18th V8 GT off the production line, and the 5th yellow example produced
Factory ‘Afterburner’ rear styling package
Immaculate condition
Heritage certificate
The Appeal
Twenty years of production of Lotus’s Esprit had seen the sharp-edged styling softened a little but finally the car gained the engine that many felt it had always deserved in the form of a Lotus-developed twin-turbocharged 3.5 litre V8.
Good for 350hp, it drove the rear wheels through a five speed manual gearbox and launched the car to 60mph in just 4.4 seconds which is, let’s face it, not too shabby even by today’s standards. The GT variant, launched in 1998, trimmed away some of the luxuries for a more driver-focussed version.
Stock of Lotus’s wedge has been on the up of late and this must surely be one of the best preserved V8 GT’s available. Finished in eye-catching Norfolk Yellow, it’s covered just 37k miles from new, has a substantial history file and is in fabulous condition.
For Lotus fans and collectors alike, this is a rare opportunity to acquire such a well-preserved example of one of their most prestigious models. Whether it should be kept in a museum or used as its maker intended will be down to the winning bidder, but we’d opt for the latter. Whatever your preference, get your bid in now.enRSpZjavNKgiQ6ufCkNe07BFh0I6bT1AiyRgnu4.jpeg64.54 KB
The History and Paperwork
Produced 27 March 1998 and first registered 3 June 1998
18th V8 GT off the line, and the 5th of 12 yellow examples built that year
Certificate of vehicle provenance issued by Lotus
Large file of history covering the car’s whole life
Service record shows consistent record of stamps with the exception of 2006-2018, during which time the car covered 14,000 miles and there are invoices from independent specialists from this period
Evidence of recommissioning in 2018
Clean MOT history with current ticket valid to 31 October 2022
Manuals for 1998 Esprit but for a four cylinder model, so not entirely applicable
Climbing aboard the cabin of a Lotus generally takes, it has to be said, a little practice. But once you’ve established your technique, you should be able to accomplish a level of grace and a passage that avoids too much wear on the seat fabric.
Unfortunately the previous owners seem not quite to have mastered it in time to prevent wearing a very tiny patch of the fabric on the driver’s seat as this is reportedly the only flaw in an otherwise impeccable interior.
The yellow-backed seats are faced with grey leather and alcantara and set an appropriately racy tone for the more driver-focussed GT variant of the V8. The stitched leather-covered dashboard is fronted by an elegant Momo steering wheel and it’s all in excellent condition with no visible damage or wear.
All of the dials, buttons and switches are in full working order and taking off the removable roof panel reveals clean and clear drainage channels. Overall, it’s in great condition.loyDvJaiaF3y6I4UsM3fzb4FqnSnK5leUBH8f75I.jpeg47.75 KB
The Exterior
Norfolk Yellow
Afterburner rear styling pack
Condition described as not far off concours
Custom cover
The design of the Esprit still has the capacity to turn heads in a big way and, in yellow and with a significant rear wing, this car is born to exercise onlookers’ neck muscles. It’s certainly not an ideal getaway car. A factory ‘Afterburner’ styling pack adds circular lights, a centre exit twin exhaust and lower metal grille which looks the business.
The vendor describes the paintwork as ‘almost concours’ with a small scratch on the nose which you can feel more than you can see being the only blemish. The wheels are in very good condition, though show a little light kerbing, and wear tyres with good tread all round.
Opening the engine cover isn’t terribly revealing as the top of the engine fills the available space but start it up and you’re in no doubt as to what’s there. The vendor informs us that there are no mechanical issues whatsoever and that the car starts, goes and stops like it would have when it was new.
He reports no leaks or smoke and no untoward noises on the move. It sounds gorgeous, goes like the clappers and handles like only a Lotus could. If the next owner chooses to enjoy the car on the road then we’re confident that they’re going to have a whale of a time.rXMCXx48RW0XJEmRZqHYIiXQn67SGvZJR3yEfUuz.jpeg44.87 KB
Summary
Almost box fresh without the box, this low mileage example of the rare and desirable Esprit V8 could easily be a show winner.
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