If I had $12K...

I don't see how I couldn't not buy this Esprit. Seriously, these are still $25-$40K cars in Australia.

Giugiaro styling, dorky-but-cool '70s interior, Lotus pedigree...and if the engine ever got too expensive to repair, I'd just chuck something else in there.

http://bringatrailer.com/2010/04/04/constructors-champion-1978-lotus-esprit-s1/

So cool.

Do want!

In reply to Luke:

Here is mine.

It is an 89 and I picked it up for $15.5K with 50K miles on it. It needed a some love and care with some wear items but over the past year it has become quiet solid. The last owner kept great care it of it. He had had it for decade and had some problems keeping up with minor maintenance items over the last year or so he owned it. He was a bit worried that if he didn't sell it, it would get worse and truly take a lot of money to get back into shape. It took me about 2K the first year doing all the work myself to get it back into good mechanical shape.

While early Esprits are certainly attractive, they have some very scary issues. The transmissions are weak and an untreated frame means they are prone to rusting.I'd still love to have one. But I'll spar a bit longer with a newer, easier to work on model for a bit longer before tackling an earlier one.

Looking more it states that it has a galvanized chassis. That is odd. Not many early cars were done that way. I was not aware of them being galvanized until the S2.2. Also the car looks very clean. Both of those make the car a lot more attractive.

Being an early car you still have the Citroen transmission, but you aren't dealing with turbo power levels, so it isn't as big of a deal. Citroen transmission cars also have the inboard brakes, which are a huge hassle, but you should have to do it often.

I sort of wish I had $12K to throw at it.

Nice Esprit, cloud8! Loving the first two photos . The time-capsule condition of the blue car makes it appealing, but a later series model like yours really would make a lot more sense, as a usable/reliable/everyday prospect.

Looks like a good one. I actually think I like the S2/Turbo looks better, but then I've always been a sucker for ground effects and wings. Still there is something really clean and "pure" about the design on the S1 that the later cars don't have. That thing is a steal for twelve grand.

cloud81918 wrote: Looking more it states that it has a galvanized chassis. That is odd. Not many early cars were done that way. I was not aware of them being galvanized until the S2.2. Also the car looks very clean. Both of those make the car a lot more attractive.

If true I'd guess it's a replacement - either from a later model or aftermarket. Some companies make complete galvanized chassis for those things. You can basically replace anything you want on a Guigaro Esprit these days.

The big problem for me with this car is the color...both inside and out. Yeah, I could live with it for the price...but just barely. The interior especially makes it look like Lotus had stock in Bed, Bath, and Beyond.