This 1987 Lotus Esprit Turbo HC sports an Essex Blue-painted glass fiber body resting atop a steel chassis. A transmission shared with the Maserati Merak and Citroen SM, along with rear inboard disc brakes, pay homage to its racing roots. With coilovers built into each corner and unassisted steering, the Esprit’s nimble and responsive handling belie its weight of just under a ton.
The tenth in a production run of just 21 cars manufactured to commemorate 21 years of Lotus in the small English village of Hethel features a Mediterranean blue metallic leather interior. This historically-accurate car is also one of just five finished in two-tone Essex Blue. Other standard equipment includes a glass sunroof, air conditioning, and a Clarion sound system that’s optimized with its own equalizer.
While the interior is alluring, what lies under the hood is what really captivates drivers. Boasting 215 hp and 220 lb-ft of torque and a manual transmission, the vintage Lotus maxes out at a top speed of 150 mph en route from 0 to 60 in just over 6 seconds. This classic car has just 54,600 miles on its odometer. With every facet of this car being kept in pristine condition, it’s no wonder The Market fetched a winning bid of £39,950 for it at auction.