All manners of vehicles are being imported these days as a result of the 25-year importation rules, but a Lotus Eclat with a Targa roof is not the first model you’d necessarily think of shipping over. Still, it serves as a reminder that there’s a large number of European sports cars we didn’t see much of in the United States, and that you don’t have to spend crazy money to own a piece of forbidden fruit. This Eclat is a Riviera edition that came with the aforementioned removable roof panel, a vinyl top, rear spoiler, hood vents, and unique decals and stripes kit. Find it here on eBay with bidding just over $4,000 and the reserve unmet.

Lotus in particular had a range of different models and bodies that don’t get much of the spotlight, as U.S. customers were primarily distracted by the Esprit as the marquee sports car of choice. The Elan, Eclat, Elite, Excel – some were officially imported, others weren’t, but they are all in relatively short supply stateside. The demand is fairly muted from what I can tell for the more obscure Lotus models, except by the die-hard Lotus fans who are old enough to remember these models. I don’t believe they are particularly hot sellers, and there’s a right-hand-drive Excel on my local Facebook Marketplace that’s been for sale for months despite looking like a pretty nice example.

The Eclat seen here certainly presents quite well, with straight body lines and an exceedingly clean engine bay. The seller reports that it was imported in 2008 with 85,456 miles on the clock and today it has a grand total of 85,505, so it’s seen very little use since making the big trip over to this side of the pond. This really begs the question as to why it was imported, as that’s not even one hundred miles that it’s traveled since its arrival – not even enough to say it was used for a few nice weekends each summer. The seller notes the 912 engine develops 160 b.h.p. and features two Dellorto DHLA45 carburetors and Lumenition electronic ignition. According to the seller, it will come with a large history file that documents maintenance and its legal importation in 2008.

The Eclat’s interior shows some deviation from the standard, with a non-original steering wheel and seats swapped in from a 1986 Excel model. The seller contends this is a worthwhile upgrade, as the seats are supposedly more comfortable. The cabin appears to be in good order, and despite having barely traveled around the block since it’s been here, the seller reports loads of recent maintenance, including cambelt, coolant hoses, heater hoses, vacuum lines, thermostat, re-cored radiator, clutch cable, rebuilt brakes, and much more. It seems like a turnkey example, with only minor issues noted as being an exhaust cam cover leak and tires that need replacing. Certainly not the obvious choice, but a seemingly very nice vintage Lotus that was never federalized.