Having worked on mostly larger marques in the past (Honda, Nissan/Datsun, BMW, Subaru, VW), I’ve grown accustomed to finding parts relatively easily and when not in stock, they can be readily tracked down online. Same goes for aftermarket parts. The 280Z was fairly difficult to find aftermarket support for in the early oughts, but since car culture’s huge growth online and multiple boutique vendors opening their doors, it has become nearly as easy to find that shiny new exhaust manifold or suspension upright for your Datsun.

While buying the Esprit I thought I knew what I was getting into: low volume, supercar-esque, shed built English frippery and quirk. I knew some parts were going to be difficult to find, I knew others were near impossible and I’d have to manufacture them myself – this being part of the reason I wanted the car. The idea of building more parts for myself was attractive and I felt that I’d grown stagnant with tinkering.

I was mistaken. Parts I thought would be difficult to find turn out to be easy – clutch slave, steering rack, interior dome light, shifter rebuild bushes. Front brakes are from a late 80s vintage Toyota Celica, wiper motors from a Honda Civic, bits of the ABS system from Olds/Buick/Pontiac of the era, cam belt from a Nissan Maxima, fan motor from a Ford Fiesta, fuel filler cap – VW Scirocco.

Parts I thought would be easy have been a nightmare. Tires for one. You’d think these tires would be on hand pretty much everywhere considering the wheel diameters and widths are a fair bit smaller than the steamroller wheels we see today. Nope, try 215/50 ZR 15 and 245/50 ZR 16. Sounds reasonable. You can still find either size on their own, but a matching pair? No dice.

The spare you say? Nope, a modern day 175/70 R 14 is way too wide. After trying that and a 185/65 R 14 (too tall) I gave up.

-Somebody tried to fit their big rubber in my frunk.

Steering wheels are bountiful and easy to adapt. The aftermarket industry has been at it for years. Momo, Nardi, OMP, Grant, etc. all have their lists of adapter hubs and bolt on wheels. I had no problem finding one for the Datsun or the Midget. The Esprit’s original wheel is a GM unit from an early 90s parts bin, I’m guessing a Cavalier. Finding a hub to adapt to it… nearly impossible. Apparently the steering wheel splines on the Esprit are actually for an Isuzu Tracker or Amigo, and somehow they cobbled a GM wheel onto that.

Ugh.

Anyhow neither adapter works for the Esprit. GM adapter? Doesn’t clear the splines. Isuzu adapter #1? Doesn’t seat all the way. Isuzu adapter #2? Not Goldilocks, but something I’ll live with. I sliced .6″ off the end of the hub adapter using the lathe and increased the wiring hole diameter to allow for the fat airbag connector.

All in all, not too terrible. I’ll have to fabricate a sleeve to cover the gap, but it’s no big deal.

I’m definitely (not) looking forward to other random bits of tomfoolery with this car.

Nick Schreyer

founding contributor

Nick is an automotive enthusiast with decades of DIY experience, and a wannabe renaissance man.