Make like James Bond with this classic Lotus

Dust-covered Esprit

Picture a mid-engined, two-seater, Giorgetto Giugiaro-penned sports car…  Maserati Bora? BMW M1? How about a Lotus Esprit? 

The wedge-shaped machine from Norfolk might not be the first thing that springs to mind, but the lightweight Esprit is a fascinating ’70s sports car. It is therefore perhaps surprising to learn that one has been discovered in such a state.

This barn-stored third-generation model will cross the block at Charterhouse’s classic car auction at Haynes Motor Museum in Somerset on 9 March 2023 with a £14-18,000 estimate – let’s take a closer look.

Hidden gem

Finished in Monaco White, this car will certainly require some attention before it’s back on the road.

A layer of dust and dirt has accumulated while it’s been in storage, but the engine still turns over, according to Charterhouse.

But how did it get to be in this condition? Unfortunately, when its besotted owner became ill a couple of years ago, it was driven into a barn on his farm and left there – he’s now in a care home, so the tough decision to sell this classic Lotus was made.

Know what’s in store

Its odometer reads 6081 miles, but a flick through the MoT history (its most recent expired on 10 April 2018) suggests that it was changed in late 2011 – in January of that year the mileage was 69,045.

A detailed look at the car’s past will help paint a picture of its condition prior to it being stored – and minimise the risk of any nasty surprises later on.

A look inside

The interior could certainly do with a good clean, but it looks in generally decent shape.

The leather-wrapped bucket seats show few signs of wear and the two-spoke steering wheel appears sound, too.

007’s seal of approval

A car doesn’t have to be driven by James Bond to make it cool, but it definitely helps (Renault 11 from A View To A Kill, anybody?).

It was Bond’s underwater antics in a Lotus Esprit S1 in The Spy Who Loved Me that inspired the previous owner to buy this 1982 Esprit S3.

So if you want to channel your inner Roger Moore, maybe this Charterhouse auction is your chance.

Giugiaro’s golden touch

The Esprit’s sharp lines were penned by Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro.

Underpinned by a modified Europa chassis, the first concept car appeared on the Italdesign stand at the 1972 Turin Salon.

It was well received, but potential customers had to wait four years for the first production-ready Esprits.

From clay to glassfibre

Lotus wanted to give its upmarket sports car the best chance of success, and a second prototype was presented in 1973.

It featured a pre-production chassis, improved aerodynamics and was made from glassfibre – the first time Giugiaro had worked with the material.

Plans to offer a V8 option alongside the four-cylinder unit were scuppered by the ’70s oil crisis.

Humble beginnings

The 907-series 2-litre ‘four’ that was eventually bolted into the S1 lacked oomph compared to period rivals.

Based on a Vauxhall slant-four block, it was the first engine to be fully developed by Lotus itself.

The 912-series, as found in this S3 Esprit, was a huge improvement over the earlier motors.

All talk?

The Lotus Esprit replaced the marque’s first mid-engined sports car, the Europa, in 1976.

It sure looked the part, but the S1’s Vauxhall-derived twin-cam ‘four’ struggled to deliver on performance.

Autocar tests revealed a disappointing 0-60mph time of 8.4 secs and a 124mph top speed – Lotus claimed 138mph.

Esprit evolution

Upgrades came thick and fast: less than a year after the first Esprits hit the road Lotus announced the S2.

Aerodynamic and mechanical improvements included revised spoilers and a set of air intakes behind the rear windows.

The short-lived S2.2 introduced a new, higher-capacity engine (albeit with the same 160bhp output) and paved the way for the Esprit S3 in 1981.

Fine tuning

The Esprit formula had been refined and improved since the car’s rocky start in the mid-’70s.

The well-resolved S3 shared suspension and chassis components with its Turbo sibling – and a price cut ensured it remained competitive in the showroom.

The S3 soldiered on until 1987 and 767 examples were built during its six-year production run.

Potential unlocked

Performance was much improved for the S3 Esprit, which is the model we have here.

The dash to 60mph was over in 6.5 secs and the top speed was also up to a very respectable 138mph.

Reaping the rewards

The hard work going on behind the scenes at Hethel seemed to pay off.

Autocar praised the Esprit S3’s ‘incredibly smooth’ engine and the increase in torque from the 2.2-litre unit.

Back to the ’80s

The wraparound dashboard is very of its time; it houses most of the switchgear and dials, creating a pleasingly driver-focused cabin.

The trade-off is that the controls can be easily obscured by the two-spoke wheel when on the move.

Retrims are pricey and some Esprits suffer from bodged jobs.

Pack light

The Esprit isn’t the best partner for the weekly shop. 

The mid-mounted engine doesn’t leave much room for bags in the rear, and the spare tyre up front limits space ahead, too.

There is a glovebox and a bin in the centre console to stash some bits and pieces in the cabin.

Turbo inspired

The BBS alloys this car sits on were one of the many components that trickled down to the S3 from the Esprit Turbo. 

A new front spoiler and restyled bumpers were among other exterior upgrades.

The interior would also be familiar to anyone who has sat in the 210bhp Turbo.

Restyled by Stevens

The S3 was the final iteration of the original Giorgetto Giugiaro design.

Looking a little long in the tooth by the late ’80s, then-chief designer Peter Stevens set about giving the Esprit a mid-life refresh.

The S4 (codenamed X-180) was curvier and more aerodynamic and its design was well received, even by Giugiaro.

Do your homework

Richard Bromell from Charterhouse, the auction house selling this barn-stored classic Esprit, said: “Today it looks slightly sad covered in a film of dust and dirt in the barn, but that is only superficial and I am sure the lucky new owner will have this Lotus back on the road in no time.”

Hopefully Richard’s words will ring true, but make sure you do your research before taking the plunge.

Look out for…

As when buying any classic car as a potential restoration project, make sure you’ve done your homework.

The S1-S3 Esprits can be money pits to put right if neglected, while limited parts availability can make work especially tricky.

However, once this Esprit is back on the road it will reward you with pin-sharp handling and excellent performance.

Esprit pitfalls

Lotus galvanised chassis from the S2.2 onwards, and it’s a good sign that this S3 has been stored in a dry garage for the past few years.

But be sure to look out for rot in key areas, including the radiator support outriggers, front chassis box section, front wishbones, door frames and petrol tank.

Hammer time

There’s no doubt this 1982 Lotus Esprit S3 requires a lot of attention, but we’re sure getting it back on the road will be a massively rewarding project.

It will go under the hammer with Charterhouse Auctioneers & Valuers on 9 March at Haynes Motor Museum – find out more here.