Restomod Esprit

[mik]

The two images aren't giving much away.....

Only £430k though (plus the cost of a donor car). Bargain.

https://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-bri ... t-s1/50369

[RobYob]

At least they didn't commit the unforgivable sin of deleting the pop-up lights like that Diablo restomod.

[Delphi]

At least they didn't commit the unforgivable sin of deleting the pop-up lights like that Diablo restomod.

Or the Nardone 928, which has actually grown on me and is what I'd choose for that sort of money over the Esprit one

[Rich B]

Im not sure i’d want the whole hog, but an Essex Turbo with a load of modern updates from someone like this would be pretty awesome.

[ZedLeg]

Something like the engine in Dan’s Elise would be good in a resto mod esprit

[mik]

Something like an LS7 would be good in a resto mod esprit.

(Weighs less than the V8 Lotus used).

[integrale_evo]

I like the idea of resto mods, but expect they’ll do the usual and fit wheels which look too big and fit weird looking led lights which don’t suit the car at all.

Modern running gear, brakes, engine management, electronics, ac, improved fit and finish and an interior which looks less like it’s constructed from saggy cereal boxes in a car which looks largely as it came off the production line is what I’d be after.

[IanF]

I like the idea of resto mods, but expect they’ll do the usual and fit wheels which look too big and fit weird looking led lights which don’t suit the car at all.

Modern running gear, brakes, engine management, electronics, ac, improved fit and finish and an interior which looks less like it’s constructed from saggy cereal boxes in a car which looks largely as it came off the production line is what I’d be after.

The new Frontline MGA has LEDs that look like a good attempt to not look too modern

https://www.frontline-cars.co.uk/mga-edition

£175k though

[Ascender]

The side profile of an Esprit is still very much a beautiful thing.

[mik]

Some more insights / details from the Intercooler.

400bhp
Under 1200kg
Circa £500k (inc donor car)
Plan for run of 50 cars

[RobYob]

Some more insights / details from the Intercooler.

400bhp
Under 1200kg
Circa £500k (inc donor car)
Plan for run of 50 cars

Idea of a better built Esprit is great. BUT.
For half a million English pounds those specs are completely underwhelming.
The V8 is so unloved (especially at Hethel) that a much lighter I4 turbo still with 400hp but <1000kg would have more appeal to me. Albeit I'm a billionty dollars away from the target market.

[Ascender]

With a lot of these restomod cars, you'd have to really, really love the original to spend that sort of money on them given the spec and what else you could buy for the cash.

[integrale_evo]

I do wonder how many of them sell anywhere close to their projected production figures.

I mean, you see plenty of singers, but the rest?

I can’t remember ever seeing a Redux M3 other then the one used in all the magazines / vids

[Jobbo]

I do wonder how many of them sell anywhere close to their projected production figures.

I mean, you see plenty of singers, but the rest?

I can’t remember ever seeing a Redux M3 other then the one used in all the magazines / vids

Plenty of Singers? Do you live next to their workshop? I don't think I've seen a single one on the road.

The Redux E30 M3 I think was intended to be 30 cars but the one which was in the magazines has been up for auction a couple of times and doesn't sell easily:
https://www.iconicauctioneers.com/1987- ... leigh-0224
https://rmsothebys.com/auctions/mi25/lo ... -by-redux/
- still made good money in the US in 2025. But were any others built? That says it was the second. But they were done 5-6 years ago; you'd think there would be documented sales of another car by now.

[integrale_evo]

I go to quite a few car events, Singers are not an unusual sight, however I’m not sure I’ve seen any of the other short production run resto mods.

[speedingfine]

This is an abomination. Wheels and front air dam utterly ruin the lines of the car. Those Jonny5 lights can piss off as well. Vomit emoji etc etc

[Rich B]

It looks like it’s sitting about 2 inches too high on wheels that are somehow too big, but don’t fill the arches, sit too far in from the top of the arch but too far out from the bottom of the arch. bizarre!

I don’t think modern wheels can even work in these 70/80s arches tbh.

[mik]

So you need a Peter Stevens design V8, and and up with a car that (to me) doesn’t look as arresting as the donor car

[dan]

I wanted to like it but I think it looks hideous

[Rich B]

to give it some praise, the interior is a massive improvement, but then the Esprit did have a VERY home made feel to its interior.