Low Miles: 1987 Lotus Turbo Esprit HCi

For a car with a reputation for reliability issues, the Lotus Esprit enjoyed a very long production run. Perhaps its slow start to market was a harbinger of this longevity: the car was designed in 1971 and shown in 1972, but the first driveable prototype wasn’t available until 1974, and the first sale didn’t occur until 1975. The last of its ilk – barely resembling its first forebear – didn’t roll off the line until 2004. The Esprit was conceived by Colin Chapman as a way to shed its “kit car” image. Giorgetto Giugiaro at ItalDesign was hired to sketch its lines. And lines they were – wedge-shaped and sharp, animated by Giugiaro’s Boomerang concept car built for Maserati. Our subject car is a 1987 Turbo Esprit HCi (high compression with fuel injection), located in Colchester, Connecticut. The AutoCheck report indicates a “rebuilt” title, which the seller explains is due to a theft in the early 1990s. Other than that, it’s got virtues. Let’s check it out ….

Several variants of Esprits were produced, many at short intervals from the last one. The Series 2 (S2) arrived less than two years after the S1 was first sold; starting in April 1981, Lotus was making both the naturally aspirated S3 and its first Turbo Esprit. This car’s engine is a 2.2-liter four-cylinder, augmented with a Garrett turbocharger and – for North America – Bosch KE-Jetronic fuel injection. Its compression ratio rang in at 8.0:1 – higher than the original Turbo at 7.5:1 – and the turbo’s boost was increased as well. Horsepower came in at about 175. Thanks to the fiberglass body, performance was finally approaching the “supercar” status of Colin Chapman’s vision: sixty mph arrived in 5.5 seconds, and top speed was 150 mph. Along the Esprit development continuum, the suspension and chassis were improved to reduce flex and improve stability. No longer did the car’s drive shafts do suspension duty, relieving the engine and gearbox mounts of a great burden. The gearbox is Renault’s five-speed manual transaxle – which is unfortunately full of plastic parts that degrade with engine heat. This one’s gearbox is missing a plastic circlip – required so it can be driven. Other than that, the car does run. New but uninstalled timing belts come with the sale; the battery, front tires, and fuel pumps have been replaced. The car’s odometer reads 26,000 miles, represented as original.

Lotus interiors were as soft as their exteriors were sharp. Here, the leather needs conditioning and perhaps a dye job – the huge glass greenhouse works against keeping interior surfaces in good shape. Though the Esprit looks wide, it’s a small car and the cabin will feel claustrophobic to some. This example comes with its tool kit and several original manuals. According to the seller, the spare has never been down.

Design changes had softened the lines of the Esprit by the time the S3 Turbo was produced. These updates were conducted by Giugiaro, and to some collectors, that’s important. This generation’s combination of the original designer’s hallmark lines, much-improved performance, and low production numbers has brought prices up recently. If a rare, low-mileage British sports car with a few needs is appealing to you, find this Turbo HCi on eBay, bid to $19,860 with a buy-it-now of $37,000. A similar car in premier condition sold for $70,000 nine months ago, lending credence to the seller’s BIN price.