One to Buy: 21,000 mile Calypso Red 1983 Lotus Esprit Turbo
/
Lotus launched their heavily revised new turbocharged Esprit at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1980. Initially the forced induction Esprit was available exclusively in Essex Commemorative trim to reflect Essex Motorsport’s sponsorship of the Lotus F1 team.
However, when Lotus’s relationship with Essex boss David Thieme soured following his incarceration on suspicion of fraud during the spring of 1981, Esprit Turbos in other colours and with toned down interior equipment began to roll off the Hethel production line.
In performance terms, the Esprit Turbo was the fastest car in its class. With a 210bhp all-alloy inline four cylinder 16 valve engine in an overall package that weighed just 1148kg, the handsome Giorgetto Giugiaro-styled Lotus was more than a match for a Ferrari 308, Porsche 911 SC or 924 Carrera GT.
Set to go under the hammer at Bonhams’ Goodwood Festival of Speed Auction on July 14th is this interesting early Esprit Turbo from 1983.
Owned by a single family of ex-Lotus main dealers for the last 28 years, chassis SCC082910DHD114 has covered a little under 21,000 miles from new. The same family also maintained the car for its previous owner.
Still in its original factory colour scheme of Calypso Red with Black upholstery (to include the full leather option), this fine Esprit underwent recommissioning in 2022 and is remarkably being sold complete with the transferable UK registration number W 28.
