Lotus Esprit Resurrection Detail

[MachNU]

I always love getting details like this. The owner of this car has owned is the second owner of the car and owned it for quite awhile. He has been to a few of the Ferrari gatherings we have at our shop and finally decided to bite the bullet and get the car detailed. He told me that it has never been done before. The paint was a little worse for ware, it has had three different areas painted in its life and had some age marks on it. Customer wanted to go all out with exterior and interior, so after looking at the car, it was decided that my Exterior Level 2 would be the safest, most aggressive package to do on the car. It would bring a ton of life back to the car, but not go to far into the old paint. Interior also need all the panels cleaned and treated, leather seats and center console cover piece needed to be cleaned and conditioned and the carpet/floormatts needed some steam cleaning. Car took about 35 hours to do, but at the end, it was an amazing turn around and the customer was beyond happy with the car.

Here it was dropped off to me, prior to washing or claying the paint.

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/1_zpsebc3b5a5.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/1_zpsebc3b5a5.jpg.html)

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/2_zpsc307ffea.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/2_zpsc307ffea.jpg.html)

A few spots where the clear had given up.

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/3_zpsafd57383.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/3_zpsafd57383.jpg.html)

Roof and truck lid were oxidized.

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/4_zpsc1f5c22b.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/4_zpsc1f5c22b.jpg.html)

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/5_zpsa27b5345.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/5_zpsa27b5345.jpg.html)

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/6_zpsb1849da5.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/6_zpsb1849da5.jpg.html)

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/7_zpse7ed9396.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/7_zpse7ed9396.jpg.html)

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/8_zps754ed0be.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/8_zps754ed0be.jpg.html)

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/9_zps68b8da43.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/9_zps68b8da43.jpg.html)

After getting it cleaned up and clayed brought it inside for some before shots.

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/10_zps2600843f.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/10_zps2600843f.jpg.html)

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/11_zpsd3d71c98.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/11_zpsd3d71c98.jpg.html)

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/12_zpsc55bed60.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/12_zpsc55bed60.jpg.html)

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/13_zps1a3022b0.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/13_zps1a3022b0.jpg.html)

Had a lot of areas to tape on the car. You will notice tape on areas of the panels, that was where some major age marks were that I did not want to worsen.

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/14_zpsaa3735e0.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/14_zpsaa3735e0.jpg.html)

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/15_zps7f88c633.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/15_zps7f88c633.jpg.html)

Shot of the roof tested. Left side has been cut and polished, right side untouched. Some areas still had a lot of deep random scratches, but did not get them out. Purpose was to bring the overall appearance back to life.

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/16_zps0807089f.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/16_zps0807089f.jpg.html)

Deck lid test area. Left side corrected and polished, right side untouched.

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/17_zps64745494.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/17_zps64745494.jpg.html)

Rood completely done.

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/18_zps6ec5dce6.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/18_zps6ec5dce6.jpg.html)

Deck lid completely done.

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/19_zps08c305f7.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/19_zps08c305f7.jpg.html)

Hood tested. Left side untouched, right side corrected and polished.

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/20_zpseac48450.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/20_zpseac48450.jpg.html)

Seats had never been done and really needed a good soaking. So over the course of a day went two rounds with Leatherique and a heat gun to help the leather pores open. Seats are currently soaking in these pictures.

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/21_zpseed1a3cf.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/21_zpseed1a3cf.jpg.html)

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/22_zps5385517f.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/22_zps5385517f.jpg.html)

While the seats were being treated, steam cleaned the whole interior. Here is a shot of the difference it made on the floormatts.

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/23_zps7f61c44f.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/23_zps7f61c44f.jpg.html)

After 4 days the vehicle was finally done. I had to stand back and just admire...this thing looked completely different than when I started.

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/24_zps11c06d95.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/24_zps11c06d95.jpg.html)

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/25_zpsde8192c2.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/25_zpsde8192c2.jpg.html)

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/26_zps9eb33989.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/26_zps9eb33989.jpg.html)

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/27_zpsc587e677.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/27_zpsc587e677.jpg.html)

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/28_zps709eb0be.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/28_zps709eb0be.jpg.html)

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/29_zps64e06cef.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/29_zps64e06cef.jpg.html)

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/30_zps7c8e134d.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/30_zps7c8e134d.jpg.html)

[MachNU]

Interior looked 100x better than before.

