Lot details
Registration No: MDG228V
Chassis No: 78100491G
Mot Expiry: Feb 2007

Introduced to the 1972 Turin show as a Guigaro design concept the Lotus Esprit actually arrived on the motoring scene at the 1975 Earls Court Motor Show and of course most famously appeared in the 'Spy Who Loved Me' as James Bond's gadget and passion wagon.
The 'Commemorative Esprit' was built as a limited edition to celebrate Lotus' 1978 World Championship win and as No. 001 it was the motor show car of 1978 and is believed to have been presented to Mario Andretti. The car was originally sold by the Eveready Garage in Dublin and was imported by its present owner in 1989.
It was the subject of a six-year total mechanical strip down and rebuild from the ground up. The aim of the rebuild was to improve on the original specification only where appropriate and so for example the chassis is now powder coated. The engine was totally rebuilt to standard specification at 166bhp and the gearbox and differential were stripped, overhauled and rebuilt by George Wadsworth of Racing Fabrications. The gear linkage was rebuilt and fabricated with rose joints rather than rubber bushes, all suspension parts were replaced with new parts and every part was stove enamelled to aircraft specification where possible.
New suspension bushes, new standard springs with new adjustable Avo shock absorbers and spring platforms, adjustable of course, were also fitted. All wheel bearings were replaced, brake calipers overhauled and cadmium plated, all new seals fitted along with Kunifer brake lines and stainless steel braided hoses where appropriate. The radiator has been recored, the cooling fans and electric motors are all stove enamelled and the grilles to the front of car and bonnet have been precision manufactured from aircraft grade aluminium plate and are anodised black.
New stove enamelled fuel tanks were fitted and any fuel lines within the hot engine area are of 'Goodridge' stainless steel braided hose. There is a new Lumenition optronic ignition unit fitted as per original specification and a new stainless steel exhaust system with rear silencer carrier mounting plates now fabricated in stainless steel.
The bodywork was repainted by Panelcraft and all cosmetic gold trim was replaced and replated as original with the original side stripes hand traced and computer digitised before being cut from the highest available grade long life vinyl. The car was fully retrimmed and the final setting up of car was done on computerised corner weight scales.
Sensational history and condition. The recipe of desire.