Lotus Esprit V8 Turbo SE

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Launched in 1996, the Lotus Esprit V8 was the first ever Lotus with a V8 engine – and what an engine it was.

Costing some £5.5m to develop, this all-aluminium flyweight developed 349bhp from its 3.5-litres thanks to twin turbos and a flat-plane crank. Driving through a 5-speed Renault gearbox (beefed up on post-1998 cars), the Esprit could scorch to 60mph in 4.5 seconds with a top speed of 175mph. Naturally it also had superb handling and magnificent Brembo brakes that could bring it from 60mph to a standstill in a whisker over 3 seconds.

The V8 SE came out in October 1998 with more luxurious interior trim, ABS brakes as standard, a higher wrap-around rear wing and various mechanical improvements which made it the most reliable Lotus yet built.

Only 1,500 Esprit V8s of all types were produced before production came to an end in 2004 and good ones are increasingly sought after today.

First registered in July 1999 this Inferno Red SE is definitely one of the good ones and has the improved post-1998 gearbox. With just four owners to date (the second and third keeping it for 13 years between them), it has covered less than 61,000 miles with an impeccable service history comprising 11 stamps to date, all but one at Lotus main agents and the last only 700 miles ago at Stratstone Lotus of Leicester.

Bills on file show that the cam belts and tensioners were replaced only 6,100 miles ago and the radiator was re-cored about 18,000 miles ago. Virtually all old MOTs from new are also present to warrant the mileage.

Looking to be in fine condition throughout with a lovely black leather interior piped in red, it comes with all its original handbooks and an MOT until November 2015.