1989 Lotus Esprit

£31,995 from Hexagon Classics, London, UK

LOOKING BACK, IT’S hard not to admire the job that Peter Stevens did on the X180 Lotus Esprit. Fundamentally, the Esprit’s underlying chassis dated back to the early 1970s – although it had been significantly improved and tweaked by the time the 1987 re-style brought it visually bang up to date. The X180 also saw huge improvements in the production processes and overall build quality of the Esprit.

Thanks to its unusual shade of Pacific Blue, this example offered by Hexagon Classics is particularly fresh-looking. The softened lines of the later Esprit have certainly aged well, although the interior struggles to hide its roots quite so convincingly. Thankfully the magnolia leather seats are incredibly inviting.

This Esprit is also one of the few and final X180 Esprits built without a turbocharger, one of only 290 produced between 1987 and 1990. It lacks the supercar-crushing ability of its boosted sibling, with a naturally aspirated 2.2-litre Lotus engine – breathing through 16 valves and twin Dell’Orto carburettors – that produces a modest 172bhp and 163lb ft. Yet with only around 1100kg to propel, it’s still more than adequate to make the most of the exquisite chassis.

Hexagon says that this 67,800-mile example comes with an extensive history file, with recent servicing work to bring it up to scratch. It has even been fitted with a new set of springs and Bilstein dampers, as well as a recent cambelt and water-pump.

Looking very well-presented, it’s offered in delightfully original condition with a Lotus Certificate of Provenance. It seems to have worn its miles very well so far, which should be all the encouragement the new owner needs to get out and put a few more on it.