Colin Chapman’s Unique 1981 Lotus Turbo Esprit Launches Certificate Of Provenance Program

Lotus has launched a new Certificate of Provenance program designed to appeal to owners of Lotus cars from any era.

Besides the vehicle provenance documents, the program includes highly desirable Lotus collectables available to Lotus owners worldwide. The first car to get a Certificate of Provenance is Lotus founder Colin Chapman’s final company car, a 1981 Turbo Esprit.

Recently acquired by the sports car manufacturer, the iconic Esprit will be restored and added to Lotus’ collection. Featuring UK registration plate UVF 464X, the car was first registered to Lotus on August 1, 1981. Its own Lotus Certificate of Provenance reveals it was allocated to Colin Chapman for his exclusive use.

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Finished in metallic Silver Diamond paint with red ‘Turbo Esprit’ decals, the sports car was factory-fitted with optional extras like a full red leather interior, air-conditioning and a Panasonic audio system integrated into the headliner.

The specification is completely unique, however, as Chapman required several additional features that weren’t available at the time for the general public. Those included power steering (it was the first Esprit ever to have this technology), a modified and lowered suspension, modified brakes, and BBS Mahle lattice alloy wheels. Following Chapman’s death in December 1982, Lotus sold the car in July 1983. It has been in private hands ever since, covering just 11,000 miles (17,700 km) and having been regularly maintained.

The 1981 Lotus Turbo Esprit is a historically significant car which also happened to be driven by UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher during a visit to Norfolk on August 5, 1981. Colin Chapman used his car to promote the latest Lotus range to the ‘Iron Lady’, and the strategy apparently worked. After a short drive on Norwich Airport’s private roads, Thatcher told local media: “I was tempted to drive away in it.”

Back to the Certificate of Provenance, it’s available worldwide through Lotus retailers. In the UK it costs £170 ($222) plus postage and is delivered in a distinctive ‘For The Drivers’ Lotus presentation box. The latter contains the Certificate of Provenance printed on premium paper which provides a summary of the car’s details including the VIN, paint color and specification.

The date on which the car completed its production at the Hethel factory and was passed to the Lotus sales team is also noted on the certificate. The presentation box also includes a Build Specification Letter drafted using detailed vehicle information from the Lotus archive. The document offers more in-depth information about the car, including the engine, transmission, standard features and optional extras.

A personalized letter to the customer signed by Lotus Cars CEO Phil Popham is also included, as is a selection of Lotus collectables. Those include an aluminum plaque engraved with the owner’s name and information from the Certificate of Provenance, a leather Lotus keyring, a carbon fiber bookmark, a presentation tin of four badge, and a Lotus ink pen.