Friday 25th July 2003

Convertible Esprit

Top Chop or Dog's Dinner?

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A roofless Esprit would always have been nice but...

(pictures courtesy of dans)

[nightmare]

not a bad effort....... certainly better than I could manage...or it would seem Lotus have managed

Would be interesting to see a CGI mock-up of an esprit barchetta from someone here with talent (like MEMSdesign)....

[taz]

It's not the only one.

www.geocities.com/james_bond-007/lotuscon.jpg

[taz]

www.geocities.com/james_bond-007/lotuscars1.html


This link works ;o))

[LotusACBC]

The red Esprit looks great! I like it.

[sterling450]

If I recall one certain lovely sunny day at Castle Coombe De Tomaso Racing Club back in about '90 this turned up all lovely and new. It's called the Lotus Esprit 'St Tropez'.

[karmavore]

Taz,

I can't see. Send me the pics and I'll host them, if you like.

Luke.

[cnh1990]

There is one convertable G car in the east coast of the USA, I think it was from the factory.
Calvin

[DodgeyRog]

I feel quite sick!!!

Definately a dogs dinner.

[autocross7]

I'd be curious to see what was done "below" in order to retain (if it did) the structural rigidity? "chop the top" is easy to say, but it is not that easy to actually do and maintain a rigid structure... I'm 50/50 on the look... It's kind of a "The Fast a Furious" street tuner Esprit...
Not for personally, but I can look and say "wow"...

[gemini]

bet it looks good roof down

[madmike]

I think it looks heinous. Very bolt on.

I have yet to see a good looking convertible Esprit project. I don't even think if it had a fully removable middle section instead of the current sunroof, ala the Ferari 328 or Diablo, it would look particularly attractive. Though that would at least be palatable.

Mike

[LotusACBC]

does this remind you of anything?

http://juststuff.freehosting.net/images/se_black.gif

>> Edited by LotusACBC on Friday 25th July 20:21

[karmavore]

Nice 328.

Luke.

[cnh1990]

LotusACBC said:

does this remind you of anything? http://juststuff.freehosting.net/images/se_black.gif >> Edited by LotusACBC on Friday 25th July 20:21

Yeah, if it had a destroyed A pilar and the windsheild removed it would look like Keen's project car.

www.usinternet.com/users/kyoung/lotus/s42/index.htm

Calvin

[LotusACBC]

karmavore - You got it!

Cnh - Even that Esprit is still beautiful! Sure sure, it doesnt have a roof, or a floor! LOL but its still stunning.

[cnh1990]

I think you can get it for a really cheap price. I think Keen is trying to get it ready for LOG. Don't know if it will make it or not. Oh well if not this year, next LOG for sure.
Calvin

[LotusACBC]

cnh1990 said:

I think you can get it for a really cheap price. I think Keen is trying to get it ready for LOG. Don't know if it will make it or not. Oh well if not this year, next LOG for sure. Calvin

What the yellow S4? He rebuilt it? I thought it was a donor car for the black Esprit. How much is cheap?

[cnh1990]

From what I understand. Keen has rebuilt the body using clips of the black SE and from a V8.

He has reinforced the clipped damaged areas with carbon fiber and resin. I hear the body is almost ready to go back on. That is one of the most famous of restorations. The other being Guy Theirn's sport300/SE/V8 intergration and restoration project.

These people are friends with each other and are way beyond the typical backyard mechanic.

What they do is almost like magic.

You will have to inquire with Keen about what he wants for the car. Who knows he might want another project after he is done.

Time to go home after yet another hard day at the office. chat with all of you later.

Calvin



>> Edited by cnh1990 on Friday 25th July 22:15

[Bingo KIng]

Looks like a Fiat X1/9

[C.Giles.T]

If anyone can get hold of a .dxf, lwo or a max mesh (CGI model) of an Esprit I would love to have ago but i havent the time to build one from scratch, I made an Elise s1 a couple of years ago and it took 2 weeks!
I could also mock up a new paint job as Im toying with resparaying my S4s!