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.
Reprinted below in Bonhams’ description for this superbly configured Esprit Turbo:
Registration no. W 28
Chassis no. SCC082910DHD114
Engine no. CD910830420762
Present ownership for the last 28 years,
Extensively recommissioned in 2022
Cherished registration 'W 28' included
Among the longest running of post-war sports cars, the Esprit first surfaced as a Giorgetto Giugiaro-designed Ital Design project car at the 1972 Turin Motor Show, the silver prototype having come about following a chance encounter between Giugiaro and Lotus boss Colin Chapman. The car was well received, and following a protracted development programme finally entered production in 1976.
The Esprit metamorphosed through several series over the next two decades, gaining a 2.2-litre engine, turbo-charged induction, and a new more rounded body design along the way, before the model's ultimate expression - the V8 - arrived in 1996. Lotus had first employed turbocharged induction in 1980 on the Essex Turbo Esprit, a limited edition model featuring the blue/red/chrome livery of the Essex Overseas Petroleum Corporation, sponsor of Team Lotus from 1979 to 1981.
The Essex paved the way for the series production Turbo Esprit, the arrival of which in April 1981 coincided with that of the S3 models. Despite having a wet sump, the Turbo's 2.2-litre Garrett-blown engine produced the same power (210bhp) as the Essex's dry sump unit. The Turbo Esprit retained the aerodynamic body kit of the Essex cars and featured prominent 'Turbo Esprit' decals on the nose and sides. The Turbo's top speed was 148mph, with 60mph attainable in 6.1 seconds. In 1987, the Esprit was comprehensively restyled by Peter Stevens, who produced a less angular, more rounded and much more modern look, its arrival coinciding with a change of name for the turbocharged car to 'Esprit Turbo'.
This Turbo Esprit has been in the present ownership for the last 28 years, and in the late 1990s made two trips to Le Mans. The current owner's family were Lotus Service Dealers in period, and also maintained the vehicle for the previous owner. The car was recommissioned in 2022, including extensive engine works and replacement of various components:
Cylinder head gasket and core plugs
Timing belt
Water pump
Turbo reconditioned by Turbo Technics
Wastegate
All new aluminium water pipes and hoses
New aluminium header tank
Carburettors and inlet manifold reconditioned
New aluminium fuel tanks, pipes and hoses
New rear brake calipers, handbrake cables and all new flexible brake pipes
New clutch fitted around eight years ago (minimal mileage since)
New brake servo and master cylinder fitted around eight years ago
Only 20,808 miles have been covered from new, and the car's excellent overall condition reflects this sparing usage. Spax shock absorbers and the aforementioned alloy fuel tank are the only notified deviations from factory specification. The cherished and very valuable registration 'W 28', formerly owned by Mr Julian Wintle (producer of the 1960s TV series The Avengers) is included in the sale.
