1983 Lotus Esprit Investors Edition #43 on 2040-cars
Eminence, Missouri, United States
I am always available by mail at: agathaaeertley@ukswimmers.com .
1983 Lotus Esprit Turbo
"Investors" Edition
"Investors" Edition quick explanation...
In 1983, after several years of absence, Lotus returned to the US market. A new private Import & Distribution
company - Lotus Performance Cars was formed with the help of 50 Investors. The principal investors who enter to a
total value of 1,8% (or 150.000 US Dollars) to the capital of the new distributor, Lotus Performance Cars, received
the first batch of Lotus Turbo Esprits. They were called the Special Edition, or as they were also know, the
“Investors' Edition." A series of 50 cars were manufactured in 1983 to accompany the financial transaction by
Lotus. The cars featured specially painted bumpers the same color as the two-tone side body panels and tinted
sunroofs (an extra that was not available until 1985) and the engines were balanced and blueprinted. A
commemorative plaque " Investor's Special" was screwed to the wheels. 48 of the 50 cars manufactured were sent to
the USA. These units were the first build of Turbo Esprit cars for the USA following a period of inactivity in
supplying cars to that territory.
Brian Angus, Lotus Cars: The Specification of these cars included such items as Special Body Paintwork,
'Powercurved Engines' and 'Matched Suspension'. The Engines were Run In & Powercurved on the Dyno. This exercise
included checking engine ignition & valve timing etc. to ensure optimum performance. Compression & leakage checks
to ensure Run In success. The Power figures were recorded and printed out onto a Graph which was supplied with the
car. The Suspension components (Springs & Dampers) were checked and matched pairs allocated to the cars. These cars
had the following specification:- They were all built to the owners specification which included :- Removable
tinted glass roof panel, Individually tested engine with power curve, Individually tested and matched suspension
ride control units, Comprehensive security system, Hall marked English silver plaque on the steering wheel
personally engraved for the driver. Individually hand sign-written 'Special Edition' insignia and serial number on
drivers door External colour scheme and interior trim exclusive to Special Edition (Optional)
Start of the vehicle build on production line was October 1982 and the cars passed to Sales (PTS). The first cars
(83 MY) were PTS in February 1983. In August 1983 the first of 50 'Special Edition' Cars was passed to sales.(at
this point 105 'Standard' cars had been built). The last of the 50 cars was passed to sales in October 1983.
Thanks to Brian Angus from Lotus Cars for the Information.
This one is # 43 of the 48 delivered to the US. You probably already know Esprits are rare to begin with but an
"Investors" Edition? Wow! Even more so! For all you Wedge Head fans out there, calm down, stop drooling and read
on. Here are a few details regarding this wonderful car.
First let me say, if you're into car shows, you'll have no problem winning Best in Class and depending on the
caliber of the event, possibly Best in Show. It's been on the cover of Lotus Ltd's Remarque magazine as well as
featured in a Hemmings Sports and Exotics article. This Esprit is probably one of the most enjoyable cars I've ever
driven. While a V8 Esprit is at the top of the evolutionary ladder, this 83' feels more nimble, more raw, more what
a Lotus should be. The steering is light, the woosh from the turbo inlet intoxicating. The blow off valve release
sounds so...mechanical, but not annoying like a modern day "boy racer". For a car without ABS, the brakes are
phenomenal. It's obvious how Lotus got it's reputation for great handling cars. Perfectly tuned. Stiff when you
need it but no where near harsh. Shifting is a breeze and I'm happy to add, no issues with 2nd gear syncros!
Everything works on the car! All switches, gauges, and lights. Even the high tech overhead digital clock works.
I have the original Owner's Manual as well as a copy of the original window sticker and "Investors" Edition
handbook. Ownership history goes back to the 90's with receipts to go along with it. I personally know the 3
previous owners. All Lotus Ltd members. True Wedge Heads.
The paint is original except for the area around the rear window louver. Don't worry. It's a perfect match in color
and texture. It still retains it's beautiful glossy shine and factory hand painted 43 Investors Edition script on
the driver's door. Overall, patina is minimal. No rub throughs from over buffing. No deep scratches. This car does
have the Euro front bumper. I have no idea what the difference is but a previous owner, decided it looked better.
Interior is a 9.5 out of 10. No rips or tears in the upholstery. I'm deducting .5 because the seats have been
recovered. It's obvious they were done correctly and I must say the color is an extremely close match. The dash and
door panels are perfect, as well as the headliner. The carpet, a little faded, is still decent without any major
stains. The steering wheel is period correct but it does not have the personal name plate as mentioned above. A
previous owner must have kept that as a souvenir. The only interior "flaw" is a 1/16" wide by 1/2" long leather
stretch crack on the lower part of the instrument cluster that has thankfully been halted by a staple.
During my 2.5 years of ownership, here's the maintenance I had completed:
New BF Goodrich TA radials. Nice high profile with white letters like the original Goodyears. All "road forced"
balanced.
New front brake pads and rotors.
New distributor, spark plugs and wires
Carbs cleaned and tuned to perfection
A/C work (A new leak developed after the work was completed. Before the freon escaped, it blew ice cold for about 3
days. The leak may be near the right front wheel wheel.)
New front wheel bearings
A former owner, who was an Esprit God, rebuilt the engine using better pistons (possibly HCI), so this car most
likely has more horsepower than original. It pulls soooo strong! I have all the paper work, including hand written
notes regarding this engine work.
Most of the rubber items, to include belts, bushings and hoses were replaced within the last 8 years. Does the
timing belt need to be replaced? I would change it. Not because of mileage but because of time. Fortunately it's
not an engine out service! Not a huge expense. I just don't have anyone near me I feel is capable of doing the job
correctly. The mechanic should use a Burroughs Gage (sp) to measure the belt tension.
