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In all my years of crawling around in high-turnover self-service wrecking yards, not to mention old-timey slow-turnover wrecking yards, this is the first Lotus I’ve found. And it’s not just some boring Eclat— it’s a genuine mid-engined Elite! Granted, it’s been picked over pretty thoroughly…
Someone with a Sawzall got most of the fiberglass body, but you can see hints of Lotus-ness here and there.
Thanks to all the valueless Jensen-Healeys out there, the Lotus 907 engine isn’t difficult to find these days. However, the transaxle in this car might be worth pulling.
Veglia gauges with what I assume are Lucas Electrics components— such a reliable combination!
19 Comments on “Junkyard Find: 1978 Lotus Esprit...”
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The transaxle appears to be long gone…..
Someone , somewhere , is dying to get those suspension oarts .
-Nate
No odometer photo showing mileage? I see a 4271 for sure, and it might be a 6 in front of the 4, but it wouldn’t surprise me if it was a 0.
Lotus (Loti?) were junk during the malaise era?
Oh, how the mighty have fallen!
“And it’s not just some boring Eclat— it’s a genuine mid-engined Elite!”
I thought it was an Esprit? Wasn’t the Elite front-engined?
***********FINALLY***************** a good junkyard find.
rest of the posts this month total carbage
I enjoyed all of the junkyard finds.
That broken gauge, over enthusiastic part removal or frustrated owner?
Looks like Sir Moss has gotten to the dash.
I saw a car just like this driving around in Edmonton a week or two ago. The guy gave me the thumbs up, when he noticed I was interested in his car.
My office in Edmonton looks down on a parking garage where there’s a white one parked on the roof nearly every day during the summer.
That car showed up at the boneyard in this condition. As JTK pointed out the fungus growing on the interior vinyl bits only happens when it’s exposed to high humidity and the elements. From the thick looks I’d say it spent at least a couple of years in somebodies back yard. I’d guess it was a victim of code enforcement.Funny that the timing gears aren’t rusted. I guess that only happens to Japanese cars.
Well,it’s official. Nothing is from the British empire is sacred. I’ve seen Rolls Royces in a few yards in Florida.
Com’n guys. No James Bond jokes out there?
Com’n guys. No James Bond jokes out there?
This Lotus has more moss on it than Pussy Galore.
Uglier than Odd job.
Bond outfoxes and outlives British car.
My guess is the back lot of one of those independent import repair shops doing business out of a former gas station.
would not the owner killed it in a more delightful British way than sending it to the crusher, I would drive( pushed it) it into Boston Habor to make up for that Tea Party thing
Oh, no no no, sir.
It is always important to remember that these Americans, in spite of all their talk of inclusiveness, have no understanding of truly British cars. Look no further than their perverse love for the lowly MGB.
This car is a LOTUS. The nice chaps at the breakers yard have helped out by adding lightness. Now all that remains to add a legendary F1 pilot (alive or dead, it can be hard to tell with those chaps) to the carcass and then destroy what remains in a suitably fiery and dramatic (yet sad) way.
Where’s my cocktail?
For Sale-
Classic Lotus Esprit,
as seen on James Bond Movies
Restorable-$14,990 OBO.
I’ll get me mechanic, Ed, to work on the oily bits straight away.
I wonder if the chassis is salvageable and restorable. If it is, this car would be a perfect candidate for custom coachwork.