1997 Lotus ESPRIT GT3

You definitely have to be a confident company to give one of your car colours the name Norfolk Mustard. Lotus knew though that the Esprit’s handling was, well, mustard. And well, we think this example is too.

Seller Jonathan has been very straightforward with his reason for selling, explaining that he wants to fund a new business venture. In his time of ownership the car has wanted for nothing, and he has continued to care for it in the manner of its three previous keepers.

The car was first registered in September 1997 in St Helier, Jersey, and the mileage is now reading 55,000. It’s been serviced every year, except for one (and that may have coincided with it being sold) and the mileage carefully documented, proving that it’s correct. It was first registered in the UK in 2004 and Jonathan bought the car himself in May 2015, during which time it’s been used as a weekend toy and for pootling to events like Goodwood FoS. 

Jonathan says: ‘I bought it from a private buyer and it was pretty immaculate when I got it. It’s only needed regular maintenance and a few things like the throttle sensor replaced. It’s very original (down to the original tool kit) and like a Lotus should be, with great steering.’

It’s always been kept in a heated garage and he believes it to currently be free of any issues, and certainly that’s the impression the car has given in the short time it’s been with us. We must say that for the outlay we think there’s not much that can give the same level of driving satisfaction and outright performance as this GT3.

The glass fibre bodywork is pleasantly without marks. There’s no crazing or spidering in the (Mustard! Sorry, can’t stop shouting that) paint, and even that supremely low nose is relatively stone-chip free. All panels open and close nicely, door gaps remain good. The sills are nice and clean, as are the door jams. At the rear it has a big V8 wing fitted, which adds to the striking visual package.

All alloy wheels are free from blemish and tyres have a reasonable amount of tread on them, but will need to be replaced at some point in the future. There’s nothing that needs doing, it’s that simple as it’s a very presentable example of the breed.

21/5: We have just completed another viewing, and can agree that this car could quite possibly be only wearing its original paint - we have not seen any evidence of respray on the car at all. And it drives very well, there are no creaks, no suspension noise, and the engine spins very freely and smoothly.

Sitting inside an Esprit you practically wear the car. It’s a snug interior that’s full of sporting intent, and one that says ‘you’re only going to drive this car one way – pedal down’.

The black leather V8-style seats have settled into a lovely mellow patina. There’s a slight scuff on the outer edge of the driver’s seat, where a trailing leg brushes it during ingress and egress, but that’s the only flaw we can find on them. An aftermarket Sony radio stereo (they were optional!) has been fitted.

There’s also a tiny scratch on the right hand-side of that striking gear lever panel. Otherwise all plastics, the beefy Momo steering wheel and the leather-topped dashboard and central column are perfect. All electrics function as intended, including the all-important flip-up lights (although Jonathan says very occasionally one won’t go down, but there’s a manual override for this), and removing the roof panel (stowed away neatly in the boot) adds a little extra Cadbury’s goodness to the cabin acoustics.

We definitely recommend popping in to see exactly how good this example is. You’ll get a warm welcome, a cuppa, and an opportunity to have a poke around. If you ask nicely you may also get the opportunity to be taken on a test ride in this yellow beast.

The owner says that this example is on the money, and taking it for a quick blast proves that to be the case. It’s clear just how well it’s been cared for and delivers that seminal Esprit handling experience free from any suspension clonks or shonks. That punchy supercharged engine pulls beautifully and is allied to a manual box that appears free from any signs of worry; brakes are sharp, too. Overall, with this GT3 it’s a case of get in and go.

The engine bay still presents well, while the underside has a smattering of light road dirt as befits a car that’s been used. A bit of mustard (sorry, paint) has scraped off the underside of the sills around the jacking points, but no one sees these and it doesn’t affect the tub. The undertray remains in place. The previous owner replaced the exhaust manifold (pictures in history file), as cracking is a common failure with them.

Recent work carried out includes the gearbox seals and cambelt being replaced in 2017 at a cost of £1818.85 (including a service). In fact leafing through the invoices there’s reassuring evidence of regular cambelt changes, as well as donor cats being fitted for MOTs before potentially being whipped off for driving pleasure.

The tyres all have 5mm tread. 

If only every vehicle came with a history file like this one’s. Included in the Alphabetically filed folder are a raft of invoices, as well as periodic inspection reports, from a variety of specialists including Steve Williams Sports Cars, Paul Matty Sports Cars, Essex Autosport, Castle Lotus and Sinclaire Motorsport.

Complementing these, and of prime importance, is a service book with 21 stamped services held within – proof surely of the care and dedication that this GT3’s four owners have lavished on it, and that the low mileage is bang on.

There are also plenty of MOT certificates (including the current one), two sets of keys and the V5 registration document. On the 18th of September 2013, then-owner Andrew Frankham applied for, and received a certificate of provenance from the Lotus factory providing all the details from the original build records – this too, is included. Finally, there is also a current Footman James agreed value insurance certificate for £34k.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been maintained to the very highest standard.

We still think this model Esprit remains fantastic value, particularly when you factor in the belting driving experience that they offer. It’s a sweet spot in the later models offsetting the V8’s tubbiness and questionable reliability, and arguably even offering a better soundtrack than its somewhat disappointingly toneless big brother.

This particular example comes with a history file to rub your trouser legs over too, proving that it’s been meticulously cared for. We expect it to sell for between £26,000-£32,000. At the lower end of that someone will bag a bargain; hell, even at the top end it’s still a low-owner, low (ish) mileage example that should prove to be absolute (apologies) mustard for the next owner.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car can be seen here at The Market HQ in Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Classic & Sportscar Finance for purchase-financing, Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car, AnyVan for transporting it, and Footman James for classic car insurance.

BORING, but IMPORTANT: Please note that whilst we at The Market always aim to offer the most descriptive and transparent auction listings available, we cannot claim they are perfect analyses of any of the vehicles for sale. We offer far greater opportunity for bidders to view, or arrange inspections for each vehicle thoroughly prior to bidding than traditional auctions, and we never stop encouraging bidders to take advantage of this. We do take a good look at the vehicles delivered to our premises for sale, but this only results in our unbiased personal observations, not those of a qualified inspector or other professional, or the result of a long test drive.

Additionally, please note that most of the videos on our site have been recorded using simple cameras which often result in 'average' sound quality; in particular, engines and exhausts notes can sound a little different to how they are in reality.