gtlotus
11-22-2010, 11:09 PM
SOLD1983 Investors' Edition Esprit
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1983 Investor's Edition, "Special Edition 43"
For Sale 1983 Lotus "Special Edition" or "Investors Edition" Esprit in North East Florida.
I recently purchased a Lotus Esprit FE and now need to sell my 1983 Investor Edition Esprit to make room in the garage.
I have been a Lotus enthusiast for close to 25 years, I first came into contact with this particular Esprit in 2000 when a friend purchased the car from the Spring Spectacular Car Show in Daytona, FL from a private owner. Over the next five years I helped him with the maintenance on this car, it was a well kept, well maintained example during this time. When my friend decided to sell the car, so I purchased it in 2005 and it has been garage kept and professionally maintained ever since. I have some records on the car and a copy of the original window sticker showing that the car was delivered to a Lotus dealership in Schaumburg, IL with a sticker price of $65,000.00
For those who do not know the history on the “Investor Edition” Esprit's, there was a time that Lotus was reintroducing the Esprit back to the U.S. market and this is how they gained some needed "investment" capital to bring the cars back.
These cars were referred to as the “Investor's Edition” because they were never for sale. The only way a person could acquire one was to make a significant investment in the Performance Associates Corporation (Lotus Importer to U.S.A). Those investors were then given shares of the company totaling 1.8 % and one “Investor Edition” Esprit.
Lotus intended to make a total of 50 of these hand-made cars, but only 47 of them were actually produced. My car is number 43 of these 47. Only a few were made using the original Investor's Edition color specifications (two tone Silver/Chrysler Gray). This happened because Lotus let each investor decide if they wanted to change the color scheme before their car was made. Many investors opted to change the color to something that they preferred. My car is the only solid Chrysler Gray investor edition that was made. The Connolly Leather interior is also silver-gray.
At the time, the regular Lotus Esprit Turbo was only available with a hard top. The Investor's Edition has a removable, translucent glass sun roof that can also pivot open.
Lotus blueprinted the engine so that the vehicle's performance curve is higher than the Lotus Esprit Turbo of that year.
The other MOST distinctive feature of the Investor's Edition is that it has the words "Special Edition" followed by a two digit number emblazoned on the driver's side door. That number is actually the count number of that particular car. So for example, the first one made reads "Special Edition 01" with each subsequent car displaying the next number.
My car is in excellent condition for a vehicle of its age, the car has never been in an accident and has no rust damage or issues. Please bear in mind that this is a car that is regularly driven to various shows and Lotus car meets, and may have the assorted very minor paint chips from bug/rock strikes. It has won many awards at these events, most recently at the annual Lotus Owners Gathering (LOG 30) in Gettysburg, Pa. in October 2010 it took First Place in its’ category. This event is the largest gathering of Lotus cars in the United States with over 200 cars and 400 owners participating.
Currently my car has approximately 25,561 documented miles, many performance minded improvements have been installed to make the car not only perform better but to make it more drivable and dependable. These improvements include, forged pistons, re-jetted carburetors, new tires, re-curved distributor, new clutch, new timing belt and many other improvements.
The Interior of the car is almost like new, I am a non smoker and the previous owner is also a non smoker. The leather is soft and supple with no holes or torn stitching. All the glass is clear and does not have any chips or cracks. The A/C blows cold, and the heater blows hot. All instruments work as they should. Currently there is a Kenwood AM/FM CD stereo installed but I have the original factory radio as well that will go with the car.
The Engine, contains upgrades mentioned above, and receives routine service as required. All the horsepower robbing pollution control items have been removed, the items that were taken off will go with the car to the new owner. Transmission shifts as it should and the car drives great. There are no known issues with this car.
The Exterior is a solid metallic Chrysler Grey, there are no cracks or other body damage outside what is normally associated with a car that is routinely driven. Please look at the pictures and if you want any other photos just contact me prior to the auction ending. All body panels line up as they should and are free from cracks.
Wheels & Tires; the car comes with all five of the factory wheels and tires. They have approximately 2000 miles on them and should last for years to come.
Extras, two sets of keys, owners’ manual and tool kit.
