By the way, beautiful car, Welcome to the Esprit!
Dave C
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On Dec 15, 2023, at 7:12?PM, dave78esprit via groups.io <armsdc@...> wrote:
?Not a dumb question at all but his text mentioned it was normally aspirated. ;-) That was the obvious clue. For us over here in the US we can tell it¡¯s not as SE which was the only model we got here because the sides skirts and airdam stand out as differen. But aparantly the real identifier is the rear engine cover and back glass. For 1990, The NA cars didn¡¯t have glass spanning between the buttresses and both the standard Esprit Turbo and the Esprit Turbo SE had glass across the back. I didnt think the NA or standard Esprit Turbo got a wing either but anything is possible or it could have been added by an owner along the line.
Unrelated to this car but note that the early turbocharged car with the G body was the Turbo Esprit and starting with the change to the S body, Esprit took top billing and it became the Esprit Turbo. So prior to 87 you had the Esprit (S1), Esprit S2, Esprit S2.2, Esprit S3 and then the Turbo Esprit. I don't know if the S1 had an S1 moniker or if that was just assumed after the S2 came out. After 87 you had the Esprit, Esprit Turbo, Esprit Turbo S, Esprit Turbo SE, Esprit Turbo S4 etc.
Dave C
On Dec 15, 2023, at 4:50?PM, Steven DuChene via groups.io <tevend@...> wrote:
?OK, dumb question time
How is anyone able to tell from looking at the photos John supplied that his car is not a turbo car?
--
Steven DuChene
On Friday, December 15, 2023 at 04:29:20 PM EST, Tim Engel <tsengel@...> wrote:
Well, not quite:
The S3 referred to the Giorgetto Giugiaro body style only (ie, G-body), not the Stevens bodied Esprit (S-body).
The S3 was a naturally aspirated 2.2 liter Esprit based upon the same "later" main G-body tub and chassis as the G-Turbo. However, it did not have the "Turbo" add-ons, like the front air dam, side skirts, rear duck tail spoiler, and louvered rear deck lid. And it's interior was more basic. It only lasted as long as the G-body style lasted... there was no Stevens bodied S3.
The "later" main G-body tub, as mentioned above, refers to the height of the body, floor to ceiling. The original 1980 UK/Euro G-Turbo was basically a dressed-up S2, S2.2 body with the Turbo add-ons. The later, 1983-on G-Turbo body was taller floor to ceiling, and the ride height was increased (more gap between tires and fender lip). Compare side view photos of an early 1980 UK G-Turbo and a later 1983-on 'world' G-Turbo. The difference in body height is obvious 'IF' you're looking for it.
There was no "S3 Turbo". The Esprit Turbo (G-Turbo) was a separate and distinct Esprit... not simply a turbocharged S3.
None of which applies to John's car. His is a later Stevens bodied (S-Body), naturally aspirated Esprit. Not an "S3" G0Turbo N/A car... ie, different body style.
From 1983-onward, the North American market only received the G-Turbo... there was no naturally aspirated version of the Esprit available. But for most of the rest of the world ('all' of it ??), the naturally aspirated versions of the Esprit continued in production well into the Stevens body style (S-Body) Esprit. In all cases, the N/A cars were more 'sports cars', while the Turbos were more 'GTs'... built to a higher trim level, and carrying more weight.
Regards,
Tim Engel
12/15/2023 2:33 PM CST antigua523 via groups.io <adsjr523@...> wrote:
You have a 1990 S3. It came in two versions, the 910s which was turbocharged and the 912 which was normally aspirated. Hope that helps.
Al Silvia
1977 S1
2/15/2023 11:49:28 AM EST, john.mrozik via groups.io <john.mrozik@...> wrote:
Hi All
I've been a Lotus man since my late teens which was quite some time ago now. In fact I had and still have a Elan +2 and during Covid have bought and restored an Elan S4, Elan Sprint and a TC Europa but as I've always loved and wanted an Esprit I ended up buying one at auction last week.It really is lovely and will only need some,hopefully minor work!
I wonder if someone can can tell me the exact model I've bought? Its a naturally aspirated 2174 cc 1990 Esprit - a couple of photos attached.
Thanks in advance
John
