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2012 Shannons Sydney Autumn Classic Auction
Lot
5

1986 Lotus Esprit Turbo HC Coupe

PASSED IN

Passed In

Specifications

Engine In-line 4-cylinder,2174cc
Gearbox 5-speed manual
Body Work Coupe
Colour White
Interior Magnolia
Trim Leather
Wheels Alloy cast
Brakes Discs

Description

This lot is no longer available

The Giorgetto Giugiaro styled Esprit was Colin Chapman's first serious attempt at building a supercar capable of taking on the likes of Porsche and Ferrari. First unveiled as a concept car at the Turin Motor Show in 1972, it would be another four years before the first customers took delivery and the Esprit received a considerable publicity boost thank to the 1977 James Bond film "The Spy Who Loved Me", with Roger Moore taking to the sea in one that became a submarine.

The turbo version was first seen in 1980's 'Essex Esprit', a special edition model named for its association with Essex petroleum, a major sponsor of the Lotus F1 team at the time. Its engine, known as the Type 910, retained the 2.2-litre capacity of the naturally-aspirated car but utilised a dry sump and generated some 157kW.

1981 saw the debut of Esprit Series 3 and with it the turbo became a regular production car, though it reverted to a wet sump configuration. Fast-forward to 1986, and with a major re-style planned for 1987 these last Giugiaro cars benefitted from higher compression engines. Known as the 'HC' range, the turbo now produced 160kW with 298Nm torque, up 28Nm on its predecessor.

Although it looked every inch the futuristic Italian-styled supercar both inside and out, the Esprit remained true to Lotus' philosophy of building lightweight car with small-capacity engines and handling inspired by the racetrack, and the HC versions of the S3 are well revered today.