These days, automobile manufacturers don’t seem particularly nostalgic. We see quite often how cars kept for decades in a factory museum are inevitably sold off, oftentimes to raise money or otherwise just get some assets off the books that no longer generate revenue. This 1983 Lotus Esprit Turbo is a factory prototype that was built to demonstrate the potential of active suspension, and it was destined for the crusher before an employee gave it a stay of execution. It’s now listed here on the Anglia Car Auctions website with just 6,492 miles on the clock.
Despite being a pre-production test car, this looks like a finish-quality example. The Esprit Turbo of the 1980s captured so much of that era’s unique styling in one stroke, with rear window louvers, BBS wheels, full body aero, pop-up headlights, and plenty of decals. Plus, it was turbocharged, which was practically a requirement for a 1980s performance model. The Esprit looks to be in fantastic condition despite languishing in a warehouse for many years before being refreshed as a Lotus museum car.
Curiously, the Lotus was loaned to DeLorean for a time, most likely having to do with the contract Lotus was awarded to help develop the ill-fated DMC-12. There’s a fascinating bit of history here that I never fully appreciated, and you should check out the in-depth accounting of the collaboration between the two firms here on Lotus Esprit World. The details get sordid pretty quickly as it relates to the financial mess that DeLorean soon found itself in. Unrelated, this interior is gorgeous, and reminds us just how good these cockpits can look when in near-mint condition.
Unlike the DeLorean, the Lotus came equipped with two key features: an engine that delivered stirring performance, and a mid-engine design that provided all of the handling benefits such a layout is known to provide. The active suspension component almost gets buried given the DeLorean connection, but it’s no less significant considering this trick setup was designed for use in Formula One racing. Buying this Esprit gives the new owner not only a near-new specimen to enjoy but also one with a fantastic history to boot.
Yup, real nice car. Red and black combo is beautiful.
The ‘End of the Elan Era’ morphed into the slant nose Esprit. The 80’s Lotus’s (or Loti!!) got bigger and more luxurious going to a more high end car. I could not afford one then and probably not now either. I am happy to be able to say that I was able to get the Lotus experience and enjoyed my Lotus Elans in the 70’s regardless of repairing them constantly. I did my own work so it was fun, interesting and certainly intriguing on how things broke and wore on those cars! The only car I wish I still had was a 65 S2 Elan with pull up windows and twin webers. A bit crude but I liked it better than the later Elans. A rocket ship for its day!!
I owned it grandfather , had a 73 Lotus Europa Spl (JPS)
Agree 100% I bought new a 73 Europa Spl a JPS, when Lotus put the Twin Cam with the 5 speed in the Europa, I sold my 69 Triumph Gt6+. Like I said the Europa is this card father
I had a 1979 Esprit in silver with suede interior. Fun car. Good mileage! Sold it to a guy in Vermont and bought a Pantera in 1990. Still have it.
I feel that James Bond popularized these cars more than Lotus advertising or anything else. He drove a few in different movies, including the white submarine, the white one that was blown up at the beginning of the movie, and the brown one with the ski racks on the roof.
I looked at one of these for sale in project condition in Amarillo Texas about eight years ago. It was dark blue. The interior was shredded by the Texas sun. What a beautiful car. I’ll bet it’s still sitting there today. I ended up buying a later model Esprit (1988) instead.
Hi TomP. I live very close to Amarillo, never recall seeing the Lotus you are referring to. I, too, wonder if it is still there? Location in Amarillo? I’ll go check it out and report back to Barn Finds.
Azzura, I don’t remember the exact address, but if you want to do some sleuthing, it was at a run-down auto repair shop, in the shadow of an interstate overpass. The car was packed in a small ten car lot with other broken cars and a wood stockade (or chain link) fence around them. Let me know if you figure it out!
Thanks for the Lotus Esprit and The Delorean Connection link. Not everyone knows this. I’m sick over how that dog John married left when the going got rough. John did his best and lost.
I believe I see a Europa door opener in the interior shot!
Generic British Leyland parts-bin item, used by many small-volume British car manufacturers at the time. Exterior door handles are BL items as well.
and those door opener’s were also on the Marina
Any “pre-production” auto built in the UK should be more fun than a barrel of monkeys. They had a tough enough time building cars and getting them sorted after they completed the pre-production phase.
Lotus 60s through 80s. Warm.weather only. Lotus does not do well with cold weather climates. Had 1973 lotus 7 big valve 1500 crisp, sharp vehicle. Extended leg room..in the 2000s lotus finally got the message and joined up with toyota for stronger more reliable motor and electrics