Thanks for posting. I too own an Esprit. When purchased the car four years ago with 15,000 miles. I worked on the car for three months before i even considered driving it. Just the usual stuff, all fluids flushed, clutch master and slave, water pump, timing belt, tensioner bearing, charge cool pump, etc, etc. It is just good that you will be soon posting the replacement of radiator and evap core. Big jobs. That will give me, as well as all other Esprit owners the knowledge if I ever have to replace. Great work, looking forward for next post.
Your message in the first 2 minutes of this video is just awesome 👏 So many channels go down the route of gimmicks and click baits, and I personally hate that. I love your honesty and enthusiasm, hence I watch all your videos.
Paul Dyson I have driven them all would personally rate them in order of greatness as : S4S - S4 - 01 and newer V8 - SE - S3 - early V8 - S1 - S2 . All have their unique character to be sure. Thanks for watching!
Hey Tim, I got my 86 Turbo Esprit driving yesterday...such a good feeling to know I got to the point of her moving under her own power after 30 years of sitting. Love these videos man, thanks for saving this car!!
Wow. She doesn’t look as bad as one could have imagined. So glad you are saving her! Looking forward to the whole story! Thanks for bringing us along👍🏻
Nick Zandes thanks for watching. I have seriously high hopes. My goal is for the car to truly echo that prior build but be even better in terms of the fine points. Cheers and thanks again!
Hi. I too am a big fan of the Lotus Esprit and fortunate enough to own a 1996 Esprit V8 here in the UK and I also use SWL for my parts. Looking forward to watching this series....
You are a lucky bloke to have James and company so close! I love the early V8s. Here in the states we didn’t get a 96 V8, 97 was our first year (some federalization silliness). I just finished shooting some of my dialogue for the S4S video. I mention that the low down torque of the V8 is something you really miss after going back to a 4 cylinder. If you A and B compare them that is one of the most noticeable lacks between the two cars. Ultimately any Esprit is a great Esprit and even the less loved 89 non SE car gave me hundreds of hours of great memories and turbocharged pleasure that i feel privileged to have enjoyed. Thanks so much for watching. Cheers!
Hi Tim, Lot's of good parts to salvage on your car and lot's of nice new bits coming in. Definately going to keep following this. Never mind if it's going to take some time, it will be worth it in the end. And good on you for restoring the car. There are so few Esprit's made, that we got to keep them afloat and nice. So keep up the god work. Cheers, Redfox
Jacques Esprit cheers! Thanks so much for watching and for your kind words. I was gutted when the world stopped. I felt like we were off to a genuinely cracking start. These cars a always worth saving unless totally destroyed. Even then I feel like they are such rarities they deserve a second chance. Stay tuned!
I also have a 94 S4. As you probably know the Delco Morraine ABS brake system was a short lived experiment by GM that just did not work out. The feel is not great and the parts are NLA in many cases and you will be plagued by ABS lights. There is a gentleman on the forums in the UK that makes a "retrofit" or up date kit that replaces the system with a traditional Master Cyl and booster. Its a great option. If you end up trying it on this car you will probably want it on your S4s. You can drop by and check it out on my car in the ATL if you are ever in the area! Looking forward to seeing what you do.
I wish the ABS light was the worst part of the problem. Worst system ever released to the public. Ian and his wife are great people. The brakes on 93.3-95 esprits are horrifying. I almost died in my 93.5 car. It was working "normally" no lights etc. I went for the brakes hard at 90 plus and after a brief attempt to retard the car's speed it "reset" and defaulted to no brake pressure followed by a second lock up. It is , still to this day, the only time when a cars system almost killed me. Had I not acted quicker I would have been dead. I may do this swap on both my S4S and this S4. I am installing the later Brembo brakes on this car and if I don't use Ian, I will be having Rich fabricate something.
The Viewer thanks so much for watching. Yes, the cars I own are the cars I have always dreamed about and while I would love an F40 or P1 parked in the garage, at this stage in life that isn’t practical. Every car I have is totally attainable and I give tips on buying and maintaining. About to release an update video on some of the cars I reviewed in the past so you can get an ongoing look at what they cost to run. Again, thanks for watching. I am trying to make each new video better and better. Cheers!
Subscribed. This is great content. Most of the mega-huge car RU-vid channels appeal to kids/teens, with 'Lambos' and 'sick builds' etc, and that's fine, but quality content also finds viewers. Keep it up!
Thanks so much. I totally agree with you about the Lambo craze. It’s all a whole bunch of sameness. I am trying to create something for the true enthusiast. Thanks so much for the kind words!
Hi Tim. I'll be watching your progress very closely. I, myself, have a Black/Tan 1990 Esprit SE with less than 6,600 original miles on the odometer. It's sad. Not even broken in. But you are giving me some hope as to its future. I heard you mention the saddle gas tanks. Yes, a common issue. But on the bright side, a company called Boyd Welding makes replacements out of aluminum. Their website is Boyd Welding.com. I don't know much about them, but it's a potential starting point. Best of luck.
GG Ama we were thinking to make them ourselves. I certainly appreciate the information and am not ruling anything out at this point! Thanks for watching and for the intel.
Outstanding new video man! Really can't wait to get this project moving forward and making people smile! There are few cars out there that turn heads and immediately get people talking and pointing like a Lotus Esprit, don't worry she'll be great again!
Frozen Car Guy I have driven and owned a lot of classic cars. Straight up the only car that would supplant this car is an F40. I prefer the Esprit 10 to 1 to the Testarossa or similar exotics from the era. The Esprit is a perfect recipe not matched for greatness by many other cars. The 993 c2 and the F355 are both pretty great and at times on certain roads the F355 is magic but for me the Esprit is really an all time great.
Man. I appreciate it brother. I hope you and family are back to 100% health soon. So glad your son didn’t have covid or something more sinister. Really thankful for our friendship mate!
Sarah Dell I love that you took notice of this. This car came from a Lotus Dealer in NY. Everything had been gone through including fluids, new clutch, etc. they shift really well. I have never had one that was properly maintained be “a crap transmission” I think the Renault box gets a bad wrap due to much delayed maintenance and worn synchros. Thanks for watching and for noticing the shift. Cheers!
Tim's Enthusiast Garage It’s the one car I never fully trusted. Granted, nothing major ever broke but the trans has that fragile feeling to it. Cool cars though! Look forward to the progress
Sarah Dell sorry that was your experience. For the most part that has been my experience with most BMW I have owned. I had an 86 M6 that I desperately wanted to love but it let me down in every way imaginable and it really coloured my view of all future cars. I had an e60 for a few months and was just scared to death of it. Luckily I have none of that with Esprits. I plan to drive this S4 hard and set it up for track time. I had an 88, 89 but never a 90 or 91 SE. I would def love to have one but they seem to be the ones that have had the most owners and the most “undone” maintenance which certainly hurts the cause and certainly can taint future owner experiences.
Tim's Enthusiast Garage Oh boy, would love to see one being used for track duty. Barber has a fully converted track rat at the museum, along with the worlds largest lotus collection. I’ve always wanted a final edition, but that trans will keep me away. Long ago considered having the Ford GT trans swapped in place..... Those are now roughly $20,000 alone before any of the labor and other added costs. No more Esprit for me :) Patiently waiting Diablo prices to come down 👍
Hey Tim, Enjoying your channel. I also have a S4s and love the fun driving experience and attention the car brings. I'll be following your progress on the S4. Wondering if, you have any brake alternative suggestions or a part source for my ABS pressure switch on my S4s. Much thanks! Rob
Rob Bonome the ABS on our cars isn’t optimal. James at Southwest Lotus Centre (you can message them on Instagram or Facebook, or even their website) is THE guru when it comes to parts like that and even parts that improve function. I am switching to later V8 components for this S4 and May delete the ABS entirely. It’s the one area where the later V8s are superior. Stay tuned and thanks for watching !
I’m over 6’2” and fit well. The 93-04 has a larger interior. I barely fit in the earlier ones though have owned those in the past . Thanks for watching !
What is wrong with people? How do you let a car like that sit for 10 years? At the end, I'd love to see a total amount invested. Can't wait to see it back to it's former glory.
chandrab I’m on the owners forum! I’ll look for you on there. I had a similar aluminum rad in a V8 for 20k miles no issues. This one is a slightly different design. We shall see how it goes. I think people are rigid mounting them as with the stock rad. We shall. See. I have owned Esprits for over 20 years. For the most part I have enjoyed very reliable results. I appreciate your input and for you taking the time to watch. Cheers!!
Tim's Enthusiast Garage I’ve owned my esprit SE for the last 16 years and it’s been great. Shame that the previous owner let it get to such a condition. Please do look me up on the FB group.
chandrab I’m always surprised how many 30 year old exotics have been poorly taken care of. I mean, these are some of the greatest cars ever made. Men took pride in making them. I recently looked at a 94 Ferrari that hadn’t had a cam belt since 98. How in the world do people care so little. This poor Esprit deserved a second chance. They have been great cars for me. I am hopeful to one day see them receive the credit they are due. Cheers!
@@TimsEnthusiastGarage Are there transmission options for such a conversion? I'm guessing the oem transmission wouldn't last long attached to an 500hp Telsa electric motor.
@@stevedekorte is you were going that route I would recommend a different more modern transaxle. I have seen some people swap in Porsche units with different engines. That would give you more options and more plentiful replacements. Cheers and thanks for watching. Please subscribe if you would be so kind.
Every time i see a Lotus Esprit S4 1994 resurrection I wonder if it was my old car. I was hit in Delaware and the insurance co. totaled the car even though it was just somewhat cosmetic on the left side and a front wheel turned in. If anyone ever does a Title search on old Lotus Esprits from 1994 see if I was the last owner..
Hey Tim, I have been down your road my years ago and still working on my 91. I would love to help you with your rebuild. email me anytime. I think i have seen just about everything an older esprit can throw at you.
