2 LOTUS ESPRIT

LIVE OUT YOUR PRETTY WOMAN FANTASIES. AND IT’S NOT A FERRARI ‘It has everything we’ve come to expect from Lotus – speed, handling and good looks, plus a few things we haven’t come to expect, like comfort, a high level of detail finish and apparent durability.’ That was the opinion of US magazine Road & Track of the Esprit Turbo in 1983. This was the car that Lotus used to spearhead its attack on the US market of the 1980s. Apparently, its (occasionally slightly graunchy) appearance in the hit Richard Gere/Julia Roberts movie Pretty Woman more than tripled sales of the car in the US in 1990 and 1991. And to think the producers originally wanted a Ferrari…

WHAT TO PAY (1980-87 TURBO) PROJECT £7000 // USABLE £10,500 // GOOD £18,000 // CONCOURS £25,000 // PRICE WHEN NEW £16,928 (1981)

ONE FOR SALE IN THE USA

1977 LOTUS ESPRIT S1, $39,750 (£30,175)

‘Recent rebuild in California, including new leather. Original engine and transaxle.’

WE SAY

‘Good S1s are now rare in the UK, and the best can be worth more than double this asking price. It takes a trained eye to spot them, though.’

BUY IT FROM

Private seller, hemmings.com (contact through the website)

ONE FOR SALE IN THE UK

1982 LOTUS ESPRIT TURBO S2, £36,500

‘Dry sump, many extras including roofmounted stereo. Retrimmed interior.’

WE SAY

‘‘Desirable spec. Galvanising only arrived with the S3, so inspecting for rust is extra important on these earlier cars.’

BUY IT FROM

Private seller, 07990 974322, classiccarsforsale.co.uk