Wedge Shaped Lotus Esprit Turbo HC Is One Of The Cleanest Examples Out There

Coming across a classic Lotus Esprit Turbo is not your everyday find, especially when you’re talking about one of the just 21 Limited Edition models built in 1987 to celebrate 21 years of Lotus production in Hethel.

What’s more impressive is that the car you see pictured here is completely standard, from the two-tone Essex Blue paintwork to the unique decals and the blue leather and suede interior.

The Lotus Esprit became notorious across the world once a certain British spy took it for an underwater ride in one of those movies but despite the fame, it remains to this day a rather rare sight, more so if you’re looking for a preserved original example.

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This 1987 Lotus Esprit Turbo H.C.Limited Edition, currently offered with no reserve in an online auction at The Market, is the 10th of the 21 cars produced and currently shows 54,600 miles on the clocks. It was sold new in the UK and later traveled to Portugal, where it stayed in a private collection for around 14 years.

Power is provided by a turbocharged 2.2-liter engine kicking out 215 HP and 220 lb-ft of torque and paired to a Citroen-sourced five-speed manual transmission. All that in a car that weighed just over a tonne (2357 lbs), meaning that even today, this S3 Esprit will feel quick enough to get your blood going.

In 2018, the car returned in the UK and was subjected to an “extensive recommissioning” by its current owner at a cost of over £10,000. This included refurbishing the carburetors, powdercoating the rocker covers, inlet manifold, plenum and turbo pipe, as well as fitting a new camshaft belt and tensioner bearing, a new speedometer cable and more.

During the work, the engine and transmission were removed and refitted, the brake calipers were refurbished, a new stainless steel exhaust system including the manifold was installed, as well as new fuel tanks made out of stainless steel.

The interior looks to be in all original and excellent condition, with everything to be in working order, including that lovely Clarion head unit and graphic equalizer, air conditioning, and the glass sunroof. Since this is the Limited Edition, it also comes with the original set of matching luggage, which includes a two-tone briefcase and a three-piece wheeled luggage set.

Examples like this Lotus Esprit Turbo HC in this condition don’t come up for sale that often, so if you are already a fan of its wedge shape and have the means you know what to do.