![](http://imagehost.vendio.com/preview/re/rennvendio/lotus_esprit_body_removal.jpg)
Cinder blocks helped lift the body off the chassis. Not pretty but they were the cheapest alternative.
![](http://imagehost.vendio.com/preview/re/rennvendio/renn_ortenburger_lotus_esprit.jpg)
Starting to disassemble the front suspension after having removed the body.
![](http://imagehost.vendio.com/preview/re/rennvendio/lotus_esprit_rolling_chassis.jpg)
A great shot of the rolling chassis. Things like the exhaust, shift linkage and all the
brake lines are all tidy and attached to the chassis.
![](http://imagehost.vendio.com/preview/re/rennvendio/lotus_esprit_front_suspension_detail.jpg)
The 30 year old suspension is about to come off and be restored back to new.
![](http://imagehost.vendio.com/preview/re/rennvendio/lotus_esprit_engine.jpg)
The engine was pulled using a standard engine hoist. It's an easy job once the body
has been removed.
![](http://imagehost.vendio.com/preview/re/rennvendio/lotus_esprit_engine_bay.jpg)
I had to clean the engine bay before sending the chassis off to get powder coated. Not
the most enjoyable job!
![](http://imagehost.vendio.com/preview/re/rennvendio/lotus_esprit_interior_restoration_2.jpg)
The interior is the only thing on the car that is not original. It all has to come out
anyway to make way for the original material sourced from England.
![](http://imagehost.vendio.com/preview/re/rennvendio/lotus_esprit_instrument_cluster.jpg)
One of my favorite features of the S1 Lotus Esprit is the green instrument cluster.
I removed it with care considering that a replacement is almost impossible to find.
![](http://imagehost.vendio.com/preview/re/rennvendio/lotus_esprit_headlight_pod.jpg)
God only knows why Lotus glassed plywood into the pod structure. It disentigrated
in my hands as I removed it. I may try to rebuild the pod with new fiberglass or just
get 2 new headlight pods from a later Esprit.
![](http://imagehost.vendio.com/preview/re/rennvendio/lotus_esprit_chassis_detail.jpg)
The front of the chassis reveals some surface rust but nothing too bad.
![](http://imagehost.vendio.com/preview/re/rennvendio/lotus_esprit_parts.jpg)
Suspension parts off the car and waiting to be powder coated.
Hello, I am a fellow 77 Esprit owner also doing a frame off restoration. You are doing a great job. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteIf you are interested in my project, let me know. jaerion@charter.net
Are you related to Dennis Ortenburger of Lotus Elite fame? I had an Elite for 18 years.