THE Lotus Spirit it is without much doubt one of the most iconic models in the history of the British brand founded by Colin Chapman.
Originally designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro's Italdesign, it also gained fame as one of the James Bond cars — remember the submarine car from “The Spy Who Loved Me”? —, and topped the Lotus range for (long) 28 years, having been produced between 1976 and 2004.
Despite the long career, not many were produced — just over 10,000 — so it's almost an event to have one for sale. This one, however, is special, as it was the personal car of the brand's founder, Colin Chapman.
A (very) special Lotus Esprit
Produced in 1981, the example we are talking about today is not exclusive just because it was Colin Chapman's personal car.
Subscribe to our newsletter
In addition to having several extras that set it apart from others, this Lotus Esprit was also driven by former Formula 1 driver Elio de Angelis and even by… Margaret Thatcher, the “Iron Lady”, Prime Minister of the Kingdom United between 1979 and 1990!
What distinguishes you? Starting with the exterior, the metallic gray paintwork with various specific graphics, the lowered suspension and the BBS wheels stand out (this was the first Esprit example to feature them).
Once inside the red leather interior we find a reinforced cabin to better assimilate aerodynamic noises, a ceiling mounted sound system and air conditioning.
Equipped with assisted steering, this Lotus Esprit also had a series of specific pollen filters due to allergies that affected Colin Chapman.
How much does it cost?
With a four-cylinder 2.2 l capacity positioned behind the occupants, and with the aid of a Garrett turbo, this Esprit has 213 hp and 271 Nm sent to the rear wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox.
The roof-mounted radio looks like it was taken from an airplane.
With just 11,006 miles covered (17,712 km) since 1981, this Lotus Esprit has now been offered for sale by Mark Donaldson.
Although there is no reference to the asking price on the site, Car and Driver claims that Colin Chapman's Esprit it has a price of 124 thousand dollars, about 113 thousand euros.
Razão Automóvel's team will continue online, 24 hours a day, during the COVID-19 outbreak. Follow the recommendations of the General Directorate of Health, avoid unnecessary travel. Together we will be able to overcome this difficult phase.