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/31_zps2c904e2b.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/31_zps2c904e2b.jpg.html)

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/32_zps960eb0f5.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/32_zps960eb0f5.jpg.html)

Here is the color of the water after cleaning the seats the second time. The water started clear. Ended in that color. Seats had a lot of grime in them.

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/33_zps6ebf8864.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/33_zps6ebf8864.jpg.html)

Water from the carpets. Its hard to tell...but the water is actually black.

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/34_zpsb7d8784e.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/34_zpsb7d8784e.jpg.html)

More afters before going outside into the sun.

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/35_zps76d86727.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/35_zps76d86727.jpg.html)

Now into the sun.

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/36_zps74478428.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/36_zps74478428.jpg.html)

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/37_zps0704fef2.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/37_zps0704fef2.jpg.html)

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/38_zps5937678d.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/38_zps5937678d.jpg.html)

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/39_zps99fcc6b1.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/39_zps99fcc6b1.jpg.html)

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/40_zps31cba354.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/40_zps31cba354.jpg.html)

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/41_zpsea28a1a4.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/41_zpsea28a1a4.jpg.html)

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/42_zps559ed361.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/42_zps559ed361.jpg.html)

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/43_zps34d2e3b6.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/43_zps34d2e3b6.jpg.html)

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/44_zps4c2edeaa.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/44_zps4c2edeaa.jpg.html)

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/45_zps33ecadaa.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/45_zps33ecadaa.jpg.html)

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/47_zps8c07d2af.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/47_zps8c07d2af.jpg.html)

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/mirrordetailing/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/46_zpseb679292.jpg (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/mirrordetailing/media/More%20Pictures/Lotus%20Esprit/46_zpseb679292.jpg.html)

[Echonova]

Awesome work as always!!! Never ceases to amaze me what you can do.

[Scotsman]

Awesome work as always!!! Never ceases to amaze me what you can do.took the words right out of my mouth

[silversol]

Damn fine work!

[Sammich]

cotdamn!!

[khal.lawson]

This is great.

[Genji-Sama]

It's almost like you did magic on that interior :goodjob:

[Sinfix_15]

You are a master of your craft. It's always enjoyable to see these before and after threads. They always motivate me to go wash my car.


That's a pretty sweet lotus too.

[C230K]

I hope bird shit slides right off this beauty

[D3UC3S]

Impeccable work as always. Shit blows my mind how nice you make a car look!

[YoshiFD3S]

I wonder if you could somehow rescue my FD once I get it out of the shop.

It has a bunch of chips in the paint, but still, I'd really like to get it detailed so that it's at least presentable while I save up to do my full-on widebody conversion.

Price?

[MachNU]

Awesome work as always!!! Never ceases to amaze me what you can do.

Thanks Echo.


took the words right out of my mouth

Thanks my Irish buddy.


Damn fine work!

Thanks.


cotdamn!!

Yeah pretty much. lol


This is great.

Thanks.


It's almost like you did magic on that interior :goodjob:

Yeah...interior was a pretty big chance. The owner was really floored with the interior.


You are a master of your craft. It's always enjoyable to see these before and after threads. They always motivate me to go wash my car.


That's a pretty sweet lotus too.

Been doing this for quiet awhile. lol.


I hope bird shit slides right off this beauty

Should lol.


Impeccable work as always. Shit blows my mind how nice you make a car look!

Thanks. I do love these heavy changes. Been awhile since I have got to do a good restoration detail. A lot of single steps or new car preps.


I wonder if you could somehow rescue my FD once I get it out of the shop.

It has a bunch of chips in the paint, but still, I'd really like to get it detailed so that it's at least presentable while I save up to do my full-on widebody conversion.

Price?

I have restored the condition on a few FD's. Cant make chips look better, but I can increase the footage of the perception of your paint. For an FD, if you go with the same package as this car, it would be around $600 to do. If its as bad as this car it will take me around 25-30 hours to do the car. But in the long run its worth it till you get a full blown paint job.

[green91]

I've always had a soft spot for the Espirit -- and you did an excellent job on this one. Looks like a very nice shop, too!