Location: Auburn, Indiana

$25,500 USD | Sold

The Lotus Esprit is a sports car built by Lotus in the United Kingdom between 1976 and 2004, building a total of 10,675 similar cars over this period. The Italdesign “Silver Car” concept that eventually became the Esprit was unveiled at the Turin Motor Show in 1972. It was among the first of designer Giorgetto Giugiaro's polygonal "folded paper" designs with crisp edges.

Lotus announced via press release that in part stated, “The Lotus Esprit is Colin Chapman's latest exotic two-litre, mid-engined, two seat, high performance sports car incorporating many design features proven by a Team that designed and built the racing cars which, to date, have won more Formula One Grands Prix than any other motor vehicle manufacturer.” The Esprit gained international popular appeal as the James Bond “The Spy Who Loved Me” submarine car.

In 1987, a new version of the Esprit was unveiled, incorporating rounder styling cues given by designer Peter Stevens, who would go on to design the McLaren F1. Giugiaro is reported to have liked the restyling, although claiming it was too close to his original design. This Esprit Turbo has RZ-1 badging on it and runs with an inline four-cylinder turbocharged engine that is backed by a Renault-supplied five-speed transaxle. Presented in white with a maroon interior, the car is in overall good condition. The Lotus has many distinctive aerodynamic-inspired styling elements, rear spoiler, factory aluminum six-spoke wheels, Pirelli tires, Panasonic AM/FM stereo, tinted windows and sunroof.

https://rmsothebys.com/auctions/as14/lots/r1123-1989-lotus-esprit/