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?
Like others, I was set to vote NSX, but ended up Lotus. I like the Esprit, but the S1 doesn’t do as much for me as the later cars, while the NSX is a dream car of mine. However, while the Lotus is crazy overpriced, there are way too many red flags on the NSX to warrant considering it. The unwillingness to reassemble the Lotus is a red flag, sure, but a person finding themselves so deep into a project that their skills can’t get them to the finish line isn’t as big of one as possible frame damage and avoiding light when taking photos because it might reveal too much.
I thought this was an easy choice and I was right, just the opposite way I thought before reading the article.
Unknown damage like the NSX has is an absolute No. The Lotus will probably be a nightmare to get together, but might be worth it in the end.
I was all set to go for the more reliable NSX but that one sounds like a basket case, while the Esprit looks immaculate, albeit incomplete.
The possible frame damage on the NSX may mean it’s a glorified parts car. Combine that with the lack of detailed info and lousy pictures, I decided to go with the Lotus needing assembly.
That Lotus looks like it would essentially be a new car once it’s put together and I imagine it will be fun to drive in it’s own way and have a higher novelty value even though it will be a lot slower than the NSX.
But can you actually drive an NSX with bad alignment and a possibly bent chassis fast? Maybe… but it probably won’t be fun.
I can’t believe I voted for the Esprit but it seems like the better choice between these two. An NSX is definitely one of my dream cars, but in the case of a crashed NSX I think I would wind up disappointed and try to get out of it just like the current owner. I don’t have the time, patience, or skills to put the Esprit back together nevermind the space, but since we are in the land of make believe I will give it a shot. I bet that twin cam sounds wicked!
I too came here ready to “obviously” click NSX. Then I found out it is either parts car or ready to be disassembled…. Nope.
I’d rather have a loved Esprit from someone who can’t bear to just “slap together” the parts, knowing that they will continue to fuss, than to buy a “slapped around” NSX where they didn’t even bother to turn on the garage lights or open the door for the photos.
I was thinking it was going to be the NSX all the way. I remember wanting one of these when I was younger. One of the docs I worked for had one in red and it looked awesome. The weight saving with the aluminum and the really cool rear spoiler. But I would never drop $50k on a question mark. How badly is the suspension or frame bent? Sometimes you can never really get it back to perfect. And what parts are missing? And yeah for that much money and the money spent getting it “right” , I want more photos and more info. Just have a bad feeling about this.
The Esprit was always kind of a cool car. My first memories of this car were, of course, 007 driving it in The Spy Who Loved Me (with a smaller role in For your Eyes Only before exploding). It seems like it’s halfway there and with the owner’s offer to assist with final resto, I would feel a lot more confident in buying it.
I came here to say the exact same things. $65k is a bit much for an unassembled one though.
As a teenager I worked at fast food fried chicken restaurant that was close enough that I rode my BMX bike to work. They opened a Lotus/Range Rover dealership across the road, and I would often see Espirits being test driven. One day, while I was sitting at the exit of the shopping center, ready to cross the main road, a Lotus pulled up next to me… it was the first time I had gotten so close, and I was struck by how low it was to the ground – I think my bike might have been taller. I definitely had to look down to see the driver. Also, it had a nice low exhaust note while at idle, and big wide rear rims/tires. It gave me goosebumps.
Esprit is probably the right answer but I doubt I’ll fit in it, I have driven a NSX so my fake internet money is going toward fixing the Honda.
NSX vs Lotus I gotta lean NSX. But this NSX vs this Lotus? Esprit all day.
As you know I’ve lusted after an Esprit since maybe 1981 when I was 11. But why on earth would I pay $65K for one in a series of baskets when I can buy a complete one for the same price?
I think you guys should purchase the Lotus and have DT reassemble it…
Aluminum + Fiberglass = Not enough rust for a DT project.
It’s also not quirky enough for Torch, although I bet he loves those taillights.
Wait, hear me out: give the NSX to SWG.
What is the current price of a running and driving Esprit?
Cars & Bids shows sales between $20k and $80k
What is this one worth after you dump another $25K into it?
Hard pass on both, considering what this kind of money gets performance-wise today with EVs…
Always have liked the Esprit. They have a certain Elan, and fit the company’s Ethos very well. In fact, they Excel at it. I’d feel like one of the Elite when I Sprint about town in it. In fact, I’d own Seven of them if I could, but my wife Elise won’t let me.
I knew you wouldn’t lotus down!
My question is this. Why is the Lotus seller with all kinds of resources and a fantastic shop giving up on the project when they say it is almost done? I’m skeptical by nature so my read is that they ran into problems that are not being disclosed – likely that there are unobtainable parts missing.
Both are massively overpriced so neither get my vote today.
Ditto this! Why not finish it (or pay your guys to finish it) and sell a finished product?
Same thought here. I would be tempted more if the seller offered 2 weeks in his shop using all his tools. The NSX makes sense that garage looks like mine and working in it is a nightmare. The Lotus is apart so perfect opportunity to replace all the wiring with modern stuff and I would be tempted to see what other engines would fit. Or maybe those people restomodding these would give you a discount for giving them a car partially refinished.
Fools and their money……
I’d rather have an NSX than an Esprit, but more that that I’d like a functional car.
Lotus, unfortunately.
That Lotus is a great candidate for a LS. So that’s my choice today.
Lotus all the way. If I am putting it together, I can make sure the wiring is good.
Too many unanswered questions on the NSX, and it’s just starting out vs the Esprit that just needs to be put back together and painted. I’m a sucker for a Lotus, and while I do think this one is overpriced even given all the work, it’s a better option than the poorly rebuilt NSX.
I’d take the Lotus but part of me wants to perversely stick the 2.2 Turbo II from Dodge in there.
I like your form of perversion.
Thank you.
Had the NSX in mind, after seeing the pics I’m going for the Lotus. It’s basically putting together a life size model kit, though I’d be tempted to throw just a seat on the chassis and hoon that around
I’ll take the Esprit over the wrecked Honda, but it is *wildly* overpriced. By the time you get that thing back together, you will be into it for what a nice, well-maintained late V8 Turbo Esprit goes for.
Yeah, it feels very “pay for my mods” priced.
I went NSX because it’s about half the price of what good examples are going for on BaT and C&B which feels like a reasonable hit for the branded title and condition.