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2012 Shannons Sydney Spring Classic Auction
Lot
18

1985 Lotus Esprit Turbo Coupe

$20,000

Sold

Specifications

Engine In-line 4-cylinder,2174cc
Gearbox 5-speed manual
Body Work Coupe
Colour Calypso Red
Interior Beige
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. Although it looked every inch the futuristic Italian-styled supercar both inside and out, the Esprit remained true to Lotus' philosophy of building lightweight cars with small-capacity engines and handling inspired by the racetrack.