1984 Lotus Esprit Turbo S3 |

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1984 Lotus Esprit Turbo S3

This vehicle has now been sold - click ‘Register Similar’ below to get notified when we consign a similar vehicle.

Sold Price

£39,950

Mileage~59,308 on clock
TransmissionManual
Engine2.2-litre
LocationEtchingham, East Sussex

SOLD

1984 Lotus Esprit Turbo S3

I WANT ONE

Introduction

Alan Stuart

Professional Consigner

An icon of a generation, blending sharp styling with thrilling turbocharged performance for an unforgettable slice of pure '80s supercar magic.

If you were a car-mad kid in the 1980s, you’ll remember this shape. Whether it was a poster on your bedroom wall, a toy on the living room carpet, or the star of the James Bond film, For Your Eyes Only, the Lotus Esprit Turbo was the British answer to Ferrari and Lamborghini - a sharp-edged, mid-engined statement that proved Britain could build a supercar to match the Italians.

Razor-sharp design with the performance of a turbocharged 2.2L engine. As the third evolution of the Turbo Esprit, the S3 brought improved refinement, handling, and reliability, cementing its status as a drivers' machine. Lightweight construction, agile chassis, and striking presence, it still remains one of Lotus’s most celebrated creations.

Coming from four years of ownership with our vendor, the Esprit is finished in its original black and gold colour-way confirmed by a Lotus Heritage Certificate, it is a stunning example of a well restored and cared for classic. Originally prepared by Hilton and Moss, the car has had a significant level of thoughtful work carried out including a new clutch, exhaust, and the addition of a third cooling fan for improved thermal management.

The brakes have also been fully overhauled - brand-new OEM rear suspension was fitted, ceramic paint coating applied, upgraded Blaupunkt Bremen DAB radio installed and rolling road tuning completed by CCK Historic. Every part fitted has been either new - old stock or a correct specialist item and remains largely as it left the factory.

It's every bit the poster child it once was. It’s more than a car - it’s a time capsule from the golden age of wedge-shaped supercars, and it turns heads today just as it did ~40 years ago. For anyone who remembers its heyday, this is a rare chance to own one of the true icons of British sports car design - a car that has been taken from restored to perfected.

This listing was written from information supplied by Alan after meeting Tim the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

Sharp lines, turbocharged thrills, and the kind of head-turning looks that makes every drive feel like an event.

Ever since he first laid eyes on one, Tim knew he had to own one of these models, and, being a fan of collectable cars this one was perfect for him. Tim tells us more about his ownership and love for the Esprit, "I never thought I’d even fit into one - but with a minimal modification, I do, and comfortably. At 6’2” I have plenty of space; anyone over about 5’10” will be fine as it is, while those much shorter may prefer to reinstate the seat runners. The glass sunroof brightens the already airy cabin and makes the turbo soundtrack even more addictive".

The current owner would prefer to see the car enjoyed by someone who will put it on the road more often, and had it not been for significant spinal surgeries last year, Tim would be keeping the car indefinitely. With recent operations considered, it has forced him to reduce the size of his classic car collection, and this Esprit now brought to the standard he always wanted, deserves to be driven, shown, and enjoyed.

Tim tells us, "If it doesn’t find the right new home, I’ll be very pleased to keep it".

Tim will be happy to answer any questions in the comments section below.

Tim

Vehicle Owner

Tim saved £7,020* when they
sold their Lotus with us.

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EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

With its sharp wedge profile, bold graphics, and unmistakable Lotus flair, the Esprit turns every head before it even leaves the driveway.

Wheels and Tyres

The Esprit comes with lovely gold inset 15" multi-spoke BBS wheels with black Lotus centre caps. All appeared to be in excellent condition and we didn’t notice any major issues here.

The front of the car is fitted with Pirelli Cinturato P1 tyres and to the rear, Pirelli P600's. Tread spec shows 195/60 to the front and 235/60 to the rear - these are date coded from 2018 and 2019.

Please take a look at the photos and videos for a detailed view of the exterior of the Lotus and a closer look at the wheels and tyres to make your own assessment of their condition.

Bodywork

Overall the bodywork of the Esprit is in stunning condition - the panel lines look straight and well-aligned and both doors, bonnet and boot open and close without concern with the panels gaps all looking to line up well too. There were no obvious signs of dings or major marks to the panels either.

Through its current ownership, the Lotus has been dry-stored in a fully insulated, dehumidified garage, just some of the reasons why this truly stunning and stand out example is so easy to appreciate.

We've highlighted our observations in more detail through our hi-resolution images and videos, so please take the time to look through all the media files for a detailed view of what’s on offer and to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

The Lotus is finished in a really smart coat of gloss black with gold detailing and finished with a ceramic coating in 2022 to preserve the quality. The paint coverage is nice and even across the car with no major differences over the panels. The decals also showed very well across the panels.

If we were being really picky, there were a couple of small stone chips to the front of the car, but nothing overly concerning.

The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there yourself. Please take the time to fully assess these high-resolution images and videos of the car to form your own opinion about the condition of the paint.

Glass and Trim

Overall the glass and trim on the Lotus showed in excellent shape with no major cause for concern. The seals look great around the outside and in line with the rest of the condition of the car; all was displaying well.

The exterior trim and body fittings are in brilliant shape, with no issues noted on the lights or lenses.

