Lotus Factory tour 1984, mainly Esprit

Journey back in time to Hethel, in 1984. A factory tour. Mainly on the Esprit. See how they made these great cars. This is the full version, from two parts I linked and edited the start. If only I could go back in time.

[@TheSimonhammond]

1980's+synth music+wedge shape+pop up headlights. Yep it's all there.

[@spinjennies]

I actually own an 84 Esprit Turbo. This is truly fascinating. Thanks for posting!

[@jackthehatphoto]

Me too 🙂

[@mattgrant9479]

Partridge

[@matthewgodwin3050]

Grew up watching Dianna Rigg driving an Elan in the Avengers (though it was the black leather that did it for me really) and Roger Moore as James Bond in his Esprit. Lotus has had a special place in my heart ever since.

[@DrPittenstein]

My favourite line is about the wiring harnesses: 'Space age research has given them outstanding reliability.'

[@1blisslife]

Don't forget about the top quality carpet!!!

[@edgarbeat275]

Chuckle :)

[@MrGTO-ze7vb]

Lucas wiring.. a perfect start to a HOT FIRE

[@blakeriley6690]

@@1blisslife dont be talking smack about my carpets boy! Just kidding, the engine bay ones make me sad~~

[@joevarga5982]

I owned mine for 19 years, put on tens of thousands of miles and never had a single electrical issue.

[@Muckyfellrunner]

Enjoyed this very much. Went on a factory tour a few years before this video. Also met Mike Kimberley a couple of times at motor shows. I was a young kid and so in awe of it all.

[@frankpineda1832]

I owned 3 lotus 77 S1, esprit, Eklat and elite, I love them all, I still miss them to this day, they are the best cars ever

[@branon6565]

That Lotus Elite really is a beautiful car....

[@paul10018]

"The real test is when the new Lotus owner takes over." AKA the R&D department! I'd kill for a Giugiaro Esprit though - a timeless beauty. Still looks modern in a Gerry Anderson way ;)

[@scott6504]

Probably the most incredible car ever made.

[@MAR0DEUR]

// I used to own an ESPRIT _V8_ biturbo (1999 model in Nautilus Blue).. Always had problems with this car. Still, I loved this car. The _V8_ was also very fast. Unfortunately, I had to sell the ESPRIT because I had problems with my knees. I miss this lotus.. There will never be a car like this again.

What surprises more, is that 1984 looks so much like the seventies in style, I'm wondering if style requires at least half the next decade to emerge from what was till what is.

[@frankpineda1832]

I owned 3 lotus a few years back, esprit, elite and eklat, I miss them to this day, I love the video 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@colinsharland-brown6257]

Fantastic,brings back memories when I used to visit factory every couple of weeks back in 80's.I wonder if Phil and Mel still thier .Thanks factory for many rides around test track in 300 sport L Carlton, and many others.

[@doorserviceofmt]

L-O-T-U-S Lots of trouble, usually serious. I fell in love with the Esprit when i saw one featured on the cover of Road & Track magazine in Jan. 1981. I bought a 93 in June of 2017 and love it!

[@awacs87]

I have a V8 Esprit, and the meaning is "Lots Of Torque, Usually Sideways"

[@ibrennan]

Excellent music!

[@johnwh1039]

As is the passing Austin Allegro Estate passing in virtually the end sequence, one of its handbrake cables dragging on the road beneath it!

[@klistarf]

I gotta say that i found this quite intriguing, having done a lot of work on many different Lotus' over the past nearly 20 years. It's really interesting to see where the vast majority of these vehicles where 'born'. Ok, so Lotus cars have their own unique problems/foibles, but hey, isn't it fair to say that every single marque out there does...?! Yes, i know: Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious. Lol! And yes, they have given me much stress over the years (again, as have all the different manufacturers vehicles i have worked on, and continue to work on), but i actually do have a bit of a soft spot for these little 'shits'. Ha! There really is something quite endearing about 'em... \m/ (:o)

[@Paspicky]

Did I see the late Barry Day. He was a top man

[@DrPittenstein]

Best video on youtube! Nice one Eddie!

[@SachiGortchi]

LOVE the whole style, especially the nice building & entrance; would have been so smart to keep some bits & pieces alive; to display experience & tradition; regrettably all companies renew everything -- including logos & letters -- sad (and unsmart)

[@adam1othman]

i look at lotus as a porsche killer and i like that. if someone didn't have the money for a ferrari (cost isn't just the main issue theres also maintenance and insurance) then they usually look at porsches which are radioactive vw's. I would rather have the lotus in that case

[@afriend9428]

*English and James Bond car* ⭐️

[@James-nl6fu]

"Lots Of Trouble, Usually Serious" but a few looked 👌 OK 👍

[@Eddieboote]

Oh Please James, if I had a pound for every time someone said that…These cars are easy to maintain. If the service plan is followed then you have a very robust car, but a truely rewarding car to drive like no other... Have you ever driven a Lotus?

[@splint3048]

4:38 slowest tool change ever.

[@doorserviceofmt]

My thoughts exactly, all that for a drill bit!

