Six Collectable & Rare Lotus Esprit Models Went To Auction
Six rare and interesting Lotus Esprit went to online auction. Bonhams the Market is the online arm of the renowned auctioneers which is the UKs first online classic car auction site.
They managed to secure a collection of six desirable and rare limited edition Lotus Esprit models. The auctions started on the 23rd of August and ran for several days, unlike a traditional in the room sale where things can be over in a few minutes.
The star lot is the 1981 Lotus Turbo Esprit Essex, and there is also a JPS S2 from 1978. Later special editions are available too right up to the V8 350.
Tristan Judge, director, The Market, said: “To have secured just one of these limited edition Lotus Esprits for sale would have been fantastic but to be able to offer all six from the same private collection is unbelievable.
“It is a great opportunity for aficionados of this iconic British marque to own the Lotus of their dreams.”
One of the Esprit on offer is a Championship Winners Limited Edition 1995 Esprit S4 GT, a car that pays homage to the Lotus single seaters and is finished in the typical green and yellow Lotus colours.
Tristan added: “This unique collection embodies the spirit of Lotus. Interest will be high and, who knows, such is the adoration could remain as a collection if all six are bought by a single enthusiast!”
1978 Lotus Esprit S2 JPS Edition
1978 was the year that Lotus won the Formula 1 World Championship for constructors and driver with driver Mario Andretti.
To mark this fantastic achievement, the small manufacturer from Hethel in Norfolk produced a limited run of Esprit S2 in the JPS colour scheme to match the championship winning car. Based on the S2 with the type 907 engine with 1973 cc and twin side draught carburettors. Not adorned with any turbochargers, wings or anything that could dilute the original design.
The car for sale is number 21 of 100 made and has only covered 13,600 miles in 42 years and remains remarkably original. Looking like it is still new the only repair that can be found is that the vendor had the headlight covers repainted.
The gold Speedline alloys were another standout feature of the special edition and these look like new also. But, due to the car’s age the gold windscreen surrounds, and roof rails have received enough polishing to start to lose some of their colour. But the good news is that there are some incredibly rare new gold trim parts that the next owner could fit if they wanted. The cabin too is in showroom condition with the commemorative Colin Chapman plate on the dash and the Mario Andretti signed Momo steering wheel. There’s even a couple of spare JPS gear knobs too.
Very early in the car’s life it suffered an engine fire, but the car was properly repaired and there is no evidence of this ever happening.
Having been maintained regardless of cost the underside is very good and the car is ready to use if anyone wanted to.
All the JPS engine covers, and boot bags are present with all original books and workshop manuals and a large history file going back to the original owner. Must be the best JPS Esprit around.
Probably the best surviving example of the S2 JPS Esprit, especially with only 13,000 miles. the car was offered with an auction estimate of £60,000 – £90,000 but sold with a final hammer price of £57,000.
1981 Lotus Esprit Turbo Essex
The first Esprit to wear any Turbo badging was the Essex, named after the official Team Lotus sponsors for the 1979 to 1981 Formula 1 seasons. The Essex Overseas Petroleum Corporation provided the money for the team’s racing but also the inspiration for this special edition.
The car was identical to the rest of the Lotus Turbo Esprit production except for the blue, red and silver colour scheme.
The vendor spent some £40,000 on restoration over a period of 18 months having bought it from the original owner’s family who could bear to part with it aver the owner passed away, so it spent many years parked.
The original Compomotive rims were disassembled, and refinished, new wheel centres are being manufactured. The tyres are Continental not the original Goodyear, but there are stickers to replicate the white lettering should anyone want to recreate the factory spec appearance.
Beneath the engine cover the cam cover and inlet still wear the polished Turbo Essex lettering and the boot bag is still present situated behind it. New fine mech and heat reflection foil has been made and copies of the fittings for the cover were made from the one original that was left.
The interior is finished in a deep blood red leather which has been professionally re-Connollised. New red over mats are fitted to protect the carpet and the original stereo cassette is present fitted into the roof like all Turbo Esprit before the Series 3 arrived with the removable glass top.
All the suspension was restored with new springs, dampers and a set of poly bushes fitted and ball joints and coil over units. The brakes were rebuilt, new braided hoses have been fitted and the steering rack was rebuilt.
A huge picture file detailing the restoration come with the car with a large pile of receipts and magazine articles. There’s even the matching Auto Art 1:18 model Essex Turbo which were made in the same numbers, the model number 17 matching that of the car.
Being one of just 45 made makes this rare, the DVLA say there are a further 7 still registered so it’s a rare opportunity to see one let alone buy one. And this is probably the best one in existence.
The estimate of £105,000 – £150,000 probably reflects the condition and the amount of money spent. However, the car didn’t sell with the final bid reaching £65,000.
1994 Lotus Esprit Sport 300
The Sport 300 was named so due to the remapped ECU for the four cylinder turbo to just over 300 bhp. The most powerful of the Esprit versions to date and they only made 64 of them for the worldwide market.
The car was involved in an accident in March 2001 and fully rebuilt by Lotus at the factory. As the accident was not recorded, the insurance company wasn’t involved, it doesn’t appear on any register. The owner was very happy with the results from the repairs they kept the car for many more years. Several photographs showing the repair are with the car and all the supporting documents too. Though if it wasn’t mentioned you may never know.