I've included quite a few photos. If there is anything in particular you would like a better shot of, please let me
know.
Lotus Esprit for Sale
1998 lotus esprit v8 twin turbo(US $19,100.00)
2002 lotus esprit(US $16,200.00)
1999 lotus esprit v8(US $18,900.00)
Lotus: esprit 25th anniversary(US $22,300.00)
2001 lotus esprit(US $25,600.00)
2003 lotus esprit(US $35,700.00)
Auto Services in Missouri
Unnerstall Tire & Muffler ★★★★★
Tim`s Automotive ★★★★★
St Charles Foreign Car Inc ★★★★★
Scherer Auto Service ★★★★★
Rogers Auto Center ★★★★★
Rev Diy Automotive Repair ★★★★★
Auto blog
2020 Lotus Evora GT First Drive | Exquisitely analog
Mon, Aug 12 2019OJAI, Calif. — WeÂ’ve glimpsed LotusÂ’s EV-powered, 2,000-horsepower, $2 million future, and itÂ’s a glorious vision, for sure. But the boutique brand has also updated its more attainable gas-powered offerings back here on Earth, in the form of the 2020 Lotus Evora GT. Our first drive offered a revealing (and thrilling) taste of what might be among HethelÂ’s last traditionally-powered sports cars. For those unfamiliar with the Evora, the diminutive 2+2 was launched in 2009 as a grand touring-capable alternative to the laser-focused, ultra-featherweight Elise. Power hails from a Toyota-sourced 3.5-liter V6 with Lotus-modified induction and exhaust hardware, with everything from the throttle calibration to the spark plugs tweaked, and oil sump baffles added to reduce sloshing during high g-force maneuvers. While supercharger oomph was added to the Evora 400Â’s powerplant in 2015 (breaking the, you guessed it, 400 horsepower barrier), the latest GT spinoff incorporates mods from the non-U.S.-spec Evora 430, which brings total output to 416 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque. As before, a six-speed manual comes standard (and accounts for approximately 70% of sales), while an automatic adds $2,700 to the $96,950 starting price. Thanks to an infusion of carbon fiber and composite bits, the Evora GT tips the scales at only 3,175 pounds – for context, thatÂ’s only 33 lbs more than a Porsche 911T – aided by a bonded aluminum tub that manages both light weight and excellent torsional rigidity. Opt for the carbon pack ($10,000), and youÂ’ll shave an additional 71 pounds from the equation. Further mass reduction is available via forged wheels ($3,250) and titanium exhaust ($8,000). Revised aerodynamics in the form of tucked-in wheel arch vents, a slight drop in ride height, and a larger rear spoiler conspire to double downforce, producing 160 lbs of force at the 188-mph top speed. If youÂ’ve ever endured the awkward ingress and egress of a Lotus Elise, the Evora feels refreshingly conventional: simply slide in, click in, and adjust your mirrors diligently because, at least if youÂ’ve ordered the carbon package, visibility through the rear windows is almost entirely obscured by thick louvers. Like that other British performance brand (looking at you, McLaren), Lotus stuck to its guns by retaining a hydraulic steering rack that conveys road surface nuances and feedback with refreshing accuracy.
New Lotus SUV could be based on Volvo architecture
Tue, Mar 20 2018Last year, Chinese carmaker Geely upped its stake in Lotus to a majority, recently investing more money into the British brand. Now, talking with Automotive News, CEO Jean-Marc Gales says Geely has approved three new models: two sports cars and the third an SUV. The sports cars will be announced later this year, and they will reach production in 2020. The last time a properly new Lotus debuted was in 2009 with the Evora, so a decade later new products are certainly due. But what about that SUV? Autocar says that since Geely also owns Volvo, that makes it possible for Lotus to base the SUV onto the Volvo SPA platform, which is also used in the XC60 and XC90. The choice of platform would mean the SUV would have to be a four-cylinder model, but that's nothing new to Lotus. It could even use Volvo's "Twin Engine" hybrid setup, which would mean a power output of over 400 horsepower as stock, and that with Lotus' eagerness for lightness could be a potent combination. Autocar quotes Gales as saying, "It will go round bends like nothing else in its segment." The target weight for the approximately Porsche Macan-sized SUV is under 2,000 kilos (4,400 pounds), and the Macan weighs 4244 pounds in 400-hp Turbo guise. The Lotus SUV is projected to hit the market in "about four years," and it's very likely to be built in China instead of Britain, as the Chinese market is very enticing — especially for this class of vehicle. The vehicles will still be designed at Lotus' Hethel HQ. Related Video:
Lotus Evora GX to race in U.S. Grand-Am series
Thu, 26 Jul 2012The Lotus Evora has taken many forms as a race car over the past few years, starting in 2009 with the Type 124 Endurance Racer built for the FIA GT. Since then, Lotus has developed a GT4 Cup version designed for a one-make series, the Evora GTE that currently competes in the GT class of the ALMS and the recently introduced Evora GTC.
Now, Lotus has released the Evora GX, a variation of the GTC tweaked to specifically meet the requirements of Grand-Am's new GX class that will launch at the start of the 2013 race season. While the two cars are very similar, using the same lightweight carbon fiber and plexiglass bodywork, the GX version gets a thicker U.S.-spec roll cage, a revised front splitter and bumper, a standard Grand-Am rear wing, yellow headlights and a new fuel filler system. ABS and traction control have also been removed per Grand-Am regulations.
Pricing for the Evora GX is listed at $335,000 with each one built to order, and one customer has already taken the plunge. McMahon Raceworks has placed an order and should have the car on the starting grid at the first race next year.