We look at a lot of cheap, terrible cars on here, and once in a while I like to mix things up on Fridays and show you some non-terrible cars that are also not cheap. Today is not one of those days. Today’s cars are not cheap, but in their current state, they are absolutely terrible.
Yesterday we looked at two terrible convertibles: the wrong Mustang, and an orphaned Renault. To my absolute surprise and delight, the Renault seems to have eked out a narrow victory, despite being more expensive and decidedly more obscure. I love this site. Buncha car weirdos, all of you, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I, of course, prefer the Renault as well. I have nothing against Mustang convertibles, but if I was going to get an Essex-powered automatic one, I’d look for a newer SN95 and get fuel injection and a little more refinement. I’ve never actually seen an Alliance convertible in person before, I don’t think, but I have driven a few hardtop Alliances and Encores over the years, and I like them a lot. And if all the convertibles really were 1.7 liters, as some commenters said, then that’s even better.
The name of this feature, “Shitbox Showdown,” wasn’t my idea. I’m pretty sure it was Jason. I’m totally in favor of it; I like alliteration, and cuss words. But I do find it funny that every once in a while, I get a comment saying that the cars I’m featuring are not in fact shitboxes; they’re too nice for that term. Or that a car can’t be considered a shitbox if it’s above a certain price. Originally there was a price cutoff, but that fell by the wayside early on. The fact is, shitboxery knows no price limit. Dreadful cars sell for ridiculous prices all the time, and nice cars can fall into disrepair at the hands of careless owners. The nicest and most expensive Hyundai Excel in the world is still, by anyone’s definition, a shitbox. And as we have seen before, so is a Bentley that has been sitting in a field for a decade. Can a shitbox cost fifty grand or more? Of course. Let’s look at a couple.
1977 Lotus Esprit S1 – $65,000
Engine/drivetrain: 2.2-liter DOHC inline 4, five-speed manual, RWD
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Odometer reading: 36,000 miles
Operational status: Mostly restored, but needs reassembly
Show of hands: Who else fell in love with a car as a kid based not on the actual car, but a toy of it? I had a lot of Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars as a kid, but one of my favorites was the “Royal Flash” Lotus Esprit, with the giant Union Jack on it. I wore the paint off that thing playing with it, and I have been a fan of the Lotus Esprit ever since. I don’t have a Royal Flash in my current collection, but I do have a few other Esprit toys and model kits. This one is kind of like a model kit, only much bigger – and much more expensive.
The Esprit, like other Lotus models both before and after, is built on a central backbone chassis with a fiberglass body dropped on top. It’s mid-engined, with Lotus’s own twin-cam four mounted longitudinally ahead of the rear axle, driving the rear wheels through a Citroën-sourced five-speed transaxle. The original Esprit engine displaced 2.0 liters, but this one has a larger 2.2-liter version from a later Esprit. It has been fully rebuilt, and is ready to go – as soon as the rest of the car is.
All of the mechanical parts are ready to go, in fact, except for the brakes. Apparently, Honda brakes are a recommended upgrade for early Esprits, and the seller has started the conversion but has not finished it. You’ll have to source a few bits and pieces to complete the system. But the seller sounds like they’re willing to provide advice and support to help you get it all back together.
The body is ready to be reinstalled on the chassis, with new seals and weatherstripping. The seats have been redone and are ready to go back in as well. The carpet and headliner need to be installed, but it sounds like they’re included. Obviously, there is a ton of work yet to do, but considering the amount of work that has already been done, this actually sounds like a decent deal for the right person.
1991 Acura NSX – $50,000
Engine/drivetrain: 3.0-liter DOHC V6, five-speed manual, RWD
Location: Portland, OR
Odometer reading: 72,000 miles
Operational status: “Can be driven,” but…
The Acura NSX surprised everyone when it came out. Honda had made some fun cars, but this mid-engined Ferrari fighter was on a whole new level. It looks like that, and it goes that fast, and it’s as reliable as a Civic? Yes, please. I honestly hadn’t thought much about the NSX in a while when I saw this car for sale, and I was surprised to see one in such rough shape. I assumed they were all pampered prized possessions.
This NSX has a rebuilt title from an accident, and from the sounds of it, it wasn’t quite repaired right. The seller says the right front wheel “sits back a little” in its opening, indicating some bent suspension parts or an improperly-repaired unibody. The seller says it’s drivable, but do you really want to drive a high-powered, mid-engined, rare sports car with wonky alignment? Best get it checked out by someone who knows what they’re doing.
The interior is partially disassembled, and the seller says they have “most of the parts.” That’s not great to hear; some of the switchgear is probably shared with other Honda and Acura models, but I’m sure all the interior trim is unique, and probably not easy to come by. Where did the missing pieces go, I wonder?
The photos in this ad are terrible; the car is in a garage and we can’t get a decent look at it. If it is drivable, why not back it out of the garage and take some photos in the sunlight so we can see it? You’re asking fifty grand for a car, and this is the best view you can give us? I’ll never understand it.
These are out of reach for most of us, of course, but they are bargains compared to really nice examples. So let’s just imagine you could afford one, and you have a nice well-stocked garage to work on it. Which looks like a better project to you?
Ordinarily, I’d have gone for the NSX, but holy crap, what a mess. I guess I’ll try the Lotus.
When I opened this article, I thought I’d be Team NSX … but hoo boy, that is not pretty. We’ll take the Lotus and I can use the engine hoist to lift myself in and out of the car when it’s done.
Rather than take on that NSX nightmare, just light 50k on fire, at least you get some BTUs back.
It looks like the Lotus is actually closer to being driver that you can really appreciate. I love both of these cars, but the Lotus looks like most of its problems have already been addressed, where at the Honda is more of a Pandora’s box of potential problems.
