It’s always good to hear the exact reasons why someone has made the choices they have when wrestling with the age old dilemma of originality against usability. Mark is proving that he has thought very carefully about every decision, no matter how minor and tried to do the right thing… for him… as he is the owner! It’s a shame all classic car owners don’t give the same consideration to their restoration projects. Well done Mark. Look forward to seeing the next video.
I'll state up front that as a general rule I don't like the huge diameter wheel choices that is currently in fashion although for older cars if I start thinking about wheels other than stock for styling, that change normally means in increase in wheel size by an inch or so. Having said all that, if I were to find myself in Mark's shoes with a beautiful example of the Esprit like this, I would have made the exact wheel/tire changes for precisely the same reasons outline here. Good on you, Mark.
Thanks gentlemen. That was really good context around the choices (Mark) has made with his wheels. The lack of choice of 14” tyres would have taken me down this route to 17” also. Especially when the difference in looks is pretty much just from the colour of the sills.. The better handling (and safety!) is a big consideration when you drive all year round in the lovely UK weather 😂
i have the same problem with the 17's on my E92 335i,you can get a few sets of same make,but its not a massive choice and they arent always easy to get.It was easier to keep to the run flats and why ive now only got Sport pilots on the back.To make it easier,id need to go up to 18's
I recently bought an Esprit and following this series closely. Didn't know that getting tyres was going to be such a challenge. Looking forward to next one. What might be nice is to make chapters for each question and answer.
I'm interested in buying an S2. I'm thinking about using 15x7 front; 16x8 rear. Good tire selection. Offset wheel sizes are fairly common on midengine cars.
The modern update is the only sensible thing to do otherwise the Esprit will remain a garage baby that rarely gets out... Also the updates can never be called radical.. It is more of a transition... I just would have chosen as my Esprit to bring up to date - a silver S3 turbo model with a red leather interior....
Very interesting set of videos. And no matter peoples different thought on the restomod concept, I find it at least very much in the spirit of Colin Chapman to continuously trying improve his original. Thanks! BTW I wonder where the bespoke tinted windscreen for the modified car was sourced. Can you share some info?
Sad to say, but tire selection has been dwindling for 14s, 15s, and even 16s. While 17s can look a bit too much on older cars, it gives the owner the freedom of much larger tire choices for their car.
It’s always good to hear the exact reasons why someone has made the choices they have when wrestling with the age old dilemma of originality against usability. Mark is proving that he has thought very carefully about every decision, no matter how minor and tried to do the right thing… for him… as he is the owner! It’s a shame all classic car owners don’t give the same consideration to their restoration projects. Well done Mark. Look forward to seeing the next video.
I'll state up front that as a general rule I don't like the huge diameter wheel choices that is currently in fashion although for older cars if I start thinking about wheels other than stock for styling, that change normally means in increase in wheel size by an inch or so. Having said all that, if I were to find myself in Mark's shoes with a beautiful example of the Esprit like this, I would have made the exact wheel/tire changes for precisely the same reasons outline here.
Good on you, Mark.
Thanks gentlemen. That was really good context around the choices (Mark) has made with his wheels. The lack of choice of 14” tyres would have taken me down this route to 17” also. Especially when the difference in looks is pretty much just from the colour of the sills.. The better handling (and safety!) is a big consideration when you drive all year round in the lovely UK weather 😂
i have the same problem with the 17's on my E92 335i,you can get a few sets of same make,but its not a massive choice and they arent always easy to get.It was easier to keep to the run flats and why ive now only got Sport pilots on the back.To make it easier,id need to go up to 18's
I recently bought an Esprit and following this series closely. Didn't know that getting tyres was going to be such a challenge. Looking forward to next one.
What might be nice is to make chapters for each question and answer.
I'm interested in buying an S2.
I'm thinking about using 15x7 front; 16x8 rear. Good tire selection. Offset wheel sizes are fairly common on midengine cars.
John if your interested in buying an S2 please do drop me an email on Calazam118@gmail.com
The modern update is the only sensible thing to do otherwise the Esprit will remain a garage baby that rarely gets out...
Also the updates can never be called radical.. It is more of a transition...
I just would have chosen as my Esprit to bring up to date - a silver S3 turbo model with a red leather interior....
Very interesting set of videos. And no matter peoples different thought on the restomod concept, I find it at least very much in the spirit of Colin Chapman to continuously trying improve his original. Thanks!
BTW I wonder where the bespoke tinted windscreen for the modified car was sourced. Can you share some info?
Sad to say, but tire selection has been dwindling for 14s, 15s, and even 16s.
While 17s can look a bit too much on older cars, it gives the owner the freedom of much larger tire choices for their car.
Resto mod stance looks odd. Wheels are too big,…sits too high. Like the mechanical mods and some cosmetic.