Interchangeable/shared parts (interior) with Esprits?

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

Hi everyone

Did Lotus use bespoke interiors for the Excel or parts bin or shared elements with Esprits?

There seems to be alot more, naturally, spare bits for esprit interiors than excels .....and I'm going to need some things.

Interested to hear others experience/knowledge on this.

[richardw]

Pretty sure that, apart from the Giugiaro Personal steering wheel, various instrumentation and switchgear, they are different.

Cheers, Richard

[Pete Boole]

Plus it will be expensive by the time you've added the Esprit tax @ 300%!!

Pete

[AndyC]

There were odd bits that were on both, such as ashtrays and IIRC air vents, but the cars were developed under different ownership periods (read that as had access to different parts bins).

[bash]

On the salvagehunter classic cars program fulchers did a full interior on an early esprit, I went into full yorkshireman How Much mode at 18 grand for the interior.
Bash

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

oooof! £18k? What was it? Mink or something! I was hoping that prices would reflect supply/availability.....wrong again!

No problem - back to the drawing board.

[bash]

Dont get me wrong, they did a brilliant job that was probably better made than original, and used original materials and time equals money, but, not for mere mortals like me. If I had the money I would want them to do mine but you would get your money back on a s1 esprit, you wouldnt on an excel.

Bash
Ps, you could buy a sewing machine like richard.

[DavidOliver]

There is a Youtube feature at the moment of refurbishing Esprits under CR....Classics you may find interesting.
Personally I was not at all impressed by what the owner has done mechanically and he seems to have the cash to be convinced by others to do some wonderfull mods.
Forum members may like to comment on this feature series.
If I was to refurb the interior of an Excel (again) I would stay with original materials and renovation kits, and a local guy if you want someone else to do it.
There is a brief mention of cost of 15.000 pounds for this pleasure.

Dave the cog.

[rbgosling]

Dont get me wrong, they did a brilliant job that was probably better made than original, and used original materials and time equals money, but, not for mere mortals like me. If I had the money I would want them to do mine but you would get your money back on a s1 esprit, you wouldnt on an excel.

Bash
Ps, you could buy a sewing machine like richard.

If my wife ever finishes my seats you could even buy my sewing machine (although Tony/Metblue has first refusal)! Cannot get the original mottled grey fabric on my seats (or anything even close, at least wherever I looked), so I had to opt for a totally different fabric that hopefully will still go well with the bits I don't change. Martrim is a lot cheaper than Woolies for fabrics!