Lotus Esprit S2

Click Here for Full Screen Image - Click Here to Download Image

Penned by Giugiaro, the cartoonishly aggressive Esprit had initially appeared as a one-off design concept at the 1972 Turin Show and the 1976 production car was little changed.

Beneath the wildly modern and sharp-edged GRP bodywork was the Lotus trademark of a steel backbone chassis, this time fitted with a Lotus 907 mid-mounted in-line 140bhp 1,973cc slant-four engine cradled in a tubular frame.

Throw in the go-kart like steering (two turns lock-to-lock), powerful disc brakes and classic Lotus handling, and the Esprit could be hustled along at a rate that would embarrass Italian exotics more than twice its price. And unlike the Italians, the bodywork would never go rusty...

This 1978 model has led a full life. Used when new for the official Motor Magazine road test in January 1979 and in Motorsport in March 1979 (according to the vendor they had to borrow it from its first owner as they couldn’t get one out of the factory), it has received a number of updates over the years including a later Turbo slatted tailgate and side skirts. A large history file accompanies the car, including copies of the magazine road tests, and various bills and MOTs dating as far back as 1982.

Purchased by the vendor several years ago as a locally sourced project, it had been off the road for some time. He fitted a new alternator and battery and retrimmed the seats in cream leather. The car is MOTd until November 2014, but has barely been used, the vendor adding that it is frighteningly quick on the road.

The engine registers good oil pressure and runs to temperature and was sounding in rude health when started to take the photographs. The next job on his list was to attend to the paintwork which shows the usual signs of micro-blistering found on fibreglass cars of the period. However he has now decided to move on to something less extreme, hence the Lotus being offered for sale as is.

A more committed driver may well feel that this S2 Esprit, with its early magazine history and dramatic Seventies styling, looks like a very enticing prospect.