1988 Lotus ESPRIT Turbo

‘This is such an original car,’ says Scott, the gleaming black Esprit Turbo’s present keeper as he walks around the car. It has had only two former keepers and covered only 43,000 miles during its life on the road. Condition suggests to have been a garaged, fair weather car all its life. ‘And so many have ‘upgrades’, he adds with a raised eyebrow; ‘but this one is very standard.’

Standard in this case doesn’t mean dull. A drive in the Turbo reveals it to be very rapid and responsive (the reviewer also drove and photographed the car). Everything feels tight - nothing rattles - and the car retains all of the almost telepathic alertness and responsiveness that the marque has always been known for. (And that turbo wastegate whistle is always a thing to savour). Even by the standards set by the breed, this feels like a quick car.

‘The only upgrade we made was the addition of a stainless steel exhaust and lightweight manifold,’ explains Scott. We read up on them and this one was recommended by a lot of Lotus people. It’s very well made and it adds about 20bhp to the power.

You don’t see many Esprits in black, but when they’ve been looked after properly - as this one has - it’s a great colour for them.

The (solid colour) paintwork presents very well with a shine that remains even across the car. The gold coach-lining and the ‘Lotus design’ decals remain a nice touch. There are only very small scratches to be seen; a couple on the nose and a slightly deeper one to the edge of one of the doors, but there are no signs of stress cracks or crazing in the GRP bodywork. Esprits have a lot of edges - though more rounded on the Stevens redesign. All of these look crisp (with one two small scratches along leading edges of the front bumper). That deep snout and chin spoiler show far less stone chipping than you might expect. The mesh grill behind the front apron is a little rusty. The (non weather-facing) grills in the rear valance look fine.

Both lids, front and rear, and the passenger door open and close smoothly. The driver’s door sometimes takes a little more coaxing, but all close to leave even panel gaps and shut lines. So all those edges line up perfectly.

The only real appendages to the bodywork are the mirrors (bumpers are integral), both are firmly mounted. Their rubberised edges of the mirror surrounds are a little faded. The headlights remain hidden of course- and flush to the bonnet - but pop up smartly (no winking) when bidden.

All the glass is good. The black finish of the window frames remains largely excellent. Some of the coated metal work does show a little weathering/fading; below the offside rear quarterlight for instance, and the top nearside corner of the windscreen surround is a little untidy. Still, there’s nothing to raise any real concern. This is a rather smart car.

This is a very good colour choice and combination for the car - both in terms of contrast to the black bodywork and the highlights of the contrasting hides too. Both the black and the red panels have remained in excellent condition, the colours have lost none of their lustre. Despite the manoeuvring one sometimes has to do to get in and out of an Esprit, seat edges are scuff-free and cushions/bolsters and the (central) arm rest panels fully retain their shape. The red gear stick gaiter has plenty of flex in it and the perforated black leather gear knob looks very smart. The red gear diagram atop the gear stick is a nice touch and completely intact.

The (nicely contoured) leather-covered steering wheel has faded very slightly, but its finish remains even and the stitching good.

Once you are sitting in the Lotus, you realise there are quite a few more leather-covered buttresses and panels than you first thought - the Esprit was a luxury GT/sports car after all. All these, both along the transmission tunnel and on the doors, remain firmly in position, retain their vivid colour and show virtually no scuffs or scratches. There are a few small scuffs to the door-mounted ashtray surrounds, but otherwise, all switches and fittings are in very good condition. Opening and closing the doors brings forth no rattles or wobbles.

The big instrument binnacle too looks to be very solidly mounted (and everything on it works). On many an Esprit, these creak and rattle (along with all sorts of other interior bits and pieces), but in this example everything in the cockpit remains quiet under acceleration, cornering or going over town-centre speed bumps. That goes for the glass roof too. (Btw, don’t underestimate how much the extra light transforms the cockpit).

All electrical items we tested worked just as you would expect, including the air-conditioning system.

The carpets all across the cockpit are good, retaining their colour and pile. Edges and joins with the bodywork and other trim are neat. Floors underneath mats feel solid and look fine, though the mat-retaining studs have rusted somewhat. The rubber door seals still look supple, though there are small tears in one or two places and a slight lifting at a couple of corners. Still, a very good impression overall and a great ambience from this sophisticated GT.

Of all the aspects of the car, the engine bay does look a little more weathered. The red paint is flaking on the turbo and inlet manifold and there is a fair amount of superficial oxidation or surface rust here and there - but do remember that word; superficial. The engine and its ancillaries appear essentially very robust. Tubes and hoses again don’t look particularly new, but none show any significant wear. Hoses and leads retain their original colour and all appear strong and supple. Bolts, screws and jubilee clips look very servicable and crud-free. The wiring too, both in the engine bay and in the front, looks neat (okay, the alarm wiring a little less so) - and clean. One of the great things about this Lotus (apart from the fact that it’s just a great Lotus) is that it hasn’t been messed about with. There are no add-ons, ‘fixes’ or upgrades.

One recent and expensive upgrade worthy of note is the full lightweight sports manifold, replacing the original cast Lotus item and stainless steel exhaust, both by Alunox,  - very nicely made and in great condition.

The boot space carpets are very clean and their edging intact. The engine cover too, although its bolts show surface rust, looks to be in good shape, with no warping or signs of overheating. In the front hatch everything looks very clean. The spare tyre looks new with a smart looking tool roll tucked down beside it. Fluid reservoirs are clean and the brake cylinder assembly look sound (they certainly work very well).

The struts holding up the lids at both ends are sturdy and keep the covers held firm. The hinges on the front cover are a little rusty on the edges, but basically very sturdy.

Underneath, the Lotus appears very sound. The undertray and suspension components show the (light) ‘sandblasting’ of the 43,000 miles driven, but everything looks to be strong, free-moving (the things that should be) and servicable.

The history is commensurate with a newer classic that has needed no major work nor been restored. It has been serviced largely by JTC600 - at the correct intervals - with some smaller ad-hoc repairs when needed. One of the main points of interest is the installation of the aforementioned lightweight manifold and full stainless steel exhaust system. The Alunox system is very well regarded by the Lotus fraternity and a significant addition to any Esprit.

‘Un-messed about with’, no-stories cars are what most of us are looking for in the classic car world, and this Lotus appears to demonstrate that it has those qualities. Its blemishes are small and treatable - or even ignorable (is that a word?). This is a car you can use and enjoy right now. An enthusiast can savour it on several levels; its performance is excellent - even for a Turbo - while its looks are striking. The ambience of that so gently patina’s cabin is delightful. The car’s relatively low miles and conscientious ownership also bring peace of mind.

We think this very attractive Esprit will command between £19,000 and £27,000 .

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the seller in Lytham St Annes; 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’.

This vehicle is not with us at The Market’s HQ near Abingdon, which means we have had to rely on the owner’s description of it, in conjunction with the photographs you see here, to compile the listing.

With this in mind, we would encourage potential bidders to contact the owner themselves and arrange to view the car in person, or to arrange a dedicated video call in which they can view the car virtually and ask questions.