In Brief:

• A fabulous example of a X180-generation Lotus Esprit Turbo SE
• Finished in Gloss Black over a Beige leather interior with contrasting Black inserts
• Owned by The Vendor for the last year
• Genuine 74,557 miles from new
• Good level of history including stamped service book

Auctioneer’s Notes:

A lovely example of the desirable X180-generation Lotus Esprit Turbo SE, finished in striking Gloss Black over a Beige leather interior with contrasting Black inserts. Owned by the Vendor for the past year, it has covered a genuine 74,557 miles from new.

Maintenance & Condition:

The original Owner’s Handbook displays 14 service stamps for maintenance completed between 1990 at 6,124 miles and 2001 at 60,393 miles. More recently, the car’s ECU was repaired at a cost of £408 during the Vendor’s ownership.

History:

The accompanying history file includes a Lotus ‘40 Years of Excellence’ brochure, MOT certificates dating back to 1998, a collection of old tax discs and various invoices for parts and maintenance. Also included is a 1999 insurance valuation from Club Lotus, which valued the car at £21,250.

The Model:

Introduced in 1989, the Esprit Turbo SE—or Special Equipment—was the flagship development of Peter Stevens’ X180 redesign. Its fuel-injected, charge-cooled 2.2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine produced 264bhp, rising to approximately 280bhp on overboost, allowing 0–60mph in around 4.7 seconds and a claimed top speed of 160mph. The SE was generously equipped, with almost all factory options fitted as standard. Its appearance was distinguished by a deeper front bumper, sculpted side skirts with cooling ducts and a prominent rear wing. Unassisted rack-and-pinion steering retained the Esprit’s renowned feedback and engaging road manners, although requiring greater effort at lower speeds. Approximately 1,608 Turbo SE examples were produced between 1989 and 1993, including the later Highwing variants.

Sale Insight:

Combining dramatic styling, strong turbocharged performance and engaging analogue driving characteristics, the Esprit Turbo SE remains one of the most desirable four-cylinder versions of Lotus’ celebrated supercar. This well-presented example is further enhanced by its attractive colour combination, genuine mileage and accompanying history file.

Estimate:
£17,500 - £19,500