Questios or more pictures? gtlotus@aol.com
Asking $18,900
Thanks,
Gene
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1983 Investor's Edition, "Special Edition 43"
For Sale 1983 Lotus "Special Edition" or "Investors Edition" Esprit in North East Florida.
I recently purchased a Lotus Esprit FE and now need to sell my 1983 Investor Edition Esprit to make room in the garage.
I have been a Lotus enthusiast for close to 25 years, I first came into contact with this particular Esprit in 2000 when a friend purchased the car from the Spring Spectacular Car Show in Daytona, FL from a private owner. Over the next five years I helped him with the maintenance on this car, it was a well kept, well maintained example during this time. When my friend decided to sell the car, so I purchased it in 2005 and it has been garage kept and professionally maintained ever since. I have some records on the car and a copy of the original window sticker showing that the car was delivered to a Lotus dealership in Schaumburg, IL with a sticker price of $65,000.00
For those who do not know the history on the “Investor Edition” Esprit's, there was a time that Lotus was reintroducing the Esprit back to the U.S. market and this is how they gained some needed "investment" capital to bring the cars back.
These cars were referred to as the “Investor's Edition” because they were never for sale. The only way a person could acquire one was to make a significant investment in the Performance Associates Corporation (Lotus Importer to U.S.A). Those investors were then given shares of the company totaling 1.8 % and one “Investor Edition” Esprit.
Lotus intended to make a total of 50 of these hand-made cars, but only 47 of them were actually produced. My car is number 43 of these 47. Only a few were made using the original Investor's Edition color specifications (two tone Silver/Chrysler Gray). This happened because Lotus let each investor decide if they wanted to change the color scheme before their car was made. Many investors opted to change the color to something that they preferred. My car is the only solid Chrysler Gray investor edition that was made. The Connolly Leather interior is also silver-gray.
At the time, the regular Lotus Esprit Turbo was only available with a hard top. The Investor's Edition has a removable, translucent glass sun roof that can also pivot open.
Lotus blueprinted the engine so that the vehicle's performance curve is higher than the Lotus Esprit Turbo of that year.
The other MOST distinctive feature of the Investor's Edition is that it has the words "Special Edition" followed by a two digit number emblazoned on the driver's side door. That number is actually the count number of that particular car. So for example, the first one made reads "Special Edition 01" with each subsequent car displaying the next number.
My car is in excellent condition for a vehicle of its age, the car has never been in an accident and has no rust damage or issues. Please bear in mind that this is a car that is regularly driven to various shows and Lotus car meets, and may have the assorted very minor paint chips from bug/rock strikes. It has won many awards at these events, most recently at the annual Lotus Owners Gathering (LOG 30) in Gettysburg, Pa. in October 2010 it took First Place in its’ category. This event is the largest gathering of Lotus cars in the United States with over 200 cars and 400 owners participating.
Currently my car has approximately 25,561 documented miles, many performance minded improvements have been installed to make the car not only perform better but to make it more drivable and dependable. These improvements include, forged pistons, re-jetted carburetors, new tires, re-curved distributor, new clutch, new timing belt and many other improvements.
The Interior of the car is almost like new, I am a non smoker and the previous owner is also a non smoker. The leather is soft and supple with no holes or torn stitching. All the glass is clear and does not have any chips or cracks. The A/C blows cold, and the heater blows hot. All instruments work as they should. Currently there is a Kenwood AM/FM CD stereo installed but I have the original factory radio as well that will go with the car.
The Engine, contains upgrades mentioned above, and receives routine service as required. All the horsepower robbing pollution control items have been removed, the items that were taken off will go with the car to the new owner. Transmission shifts as it should and the car drives great. There are no known issues with this car.
The Exterior is a solid metallic Chrysler Grey, there are no cracks or other body damage outside what is normally associated with a car that is routinely driven. Please look at the pictures and if you want any other photos just contact me prior to the auction ending. All body panels line up as they should and are free from cracks.
Wheels & Tires; the car comes with all five of the factory wheels and tires. They have approximately 2000 miles on them and should last for years to come.
Extras, two sets of keys, owners’ manual and tool kit.
Questios or more pictures? gtlotus@aol.com
Asking $18,900
Thanks,
Gene