Esprit Market Watch

[Vipers]

Thanks for the above Fabian, I totally agree and will be more than happy to spend money on this Turbo when required, my main reason for buying this one was to start with a nice example that is going to be a keeper and look after it, with cars of this age we really are custodians of something very special and it is important that we look after them for others to enjoy in years to come as they will just become rarer and rarer, like you I am a little bit anal so I can see how costs can spiral but some things are worth it, my GT40 ended up going way over budget, ended up remortgaging my house, but it is done now and is amazing, worth every penny spent but I see this Esprit as being equally important in the history of cars, especially to Lotus fans like us.

Hopefully it won't cost too much to start with though as still not told my wife and it will definitely cost me a new kitchen 🙄

[DH2]

On 07/03/2022 at 18:41, Vipers said:

Now can someone please tell my wife, she’s going to kill me 😬

You mean you've still not done that kitchen?! 😆

Dave

9 hours ago, Vipers said:

it will definitely cost me a new kitchen

Haha - I guess not!

[Vipers]

Bathrooms being done at the moment so definitely earned some brownie points but I think I used them up this week 😬

[Gis]

Interesting 88 Turbo for sale on BaT. 165 miles from new. Looks amazing. Time capsule. Will be interesting to see where it finishes, currently at 60k+USD. https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1988-lotus-160-mile-40th-anniversary-edition-esprit/

[jerzybondov]

Something tells me flushing the fuel tank won't quite be enough to get that one going again, but fascinating auction!

[jep]

Two pumps of the throttle, turn key.... it'll be fine. Def, no choke required.

Justin 

[Gis]

On 01/04/2022 at 09:45, Gis said:

Interesting 88 Turbo for sale on BaT. 165 miles from new. Looks amazing. Time capsule. Will be interesting to see where it finishes, currently at 60k+USD. https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1988-lotus-160-mile-40th-anniversary-edition-esprit/

Sold for 96K. Including premium around 100k USD. Not bad. Still a bargain compared to any run off the mill, mass produced 911 though. 

[Yan]

On 08/04/2022 at 13:22, Gis said:

Sold for 96K. Including premium around 100k USD. Not bad. Still a bargain compared to any run off the mill, mass produced 911 though. 

That's a crazy price.

How much are regular early Stevens turbo going for in the UK?

[Vipers]

She's getting closer to home, my guy collected her yesterday and is storing her till my garage floor paint has dried and more importantly once I've plucked up the courage to tell my wife.

[Giniw]

27k-Mile 2002 Lotus Esprit V8 25th Anniversary Edition

Winner – 5 bids to $85,000 on May 25, 2022

[mike_sekinger]

6 hours ago, Giniw said:

27k-Mile 2002 Lotus Esprit V8 25th Anniversary Edition

Winner – 5 bids to $85,000 on May 25, 2022

It`s a really interesting outcome considering the modifications/enhancements. 

This car is running a rebuilt/modified engine with water/methanol injection.

Originality is not always King.

[Fridge]

19 minutes ago, mike_sekinger said:

It`s a really interesting outcome considering the modifications/enhancements. 

This car is running a rebuilt/modified engine with water/methanol injection.

Originality is not always King.

I've noticed over the years that Americans seem to be attracted to "limited edition" and "anniversary" models. They often appear to fetch high prices, even though to the outsider these models are pure marketeers concoction.

[Giniw]

On 26/05/2022 at 12:32, mike_sekinger said:

Originality is not always King.

I think in the USA it's more common to modify cars anyway?

[Giniw]

https://www.silverstoneauctions.com/sa079-lot-17974-1994-lotus-esprit-sport-300?el=17974&pn=1&pp=100

1994 Lotus Esprit Sport 300

The rare Sport 300 is a lightweight, high-performance, road-going derivative of the Esprit X180R and widely regarded as the best Esprit ever.

Sold for: £59,625

Lot Number

409

Make

LOTUS

Model

ESPRIT SPORT 300

Registration Number

L300 LTD

Chassis Number

SCC082910RHA68036

Body Colour

Camel Yellow

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.silverstoneauctions.com/sa079-lot-17975-1995-lotus-esprit-s4s?el=17975&pn=1&pp=100

1995 Lotus Esprit S4s

Prior to the arrival of the V8, the S4s was the ultimate development of the 4-cylinder, turbocharged Lotus Esprit and this fabulous example is the best we have ever seen.

Sold for: £42,500

Lot Number

428

Make

LOTUS

Model

ESPRIT S4S

Registration Number

N4 ONW

Chassis Number

SCC082910SHA64042

Body Colour

Calypso Red

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.silverstoneauctions.com/sa079-lot-18012-2001-lotus-esprit-v8-gt?el=18012&pn=1&pp=100

2001 Lotus Esprit V8 GT

Exceptionally well presented and fabulously maintained, this enthusiast owned, triple show-winning V8 GT is a fantastic example of the Esprit's swansong.

