked better the further away you stood! Restoration is now going at full pace, the engine is stripped and at the machine shop, body stripped and repaired and is in the paintshop and the chassis has been stripped, blasted, powder coated and is now being rebuilt.
Car is number 82 of the limited edition. Happy to post more pictures of the build if it's of interest to anybody.

[hairy v]

Yes, more please !

Big fan of Esprits and the JPS colour scheme.

It looks in better nick than the one on Soup.

[TR4man]

Burg57 said:

Happy to post more pictures of the build if it's of interest to anybody.

YES!

Get posting updates with photos please! This is one of my dream cars.

[TR4man]

Oh, and please keep us posted on the Elan Sprint too!

[Burg57]

Photos of the strip down. Chassis parts ready to go for blasting.

Edited by Burg57 on Tuesday 2nd March 12:47

Edited by Burg57 on Tuesday 2nd March 12:52

[Burg57]

[Burg57]

Only problem i found other than rust. Poor repair carried out some years ago, patch held on with what looked like bird s**t

[Burg57]

[BertBert]

That's fabulous. I know nothing at all about the Epsrit chassis, but it doesn't look anything like strong enough to hold the front and the back together without lots of flex!

[Burg57]

I agree with you, doesn't look stiff enough but there are some clever people out there and Ron Hickman had a rough idea what he was doing when he designed the box chassis for the Elan and even managed to design the Black and Decker Workmate and that was bloody clever too.

[threespires]

Well done taking on this challenge. As an ex-owner I'll be watching with interest.

[BertBert]

Burg57 said:

I agree with you, doesn't look stiff enough but there are some clever people out there and Ron Hickman had a rough idea what he was doing when he designed the box chassis for the Elan and even managed to design the Black and Decker Workmate and that was bloody clever too.

Yes indeed, what I can't see is how the rear uprights are attached. I can see the box shape "trailing arm". Does that go to the top or bottom of the upright? What else gives for and aft location to the upright?

[Burg57]

Does that help? Trailing arm bolts to the upright, lower link rod to upright and driveshaft acts as the top link

[BertBert]

Super, thanks very interesting. And very shiny I might add!

Looks like the trailing arm also acts as top and bottom link as it's bolted on to the upright twice as it were and stops twist. Who'dve thought it!

Cheers

[Burg57]

Chassis and suspension parts back from the powder coater ready for assembly



New bushes, springs and dampers

[NotNormal]

Chop chop

[Burg57]

Now it starts to get sexy!

[DougieMc]

Looking Good Mr 👍🏼

[threespires]

Lovely shiny paint! Yea!

[JonChalk]

I'm in! Loving this picture!

Burg57 said: