'78 Lotus Esprit
1978 Lotus Esprit S1 | Manual | 2.0L | 30k Miles
The Lotus Esprit is a British sports car that was built by Lotus Cars at their Hethel factory in England between 1976 and 2004. It was among the first of designer Giorgetto Giugiaro's polygonal "folded paper" designs. While the S1 Esprit was lauded for its handling and was said to have the best steering of any Esprit, it was generally regarded as being under-powered, the Series 1 embodied Lotus' performance through light weight mantra, weighing less than 1,000 kg (2,205 lb).
Specs
Production: January 12, 1978
VIN: 78010596H
Designer: Giorgetto Giugiaro at Italdesign Giugiaro
Powertrain
Engine: 2.0 L (1,973 cc) type 907 I4
Transmission: 5-speed Citroën C35 manual
Transaxle Number: 0784
Dimensions
Wheelbase: 2,438 mm (96.0 in)
Length: 4,260 mm (167.7 in)
Width: 1,861 mm (73.3 in)
Height: 1,111 mm (43.7 in)
Kerb weight: 1,984 lb (900 kg)
This 1978 Lotus Esprit S1 is finished in Gunmetal, including lower front spoiler, color-keyed bumpers, and engine louver’s. Power is from a 1,907cc inline-four paired with a five-speed manual transaxle, and additional equipment includes air conditioning, engine cover louvers, and basketweave wheels. The car was acquired by the current seller from England, in a restored condition. Since then Joe has maintained the car at "Lotus Prepared By Claudius" where they recently overhauled the entire engine.
The fiberglass body is finished in a two tone Gunmetal, and has been repainted and restored by the previous owner. This car is exceptionally well kept, and always garaged. Great car to showcase during Cars & Coffee or to use in Rally Races. Retractable headlamps are shown raised and lowered in gallery photographs below. This vehicle being European Spec does not have the side corner markers.
Two-piece 15″ wheels wear black basketweave faces, Lotus center caps, and Michelin Pilot tires. The Esprit featured four-wheel disc brakes, with the rears mounted inboard in order to reduce sprung weight, as well as independent suspension at all four corners. Front suspension consisted of upper A-arms and lower lateral links triangulated by the anti-roll bar. Rear suspension consisted of tapering box-section trailing arms and lower lateral links. The half-shafts had no provision for plunge and handled some of the lateral forces. There were coil-over shock absorbers and disc brakes at all four corners. Steering is by an unassisted rack and pinion.
Black cloth upholstery covers bucket seats with fixed backrests, as well as the the dash and carpets. Chrome accent pieces run along the dash and center console. Door Card innards are wrapped in Light Gray. A Moto-Lita 2 spoke steering wheel sits head of a pod containing switchgear, in addition to green Veglia gauges including a tachometer, a 260-km/h speedometer, and a five-digit odometer showing 30,555 miles from new.
The 1,907cc inline-four is mounted longitudinally behind the driver’s compartment and features dual overhead camshafts actuating four valves per cylinder. Induction is via dual twin-choke Dell’Orto DHLA carburetors. A Citroën-sourced five-speed manual transaxle transmits power to the rear wheels. This engine had its crankshaft replaced and the engine rebuilt by LOTUS PREPARED BY CLAUDIUS. Additional maintenance that was performed includes timing belt replacement. Extreme care is put into maintaining the vehicle. This car is garaged and only stored with the amount of gas needed for the next trip, to preserve the fuel lines. Regular maintenance of oil changes, fluid top offs, verifying the U joints are lubricated and replacing the main belt every 5-7 years will ensure thousands of miles of enjoyable driving to come!
Prior History
Circa 2013
May 4, 2022
June 30, 2022
September 5, 2022
The car was purchased from England by the current selling owner, Joe Tseng and driven on occasion to car shows and rallies.
Engine Overhauled at "Lotus Prepared By Claudius"
Battery replaced at "Lotus Prepared By Claudius"
This Lotus will be auctioned on eBay to its new care taker.
Condition
Exterior
Windshield free of cracks
Body panel colors match
Not original paint job
Seams where the trunk and hood close are properly aligned
Seams where doors and fenders meet are properly aligned
Free of body dents
Windshields wipers and blades fully functional
Headlights and directional lights intact and fully functional
Tires
Tires are a reputable brand name (Michelin)
Tires are all of the same make
Tires are of free of any cuts, bubbles or cracks
Tread worn evenly (uneven wear indicates alignment and suspension problems)
Original spare tire
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Engine
Recently overhauled
Battery terminals free of corrosion
Oil dipstick free of dark, black oil
Free of odors while engine is running
Exhaust pipe emissions are neither blue or black
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Suspension
Vehicle rests levelly
When bouncing the vehicle's corners, no creaking noises are made
All corners respond the same when bouncing
Interior
Seats have normal wear and are free of cracks
All doors open and close freely
Trunk opens and closes freely
All gauges work
No dashboard warning lights remain illuminated
Windshield wipers work
Windshield wiper fluid dispenses properly
All seats equipped with functional seat belts
All seats adjust properly
Power windows operate properly
Hazard lights function properly
Headlights, including High beams, work properly
Frame
Chassis is neither bent nor cracked
No signs of crumpling or straightening inside the trunk
No accidents
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Manual 5 Speed Transmission
Transmission fluid looks clean, not dirty or gritty
Clutch doesn't slip when driving
Reverse gear and all other gears work properly
All gears shift smoothly
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Brakes
Vehicle steers straight and does not pull to one side when applying brakes
Parking brake engages and disengages freely
No grinding noises when applying
Wheels do not lock when applying brakes
Steering
Vehicle is stable; no shaking or vibrating
No resistance in the steering wheel when turning
No clicking or clunking when turning
Miscellaneous
Service and repair records available
Owner has title
Photo Gallery