Sold for: £48,375

 

Lot Number

440

Make

LOTUS

Model

ESPRIT V8 GT

Registration Number

ESP 87V

MOT Expiry

14/02/2023

Chassis Number

SCCDA08231HC10200

Engine Number

LL918001030755

Body Colour

Mustard Yellow Metallic

[exeterjeep]

Be interesting to see how this one gets on. SLC have posted about it on f/b.

https://www.mathewsons.co.uk/auction/lot/lot-250---1981-lotus-esprit/?lot=5918&so=0&st=&sto=0&au=17&ef=&et=&ic=False&sd=0&pp=96&pn=3&g=1&fbclid=IwAR0VByYcJJ5vNWVGD74uXaFyEIU-A8_EZOqBZXd74bZ_yj4FCUGKeemwoLw

 From SWLC project has now finished with Air TV and you will soon be able to see all the work that went into this project for Bangers and Cash.

The car is going up for auction this month wIth Mathewsons Classic Cars. If you want a great Esprit, this one will sure put a smile on your face! Make sure you sign up to bid

 

 

[Jack Stone]

Shame it has a Turbo Esprit body kit - as May would say, “that’s casual”

[Bazza 907]

Agree with Max @Jack Stone, why would you do that to a lovely looking S3 N/A?

[exeterjeep]

Just had this from Club Lotus about the esprit auction...

Hi Annemarie, really nice talking to you just now and thank you so much for agreeing to spread the word about our wonderful Esprit S3.

 

Yesterday’s hit TV programme Bangers and Cash, now has a sibling - Bangers and Cash: Restoring Classics. This new format, due for transmission this summer, sees the production team behind Bangers and Cash buying classic cars at Mathewson’s auction that are in need of a little more than ‘a bit of weekend work’. We film all of the stages of the journey, from the car arriving at auction, throughout the restoration process, before finally putting the car back through the auction and speaking to the delighted new owner. We rarely make any money restoring these vehicles, but that’s not the point. We are passionate about keeping classics on the road and telling their stories.

 

For episode 6 of series 1 we were delighted to snap up a 1981 red Lotus Esprit S3 that had been sitting in a barn for many years. It has gone through an extensive recommission process by the wonderful Webb family at the South West Lotus Centre in Devon. It was returned to us a few days ago and will appear in the June auction. It is lot 250 and will be auctioned off at approx 11am on Saturday 18th June. I would recommend people who want to bid get online in plenty of time and also pre register with Mathewsons. It is an online auction, but phone bidders can also get involved with the auction if they speak to Mathewson’s beforehand.

 

All of the details of the car, and also how to bid on it, can be found at the following website address..

 

https://www.mathewsons.co.uk/auction/lot/lot-250---1981-lotus-esprit/?lot=5918&so=0&st=lotus&sto=0&au=17&ef=&et=&ic=False&sd=0&pp=48&pn=1&g=1

 

It might be worth mentioning to your members that we would like to film the car in its new home and speak to the successful bidder on camera. This is absolutely not a precedent for buying the car - some people are camera shy and we will of course respect that.

[windymiller]

just saw the s3 and the type 23 elise took julies fancy but right car wrong time 😞 so how do people find barn stored s3's !!! 😞

Quote

 

 

[windymiller]

the bangers and cash esprit sold for 45k !

[stephenwhyte]

On 19/06/2022 at 12:16, windymiller said:

the bangers and cash esprit sold for 45k !

For an S3!! I need to watch that, when shown on TV!😳

[windymiller]

4 hours ago, stephenwhyte said:

For an S3!! I need to watch that, when shown on TV!😳

plus auction fees !!

[Jack Stone]

Lovely car but devalued in my eyes by its Turbo Esprit body kit (even if it was factory fitted, which I doubt!). SW Lotus told me that "a lot of people back in the day fitted the turbo body kit when the Turbo came out" but I can't recall seeing other UK S3s with the kit (although I have seen earlier S1/2s modified such)

This 2004 V8SE FE (12k miles) apparently sold in USA this week for $135k (that's £110k at today's e/rate).

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2003-lotus-esprit-7/

[Andyww]

17 minutes ago, Jack Stone said:

Lovely car but devalued in my eyes by its Turbo Esprit body kit (even if it was factory fitted, which I doubt!). SW Lotus told me that "a lot of people back in the day fitted the turbo body kit when the Turbo came out"

Thats an HC front spoiler so cant have been fitted until 1987 so definitely not factory.

[Jack Stone]

1 minute ago, Andyww said:

Thats an HC front bumper so cant have been fitted until 1987 so definitely not factory.

Good spot