Both are cars I’ve lusted after unhealthily upon learning of their existence. If I were to spend “who needs a retirement nest egg?” money on the object of my desired, might as well go truly exotic. Besides, the Lotus looks like it will be absolutely perfect when put back together.
“Can a shitbox cost fifty grand or more? Of course.”
This 1949 Talbot Lago T26 Grand Sport SWB par Saoutchik sold for 1.7 million Euros in 2015:
https://www.artcurial.com/item-images/FR/426/10514426_Vue.jpg?w=700&force_webp=true
If you think that’s rough, here’s the other side:
https://www.artcurial.com/item-images/FR/426/10514426_Vue%2006.jpg?w=700&force_webp=true
The NSX is worth maybe $20k. It looks like a ridiculously frustrating nightmare project that will take 7 years and $50k to finish properly
Even though I can’t fit into the Esprit, it’s better than that NSX.
You probably can’t fit in the NSX, either. I can’t at 6’3″.
I’m 6’4″ and I can sort of fit in this generation Esprit, if the roof is popped, but my left knee will be against the dash the entire time. The later generation 4 cylinders are better, but the best fit is the V8’s.
I instructed for a guy in an NSX once, wonderful car, but with the helmet on I was forced into a bit of a slouch the whole time. Funny enough I never tried one on while not wearing a helmet.
The NSX is just a mess. Who knows what kind of unresolved damage from the collision. Why does it look like the center console was replaced with some like custom thing? Why is the driver side door in this state when the accident was on the passenger side?
I really have no interest in a Lotus the comes in pieces, but no way would I spend more than $10-15k on the NSX in that condition.
I’m guessing but that NSX I’m thinking it is Honey I’m trying to sell it just no one is interested. However the Lotus which I like better id first have to see if I could fit in it. But really the whole I got this project into the red zone and it is an EZ finish trust me always gives me the wollys
I feel the need to save that NSX. The NA1 has long been on my list to acquire one day and I suspect I may have to go with a slightly scruffy fast n’ furious example to bring back to stock.
It’s all sketchy when it comes to cheap super cars. I bet it can be had for $30k. Frame machine time if you know someone probably 1/4 of the savings and who knows what else it needs.
I love those NSX’s (just saw one drive by yesterday, and it’s a beautiful car), but that whole scenario is just too shady to go with. The Esprit is basically a kit car sort of thing at this point. All (or at least almost all) of the parts are in the box, just put it together. Of course, it will be something of an ongoing project to keep it functioning well and on the road, which wouldn’t be the case for a good NSX. That NSX just isn’t a good one. Going with the Lotus.
I hear David will be free soon.
The right front wheel “sits back a little.” I’m done. Shiny bits Esprit for the win.
That NSX might be the most expensive parts car ever on SBSD
Both look like terrifying propositions, but I think the Lotus wins. I’m no expert on frame damage, but I’m guessing you need to make the Acura look like the lotus pic to get it sorted out. And no guarantee a sloppy rebuild of an Acura will be any more reliable than a restored de-Lucas’d Lotus
I would have gone with the NSX all things being equal, but this one seems pretty sketchy.
Oof, S1 Esprits just weren’t that great and that seems insanely overpriced, especially as a DIY. S2 had a lot of valuable improvements. OTOH, while I don’t fall to my knees clenching my fists over my head screaming up into a dark sky of falling rain at the mention of a rebuilt title, it does affect value, but worse, this NSX seems potentially pretty screwed up and the innovative aluminum chassis is not something I’d want to roll the dice on. I guess I’ll go with the Lotus, anyway.
Assemble the Lotus and drive into the sunset.
I love NSXs, but the ad is $50K shady grays. If you present such an expensive project as if it was a diesel Chevette, you are as reliable as a cocaine-addled toddler.
I’ll roll the dice on the NSX, it’s a dream car…and paint it that same blue as that other car in the pics of the Lotus
I believe I have a Royal Flash Esprit in my collection, but to me the Esprit S1 will always bring visions of James Bond’s converting into a submarine. I also loved driving the Esprit on the original Test Drive on Apple II as a kid. Fast forward to today and I’ve just finished tuning an Esprit V8 in Forza 7. I’m going to run it in my Sim racing league this season. I even got it looking just like the ill-fated white S2 from For Your Eyes Only.
If you are a fan of the NSX, and will be anywhere near Raleigh, NC on the last Saturday in May, do I have a treat for you. The NSX Club of America will be in town for their annual Mid-Atlantic gathering. TriangleRAD will be holding an event that day, we’re expecting 70+ NSX’s to be there.
When I was a kid I had the Corgi James Bond Esprit, complete with all of the sub parts. I’ve wanted one ever since.
I have that Corgi Esprit somewhere. Not sure about the little missiles it fired out the back though, those were tiny (and almost certainly a serious choking hazard if they were offered today).
I love the Lotus Esprit, but I can’t bring myself to spend that much money on something I can’t even roll onto the trailer. At least with the NSX I know I’m the one taking it apart, so I’ll hopefully remember how to put it back together, plus with this already being a writeoff I could build it as a track toy and not feel bad.
So today’s build is:
I’d talk the owner down to 40K, and tow the NSX home. Tear into the front end to figure out what I’m up against. Worst case I get my local drifter/fab genius to build a new frame out of tube steel and gut the interior for a cage and fire suppression system, selling off all the OEM bits to cover as much of the work as I can. Then I’d rent a paddock space at my local race track and spend my free time figuring out how to not kill myself at speed in it. It’s already got RFP 11s on it!
I guess this plan ends with a new iffy ad with you trying to sell it for 60k never having gotten to drive it being talked down to 45k. Just guessing