[@klistarf]

This was nearly 35 years ago. Technology has progressed a long way since then! It was clearly quick enough for the company's needs at the time. Although i do appreciate where you are coming from, i was actually quite impressed, given it was 1984. Lol! \m/ (:o)

[@MrGTO-ze7vb]

The machinist set it up to be slow. It can go much faster.!!

[@_Ben4810]

Must have been better than the old cassette tape controlled Marwin machining centres Lotus used to run...& probably didn't crack the floors & sink either...!?!

[@cyborgbadger1015]

There's only one standard. perfection. cue beardy man with clipboard.

[@christopherstein2024]

Perfection? Check

[@TwoLotus2]

Nowadays hes called a "Hipster". Rides his skateboard into work.

[@francico73]

It is the car of my dreams I have been persuading 23. I do not know if I will get it one day, I hope very soon that it would be time that I am already 46 years old.

[@lotusman1974]

Yeah, well how do you think I got my name? Now owned 40 years, a Lotus Elite, second gen, 4 seater with American running gear all aluminum V8 (same weight, 2250 lbs ) but much more robust and powerful. Chapman was introduced by Dan Gurney to Ford, and fairly quickly the two together, a Ford V8 and a lotus race chassis were the fastest in the land for a good spell before C. Chapman died and it was a Ford V8, in the Lotus that really put Lotus on the map. The winning-est F1 car, the Lotus 72 with the Ford Cosworth power, the DFV 3.0 l, , And the engine (Ford DFV 3.0 ) with the most wins in F1 with 155. I am sure the Lotus factory doesn't look too much like this video with way more modern machinery, nearly 40 years later.

[@p.istaker8862]

Paint drys faster than the carousel on that machining centre.

[@_Ben4810]

Must have been a then recent acquisition because Colin Chapman & Tony Rudd were unconvinced & just too old school as engineers to take the plunge & invest in CNC centres when the first engine shop production machines were specified & they signed-off on the Marwin units.

[@DL-ls5sy]

"the real test began when the new Lotus's owner takes over"...it's true

[@hanniffydinn6019]

So retro

[@airindiana]

I forgot crinkly leather was an actual thing in the 1980s. Makes the car interior look like a nasty sofa from a never ending DFS sale. Ugh.

[@airindiana]

I feel this program should’ve been presented by Swiss Tony

[@SachiGortchi]

[Swiss who ? anyway, I like your comment ;]

[@DrPittenstein]

Or maybe: 'there's only one standard - perfection.'

[@R2D2trashcan]

Lol this is amazing.

[@Marie579]

God the factory looked so dark dingy and adhoc, but they produced them! Compare the building of yesteryear to assembly of today!

[@_Ben4810]

Colin Chapman was very set in his ways on certain things, & one of those was that the Hethel factory should not change from that of the original architect's design. Some internal factory walls were requested to be built by one of the production department managers & Chapman firmly said No, no alterations were to be made (even if it did help or speed-up line production) & bizarrely the reason he gave was if the Lotus Cars business did actually fail, then he could clear out Hethel at minimal cost & without any building alteration works & rent out the factory easily to a new tenant...!?! 😲😲😲

[@SAULQUIJAN0]

Saludos saludos desde México saludos muy buenos autos tengo 50 de esos

[@joebarone3272]

this video reminds me of my dads old porn movies Behind the green door

[@JetFire9]

I’ll take two

[@weallfollowmanutd]

space age research wasn't enough on the reliability front

[@lotusespritdecorps]

Nice vid. Sorry about the motor.

[@sg8888888]

LOTUS is POTUS and vice-versa.

[@hilarainisheain6719]

Hi Eddie, I work for a classic car restoration tv show called Car SOS and want to get it in touch about this video - do you have an email address I could reach you on, please? Thanks

[@jonremmers7723]

10:24: Yeah right :) !!

[@johnwh1039]

Awful ruched leather interior....soooooooo 80s!

[@adam1othman]

lotus didn't pioneer the mid engine car Lamborghini did the first one

[@wigs1098]

I'm not sure pioneer is the right word since both the Lambo and Lotus were introduced in 1966. The Lambo probably was released earlier in the year though.

[@adam1othman]

wigs1098 not gunna lie it would have been easy for lotus to build the eruopa as they only had that backbone in the chassis. the lamborghini was introduced in 66 at geneva. then ferruccio parked the prototype outside the monaco casino after that the car was readied (@ very fast pace) for production and was released to the public in 67

[@alfisti93]

Still years behind the Deutsch & Bonnet (Matra) Djet from '62. Or the DeTomaso Vallelunga in '63. Or the Ferrari 250LM... However, first was probably the Porsche 550 race car in the 50ies.

[@adam1othman]

alfisti93 well of you wanna get technical then it's the auto union silver arrows

[@alfisti93]

Adam Othman In the world of race cars, Mercedes had a rear mid-engined car even earlier, the so called 1923 Tropfenwagen ("teardrop"). AutoUnion just copied it from there... And Mercedes got its inspration fom the 1921 Rumpler Tropfenwagen. However the Rumpler wasn't a sports car by any means and sadly wasn't very successfull either (although it also was one of the first streamlined cars ever).

[@AaronStone-h7p]

Dude can't you dorks Not have the f_in music on instead of the car?

[@alk6225]

cheesy video