Lotus 60th Anniversary

[Mark B.]

Here are some pics from today at Hethel. Just to let you know, the Evora looks fantastic and much better in real life. Looks really great from the front and it's really wide. Got to meet Mike Kimberley at last and he signed my daughter's model Evora and had a chat with Steven Crijns about the new Esprit. Sounds like it's going ahead :). Steve also mentioned about the M250, and the fact the the Prototype (shown below) looked nothing like the road car, as bumper hights and legislation changed the look of the car for the worst. Maybe it was a good thing it didn't come out after all.

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc299/mark_88_turbo/074.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc299/mark_88_turbo/087.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc299/mark_88_turbo/081.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc299/mark_88_turbo/085.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc299/mark_88_turbo/080.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc299/mark_88_turbo/086.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc299/mark_88_turbo/084.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc299/mark_88_turbo/078.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc299/mark_88_turbo/075.jpg

[Mark B.]

And a few more pics including the Evora Mule:

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc299/mark_88_turbo/082.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc299/mark_88_turbo/Evora_Mule_2.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc299/mark_88_turbo/083.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc299/mark_88_turbo/088.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc299/mark_88_turbo/077.jpg

[Kylie]

Thanks for sharing Mark. What was the line of people for in the first pic? Getting an autograph from MK? Gosh wish I could be there.
Lovely pics.
The last white stevens car is an interesting one - Two rear wings and V8 wheels. Anyone we know? :)

[Mark B.]

That line was for bacon buttys! Mike didn't seem to be around much, I understand he was busy entertaining the Sharholders in the VIP tent. The Evora models were new Matchbox models. Don't know who owns the white Esprit. It's a modified Esprit Turbo, here's the blurb on it and a pic on the engine:

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc299/mark_88_turbo/088-1.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc299/mark_88_turbo/089.jpg

[Autocross7]

I really need to get my car re-sprayed....


Cameron

[Brian Skeoch]

very cool. I love the Evora. it needs more power tho if it wants to take Porsche 911 drivers to Lotus.

[Brian Skeoch]

I like the fuel pump system on the car with the blue plug wires... looks like something that would work on my rig.

[WayneB]

I presume all the skunk stripe duck tape was to make it look more like a typical boy racer's home made Esprit, and not an experimental Lotus!:lol:

Judging by the ammount used on all the evora mules they must have bought $10,000 worth.

http://www.mmsport.com.au/_images/medium/image1837.jpg

Facinating car that, I would like to see how they got the Esprit body on the VVA chassis.

Are they still using it for evaluation or has it now been retired?:huh:

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc299/mark_88_turbo/Evora_Mule_2.jpg

[Mark B.]

Are they still using it for evaluation or has it now been retired?:huh:
/Evora_Mule_2.jpg[/IMG]

I'm really not sure. The new Esprit will use the same VVA chassis as the Evora (this was widely publicised a while back and Steve Crijns confirmed this) so maybe that Mule will get used for the Esprit too.

[Martin]

Mark, thanks so much for sharing with us. I would have loved to have gone.
Any other interesting things you saw there?

....any pics of some 7's? :mf_dribble:

[Brian Skeoch]

I love your car Mark, if thats your red 88 ?

[Kylie]

I think mark has kept the original two tone look on his. My guess its not:confused:

[Autocross7]

I think mark has kept the original two tone look on his. My guess its not:confused:


I am not sure about Mark's car, but in 88' the cars came with solid and 2 tone paint from the factory. So, either can be original. Interestingly, "oposite" options were offered between the USA and Europe so that the optional extra cost for the paint job - and what it was - depended on where you lived. 2 tone cost more in the States and solid cost more in Europe.

Cameron

[WayneB]

The two tone paint on the 88 USA Esprits reminds me of the Firebirds of the same period.

Probably not a coincedece as GM owned Lotus :)
http://www.thirdgen.org/tech/images/gallery/gunner823-1988-trans-am.jpg

[Brian Skeoch]

my 88 has red rocker panels. I always thought they were reprayed. maybe it came that way ?

[GregWO]

I think they came that way in the USA as my 88 rockers are the same color as the car.

[Autocross7]

The two tone paint on the 88 USA Esprits reminds me of the Firebirds of the same period.

Probably not a coincedece as GM owned Lotus :)

I have always thought that they were going forthe Ferari 512 Boxer look. My Esprit is solid Monaco White (A21) and came that way in 88'. White over grey and white over gold were also available... although gold was a dealer option (or so I have been told?).

Cameron

[Mark B.]

I love your car Mark, if thats your red 88 ?

That's not my car. Mine's one of the first X180's so it hast he two tones as mentioned, with Vulcan grey. Lotus stopped using Vulcan grey on Domestic Esprit's in early 1988, but carried on with it on Federal Esprit's through till 1989.


Any other interesting things you saw there?

....any pics of some 7's? :mf_dribble:

There was so much to see, there wasn't enough time. Really like the Type 30 on display, they had some Lotus Sunbeams in the Owners Clubs area and an absolutely concours Elite S1 :).

[Martin]

Mark, my Esprit.....(was my Esprit :( ) was Vulcan Grey. Apparently there were approximately 10 or so of these painted for the SE. So I've heard.