Vehicle Description
1977 LOTUS ESPRIT S1:
--Black with Brown and Oatmeal Marcasite (mouse fur) interior and Brown carpeting, Three owners-10,000 ORIGINAL miles from new! Original colors, Matching numbers, Restored to European specification. Number 423 of 718 Girgetto Giugiaro designed Esprit S1’s.
The Esprit's legendary style was created from a private meeting between Chapman and famous designer Giorgetto Giugiaro at Geneva in 1971. In November 1972, Giugiaro's efforts appeared on the Italdesign stand at Turin alongside his even more outrageous Maserati Boomerang. The Esprit name, French for "spirit" was chosen by committee at the time. The first of the breed were delivered in June of 1976.
This particular S1 Esprit was built in September of 1977 and designated for the US market. First purchased by Mr. Winters, this Esprit was sparingly used and sold to its next owner in 1981, a Mr. Miller, another collector and Lotus enthusiast who kept the Esprit for 32 years! During this ownership, this Esprit was loaned to Lotus CARS on several occasions for display purposes due not only to its iconic place in Lotus history, but also for being part of the 1980’s James Bond era.
In 2013, Mr. Miller, decided to sell the Esprit through Autosport Designs and to its most recent owner collector. At the time, all original and with only 9,000 miles, it was decided to perform a nut and bolt restoration to bring this S1 to its current exceptional condition. Only original parts from Lotus suppliers have been used with no stone left unturned. Although an original USA federal specification Esprit S1, it was decided to removed the unsightly federal specification bumper and install European front and rear bumpers to return its aesthetics to Mr. Giugiaros’s original design. Further up update include new aluminum fuel tanks, aluminum radiator, and fully adjustable high performance shock absorbers.
The frame was separated from the body and powder coated as were the major suspension components. The Engine and mechanicals were treated to complete rebuild by California Lotus specialist, Barry Spencer - Spencer Motorsports. This included a complete engine rebuild with new cylinders, polished crank, balanced crank and rods, new cams, cam sprockets, and valve guides, surfaced flywheel and new balanced clutch assembly. Complete suspension and brakes have been renewed throughout. No mechanical item was left untouched, with the exception of the spare, which still wares its original rubber (this wheel was not restored to preserve originality).
The superb interior in its rare Brown/Oatmeal Marcasite (mouse fur) is one of the finest and best preserved of its kind, rarely seen on S1’s and not easily replaced without great expenses. It is superb in every way! It has been fitted with a three spoke sport steering wheel as preferred by its previous owner, but do not worry, the original Lotus two spoke steering wheel is included with the car and easily re-installed should the next owner desire.
This Esprit S1 must be one of the best, lowest mileage and finest restored examples of its kind in the world today.