The car is a 1994 model, but with the rebuild in 2001 the car was given a new chassis so parts of it are younger than it appears.
There are only 50,000 miles showing it is clear that although the car has been used, it has been cared for. The paint is very good with only the smallest of blemishes. The three piece Oz Racing wheels have been dismantled and rebuilt and look like new. There are two original specification rear tyres, which are specifically sized for the 300 as well as a few more other parts.
The interior contrasts the exterior beingfinished in vibrant blue and black Alcantara stitched seats. The stitching extends to the roof too with its square pattern.
As the car has been used there is a bit of surface corrosion on some of the suspension components which would be better if treated and protected but it’s unlikely to be used by the next owner as a winter commuter.
The history file is comprehensive with many photos and paperwork from the rebuild and all handbooks and service books and receipts.
The Sport 300 is a great looking Esprit, with the bright yellow paint, wide wheels and large rear wing. The performance is excellent to. 0 – 60 mph taking 4.7 seconds, a top speed of 160 mph. And this was considered to be the best handling Esprit of all too. I haven’t seen one for years.
The original auction estimate of £75,000 – £120,000 with the final bid of £60,000 not being enough.
1995 Lotus Esprit S4S
The S4S was a brilliant end to the four cylinder turbo cars. With 300 bhp from the 2.2 litre 16v engine and a top speed of 170 mph and 0 – 60 of 4.6 seconds.
The owner of this car decided that they wanted the best Esprit S4S in the world so subjected the car to a full rebuild which it didn’t really need. The car was fully dismantled and put back together replacing every fastener with stainless steel items.
Absolute Lotus magazine asked the question, is this the best S4S in the world? A copy of this is in the file, but the result is yes, it probably is. The cost would have been substantial, so the next owner is going to get something of a bargain.
The Oz rims have been stripped and rebuilt to a better than new standard with more stainless steel nuts and bolts.
There is some wear in the interion, a mark on the driver’s seat and around the handbrake gaiter, but Absolute Lotus declared it the best S4S they have ever seen. Later Esprits like this one are much more luxurious than earlier cars, cream leather with walnut trim looking really nice inside this car making it a much more inviting place.
The suspension has been freshly painted and has a full set of poly bushes, a full stainless steel sports exhaust, the original is still present and comes with the car.
The comprehensive history file contains bills for staggering amounts which means the next owner will benefits from all of the attention, and money, that the vendor has sunk into the car.
With only 367 of the S4S produced there aren’t many to choose from and this one is the best, so the sale would probably not be repeated. However, the car didn’t make the estimate of £50,000 – £60,000 with a final bid of £43,000.
1995 Lotus Esprit S4 GT Commemorative Edition
For 1995 Lotus produced a version of the S4 in a commemorative edition to celebrate the Thorkild Thyrring’s class win in the BRDC GT championship with a run of only 11 of the S4 GT.
The green bodywork and yellow wheels are a link back to the single seaters, the 18 and 22 from the Jim Clark era. The colour scheme is traditional Lotus and is important to the company’s heritage though it looks quite restrained compared to some of the other special editions. Though the bright red steering wheel stounds out with a small commemorative plaque fitted up in the roof.
Inside the seats are finished in black leather and Alcantara which is in really nice condition, which matches the exterior with only a few marks near the door handles.
There is a modern Alpine stereo unit fitted with USB and Bluetooth, but the original comes with the car should anyone wish to replace it and get the original look to the interior. The car also has a gearshift improvement kit fitted with is a worthwhile upgrade.
Underneath there are signs of use with some small amounts of surface corrosion on the suspension parts, but everything is in generally excellent condition and needs nothing to be used straight away.
With only 11 made seeing one is a rare event, let alone seeing one for sale. And with only 37,000 miles from new it’s likely to be one of the better ones in existence.
The lower auction estimate of £35,000 was close (the upper was £50,000) as the car sold for just under for £34,000.
1999 Lotus Epsrit Sport 350 V8
The Sport 350 V8 is the highest performance Esprit Lotus ever produced. 0 – 60 mph took 4.4 seconds and the top speed was 175 mph. This done with a V8 soundtrack that was always the intention for the Esprit.
For 1999 the special edition Sport 350 was launched, finished in Lotus Aluminium Metallic and fitted with a large carbon fibre rear wing, AP racing brakes and further chassis and suspension modifications. Only 48 of them were produced, the one here is number 16.
Inside there is unmarked black leather and blue Alcantara which is plusher than earlier cars and there is a Kenwood stereo fitted, not that many people would have been listening to it I’m sure.
Even though the car has only covered 31,000 miles the major suspension components, wishbones, anti-roll bars and tie bars have been painted chassis black though some of the unprotected steel parts are showing surface corrosion. It also looks like the vendor has fitted new coilover damper units with a full set of polyurethane bushes.
There is a comprehensive service record with a note to suggest the engine was replaced in 2007 with the last engine Lotus had in stock. The Esprit V8 didn’t always have the greatest reputation for reliability.
The car sold for £44,250 against an estimate of £56,000 – £75,000.
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