Supercar Fest Sale of Iconic and Classic Cars 2023 20th May 2023

125 + buyers premium of 12.5% plus VAT (15% incl VAT) on the first £300,000 of the hammer and 10% plus VAT (12% incl VAT) thereafter Lot 870 2003 Lotus Esprit V8 SE ‘Facelift’ In 2002 the Lotus Esprit reached a milestone in its illustrious history. Unveiled in 1972 as a styling concept at the Turin Motor Show, the Esprit entered production in the mid-1970s, and today is accepted as being one of the world’s finest supercars. To celebrate 30 years of this performance car, Lotus gave the Esprit a facelift. The resulting car was known as the ‘Facelift ‘02 V8’ in the UK. The redesigned rear panel and light cluster, which featured round rear lights set in pairs, carried over some of the (then) new Elise design elements and the front inherited the lip spoiler from the legendary Sport 350. The new high-backed seats featuring an embossed Lotus logo were available in two-tone leather and a distinct aluminium-theme. New ‘Crystal Titanium’ finish, multi-spoke, OZ Racing alloy wheels hide powerful 4-pot calipers with an advanced Kelsey Hayes ABS system. Large 320mm diameter AP Racing two-piece brake discs are vented and cross-drilled, front and rear, for maximum cooling and heat dissipation and the race-specification calipers, pads and discs ensure that the Esprit stops as well as it goes. The new model continued to be powered by the Lotus-designed 3.5-litre, twin-turbocharged V8 producing 350bhp at 6,500rpm. The car presented here is one of these last-of-the-line/’facelift’ V8 SE (2003 model year) examples, being a UK-supplied right-hand drive example, with just 18,588 miles (only 1,500 miles covered in the last six years) and only two previous owners, having previously been part of a small private Collection. According to its accompanying Lotus Certificate of Provenance, it was manufactured on 31st January 2003 in striking (and extremely rare) Laser Blue metallic (B85) paintwork with a Light Blue and Stone leather interior; this example represents the absolute best-of-breed of this small and exclusive last production run of the Esprit. It was sold new via White Dove Garages Ltd. (Lotus) in Cardiff to its first local owner, and was purchased by our vendor just 18 months ago and has recently been fully serviced, including a new fuel pump and gasket. The car has very impressive service history - see our website for full details. Also included in its history file is a letter from Lotus documenting the details denoted by the chassis/engine numbers, this car’s exact specification and also giving information about how many of these final Esprits were made and in what specifications. These late-model Esprits are the last true analogue supercars of the 1990s/2000s, and this example represents a real high-tide mark in terms of model-evolution. These final models are held in the same regard as the rare Esprit Sport 300, with Silverstone Auctions achieving over £60,000 for a 50,000-mile example in 2022, and consequently we feel that this low-owner, full service history, 18,500-mile car is an opportunity not to be missed. The ‘final hurrah’ for the Esprit, one of just 124 last-of-the-run examples, and one of only four in Laser Blue Metallic produced worldwide; with a mere 18,500 miles with only two previous owners, a FSH and in collector-quality condition. Registration: LOT 429R Chassis No.: SCCDA08263HC10498 Estimate: £60,000 - £70,000 Consignor: Joseph Watts Telephone No: 07779 082707 More Details Lot 870 Bid On Lot 870