"CROSSING THE BLOCK"
Featuring: Barons Auctions
1999 LOTUS ESPRIT
The Lotus Esprit was launched back in the mid Seventies as a
replacement for the Europa, having originally been shown as a Giugiaro
design concept on a Europa chassis in 1972. Part of Chapman's move to
take Lotus upmarket along with the Eclat and Elite, the Esprit utilised
the marque's new 1973cc 'twin-cam' engine. As one of the most extreme
examples of the wedge profile fashionable in the 1970s, the basic shape
of the Esprit proved dramatic enough to continue virtually unchanged
until 1987 when it was replaced by Peter Stevens' in-house design. Still
high-impact but with much softer, friendlier contours, the new Esprit
was available in S4 or Turbo guises (the latter model boasting 229bhp
and a top speed of almost 150 mph).
The appeal of the Esprit was greatly enhanced by the appearance of "Wet
Nellie" in the 1977 James Bond movie "The Spy Who Loved Me". The name
was a reference to Bond's "Little Nellie" gyroscope in "You Only Live
Twice". The amphibious Esprit could perform all sorts of Bond-style
tasks, including being a submarine, rocket launcher and canon firing,
cement spraying menace to Bond's enemies.
Steady development meant that Lotus continued to find a small but
appreciative market for the Esprit and it was a natural home for the new
3.5litre V8 engine developed by Hethel in 1996. Featuring twin turbos
and producing 350bhp, this engine turned the Esprit into a premier
league super car with a top speed of 175 mph and 0-60 time of under 5
seconds. Distinguished by its high-level rear aerofoil, the V8 followed
true Lotus tradition in offering this level of performance at a fraction
of the price of its Italian and German contemporaries.
Offered here is 1999 example of an Esprit V8, which has covered a
warranted 61,000 miles in the hands of just 3 owners. The motor car
comes complete with excellent service history, with 11 service stamps
and various invoices. In 2014 the car has benefited from a cam belt
change, including rollers and tensioners, plus a service by Stratstone
of Leicester.
This Esprit V8 is described as being a very clean and tidy example needing nothing.
Local Rate Number
08454 30-60-60
or
023 8066 8413/8409 - Fax 023 8042 8469
ALL TEXT & IMAGES 2014 BARONS AUCTIONS
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