1977
A Bond film and a white Lotus
Like many children growing up in the late 1970s, I became fascinated with the Lotus Esprit after watching the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me.
The white Esprit looked completely futuristic. It was low, sharp and unlike anything else on the road. Watching it transform into a submarine made a lasting impression on me, although I never imagined that Lotus Esprits would eventually become such an important part of my own life.
Many years later I photographed 122G, registration PPW 306R, one of the genuine Esprits used during the making of the film. The car was on display at the Cars of the Stars Museum in Keswick.
Seeing the actual film car that had inspired me as a child brought the story full circle.
One of the genuine Lotus Esprits used during the filming of The Spy Who Loved Me, photographed by Bibster at the Cars of the Stars Museum in Keswick.
Around 1981
The first Esprit I knew
My friend John's brother Geoff bought a bright orange Lotus Esprit S1.
It was chassis 216G, registration XOD 470S, and I thought it was the most fantastic car I had ever seen.
It looked every bit as dramatic in real life as the Esprit had looked on the cinema screen.
Years later I discovered that Geoff might consider selling it. By then it had spent many years parked in a garage and had become a non-runner.
Before long, I was bringing home my very first Lotus Esprit.
The day we collected my first Lotus Esprit. My friend John is sitting in the driver's seat.
Early 1990s
Learning the hard way
The car needed a great deal of work, so I pulled it apart. The body came off the chassis and the engine came out.
I repaired what I believed was necessary, fitted a new leather interior and put the original Wolfrace wheels back on. Eventually, I got the car running and returned it to the road.
It never travelled very far before something else went wrong. That was not really the car's fault. It was more a combination of limited mechanical knowledge and limited funds.
Nevertheless, I had great fun with it whenever it worked. Every problem taught me something new, and the experience gave me a much deeper understanding of the Esprit.
My first Esprit after the body-off rebuild, retrim and return of its Wolfrace wheels.
The Turbo years
A blue Esprit Turbo SE
I later moved on to a beautiful blue Lotus Esprit Turbo SE.
Its registration was H15 LTS and its VIN was SCC082910LHA65984.
It was quicker, more refined and a fantastic car to own. Unlike a classic that only came out for special occasions, the Turbo SE became part of normal family life.
Before compulsory child seats, I sometimes took our seven-year-old daughter Hollie and her five-year-old brother Jordan to school together in the passenger seat.
They loved it. My wife Alex was rather less enthusiastic, and eventually family practicality won.
Hollie and Jordan beside my blue Lotus Esprit Turbo SE.
Family memories
The Esprit was part of the family
The cars were never simply museum pieces to us. They were driven, worked on, enjoyed and became part of our family's memories.
This photograph shows Jordan in the driver's seat, with his friend Johnny beside him. They may have been too young to drive it, but they were already quite comfortable making themselves at home in an Esprit.
Looking back, it was certainly a different era.
My son Jordan in the driver's seat with his friend Johnny beside him.
Around 2005
A very special Esprit
Around 2005 I acquired chassis 244G.
The car was bright yellow when I bought it and needed a complete restoration, but its factory history made it particularly important.
While I owned it, I received confirmation from Lotus archivist Andy Graham that it was the only Esprit produced with a black gel-coat body.
Unfortunately, the supporting documentation went with the car when I sold it.
I never found the time to complete its restoration. Today it has been fully restored and is proudly displayed in the Haaning Collection Museum in Denmark. It is now finished in bright orange, but when it left the Lotus factory it was the first—and believed to be the only—Lotus Esprit S1 built in black gel coat, making it one of the most unusual cars in the register.
Alex and I plan to visit it there one day.
The unique black gel-coat Esprit as it looked while I owned it.
2005 onwards
The idea that became Lotus Project
Owning and researching these cars made me realise that every Esprit has its own story.
Owners change. Registrations change. Colours change. Cars move around the world. Photographs disappear into lofts and drawers. Paperwork is thrown away and memories are gradually lost.
I decided to try to preserve as much of that history as possible, one chassis at a time.
What began as a personal hobby gradually became Lotus Project.
Owners and enthusiasts from around the world began sending photographs, registration details, restoration records, documents and memories. Every contribution added another piece to the history of an individual car.
The project has never been a commercial venture. There are no subscriptions, paid memberships or commercial ambitions. It remains a personal, non-profit historical archive built because these cars and their stories deserve to be preserved.
Today
Lotus Project today
More than twenty years after the idea began, Lotus Project continues to grow as owners and enthusiasts share new information.
Can you help preserve another Esprit's history?
If you currently own an Esprit, previously owned one, worked for Lotus, or have photographs, paperwork or memories relating to one of the cars in the register, I would genuinely like to hear from you.
Even a registration number, old photograph, invoice, restoration picture or personal memory can help complete another part of the historical record.
Every Esprit has a story. This is mine. Now let's preserve yours.
Bibster
Founder, Lotus Project Historical Register
Dedicated to every Lotus Esprit owner, past and present, who has helped preserve the history of these remarkable cars.