HAVE YOUR SAY
Did you spend more on your classic in 2011 than the previous year?
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| Four-Cylinder Lotus Esprit (1976-99) |
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Words: Chris Hope | Pics: John-Joe Vollans, Paul Wager Nowadays, a new four-door hatchback is going to set you back somewhere in the region of between £8000 and £25,000 but why on earth would you settle for one of these anonymous atrocities when you could instead own a genuine British supercar like the Lotus Esprit? The V8 models are still commanding strong money, but with both naturally-aspirated and turbocharged versions of the four-cylinder Esprit available in 17 different flavours (that is if you count all of the special editions) there really is an example for everyone’s budget.
The sleek Giugiaro-styled Series 1 Esprits arguably offer the most excitement while the softer-looking Peter Stevens cars are more refined and better suited to life as mile munchers, also being more powerful. Although Lotus continually tweaked the formula for its mid-engined sports car, all Esprits have a low and beautifully-proportioned body with staggering amounts of grip and highly reactive steering, all of which makes them incredibly easy cars to drive enthusiastically. However, as this issue’s buying guide focuses on machines that are anywhere between 36 and 13 years old there are the few odd differences to look out for. Maintenance is king for these exotic cars and glassfibre bodies come with their own problems, even if they don’t corrode. So read on, arm yourselves with our tips and avoid any disappointment. WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR Bodywork The Lotus Esprit features a steel backbone chassis that’s clothed with a glassfibre body, which has proven to be both strong and durable. This means that instead of searching for corroded pillars and panels you’ll instead be looking for any cracks in the plastic and crazing in the paint’s surface. The first area to check is the nose, which is often found to be peppered with stonechips. This isn’t a huge problem in itself, but where stray stones have caused ‘star cracks’ you’ll need to get in touch with a specialist to put the damage right – we’d advise against DIY glassfibre repair as it’s labour-intensive and requires a fair amount of skill. Other areas that will need to be investigated for cracks include the door frames and around the A-pillars. The majority of problems with the body however are a result of accident damage rather than wear and tear, so focus on the corners of the car and the inside of its front luggage compartment. Be critical of any repairs you may find – especially if the surfaces feel bumpy or uneven. The S1 and S2 chassis can rot as Esprit chassis weren’t galzanised until the S2.2 was introduced. With these early cars it’s best to check for corrosion with the car up on ramps. The chassis is covered by an insulating layer of felt, which absorbs water and (surprise, surprise) leads to rust. Check condition by tapping suspect areas with a screwdriver – a crisp ring is what you’re hoping for instead of a dull thud. On the bad examples you’ll not only need to buy the galvanised replacement (around £1500), but also a rebuilt steering rack, suspension bushes and brake pipes. All in, expect a bill of at least £4000. Build quality improved over time, especially for the S4 Esprits, but even those machines with galvanised chassis aren’t 100 per cent rust-proof. This is because the protective coating covering the steel can fail due to heat from the exhaust manifold, which will lead to localised rot. Checks should ideally be made with the car up on ramps.
Prices for the four-cylinder Esprits start around the £5000 mark for naturally-aspirated S2, S2.2 or S3s in fair condition. S1 cars are rare and were only produced for two years. Turbos tend to fetch more, though it’s not impossible to snap one up for under £10,000. Later S4 Esprits (including the S4S and the GT3) are still depreciating and good condition examples usually fetch over £15,000. All this makes the four-cylinder models more affordable than their V8 equivalents, with excellent examples (of the post-2000 Esprits in particular) costing between £25,000 and £40,000.
Factfile Clubs Club Lotus, www.clublotus.co.uk, 01362 694459 Specialists ● Paul Matty, Worcs, 01527 835656, www.paulmattysportscars.co.uk Insurance 1997 Lotus Esprit GT3 Comprehensive cover, 25-year-old in Co. Durham, two years’ no claims, clean licence, 10,000 miles a year, main car, kept on driveway: £2000 (£400 excess) Comprehensive cover, 50-year-old in Co. Durham, full no claims, clean licence, 3000 miles a year, second car (classic car policy), garaged, club member: £350 (£150 excess)
To read the rest of this buyers' guide see the January 2012 issue of Classic Car Mart - available to buy here. |
The body won’t rust, but you still need to tread carefully buying the Lotus supercar.
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