The front and side 'Turbo Esprit' decals all presented well. The side badges showed well too but the front badge noted a little sign of age.

A lovely highlight was the sunroof which showed without issue, Tim has had the wind deflector made and sprayed for when the sunroof is in the OEM bag in the back, at a cost of almost £400.

There was a slight sign of wear to the drivers side door edge - although not a real concern and didn't detract too much from the overall quality.

We've taken you around the car in greater detail in our exterior review video, please take the time to look over the video and see how the glass and trim look from different perspectives.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

Step inside the Lotus and you’re greeted by a low-slung, driver-focused cockpit, where leather, analogue dials, and purposeful design create an atmosphere that’s pure 1980s exotic.

Seats and Carpets

The seats were in lovely shape, with no major concerns, just the typical signs of usage on the drivers seat and a few normal creases to the leather.

Carpets in the front of the cabin are in smart condition showing no concerning issues.

We've captured high-resolution photos and a full interior video tour through the car. This covers off the angles inside the car for you to review and appreciate the condition of what's on offer here in our interior review section.

Dashboard

The leather finished dash across the centre console all appears in excellent condition with no issues to report. We just noticed some of the leather had started to come away a little on the underside of the dash.

The driver facing dials with white needles looked lovely and the odometer showed with just ~59,308 miles at the time of our visit.

The dials, and controls all appeared to show very smartly, with surfaces free from fogging or scratching.

We noted no issues with any warning lights and the speedometer, oil temp, voltage meter, fuel gauge, boost pressure gauge, rev counter and digital clock were all functioning without concern when starting up and driving the car.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The Lotus branded steering wheel - with inset white stitching, shows in great condition. There were a couple of marks that come with age, but nothing troubling.

The wooden top gear selector also looks to be in great condition - we noted some slight wear to the leather gaiter, again not overly concerning.

A smartly kept and well maintained cabin greats the driver and passenger; a lovely place to take in the road ahead.

We've captured high-resolution photos for you to review and appreciate the condition of the interior in our gallery section.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

Beneath its sleek lines roars a turbocharged powerhouse, delivering thrilling performance and sharp, responsive power that defines this sports car icon.

Engine and Gearbox

Delivering ~210 BHP, a 0-60 MPH in ~5.4 seconds and onto a top speed of ~152 MPH, this '80s poster car is more than capable of some serious power from its 2.2L engine.

Starting the car up, we noted no concerns and the Lotus performed without issue when running and out on the road. The car idled smoothly and its engine was easily capable of taking the driver up to speed in no time at all once it had warmed up.

Extensive restoration has been completed on the Esprit noting a complete engine rebuild and new clutch in 2022. Rolling road tuning was completed by CCK Historic in 2024, which confirmed the Lotus had only lost a marginal amount of power from its original factory figures.

We took the car out around some local roads to get a better feel for what this vehicle is all about. Take a look at the mechanical video to see more detail in the engine bay.

Suspension and Brakes

Fitted with brand-new OEM rear suspension springs, we noted no knocks, bangs or issues when we were on the road in the car, and it gave us no concerns in its performance or handling. Looking over the underside of the car during our visit, we noted no concerns and overall it showed well here too.

The brakes have been previously fully overhauled and bring the car to a halt in a straight line. There was no juddering reported through the pedal - the stopping power and control felt great, and in-line with our expectations for a car of this quality.

Please take a look over the mechanical videos and photographs to see close-up images from under the car.

The Drive

Tim, the current owner, describes the Esprit's driving experience as, 'engaging, quick, and full of character' and we can see why.

The Esprit is still a really special car to drive with every journey feeling like an experience. The turbo spools with urgency, the exhaust chatter is pure Lotus theatre, and the steering is alive with feedback.

Lightweight, agile, and eager to carve through corners with precision, all while its turbocharged punch keeps the adrenaline flowing. Its power-to-weight ratio still puts it in the company of its period rivals from Maranello and Sant’Agata.

Electrics and Other

During our time with the vehicle we noted that all switches, dials, and gauges appear undamaged and are in really great condition.

The Lotus is complete with its original owners handbook and a spare blank key. The car also comes with an upgraded Blaupunkt DAB stereo and Pioneer speaker system.

A new rear silencer was fitted in 2024.

Tim told us everything was in working order.

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History and Paperwork

From restoration to perfection with Hilton and Moss, the Esprit blends originality with thoughtful upgrades and stands out as the only example built in 1984 with its exact colour, trim, and options - confirmed by its Heritage Certificate.

Tim has owned the car since 2022, and during this time, it has been dry-stored in a fully insulated, dehumidified garage, always kept on a battery conditioner, and maintained meticulously in line with its needs. Earlier history is limited, but the quality of the restoration, Hilton and Moss’s involvement, and the current owner's own perfectionist approach speak louder than any paperwork.

Before Hilton and Moss acquired it, the car underwent a full nut-and-bolt restoration, including a complete re-trim, to exact factory specification. Once in their care, Hilton and Moss carried out a detailed inspection and fettled anything that didn’t meet their exacting standards, right down to the smallest detail.

Tim bought the car from them in 2022 and, determined to make it the very best it could be, went even further actioning a complete engine rebuild (around~1,000 miles ago), new clutch, new exhaust and a third cooling fan was added for improved thermal management. The brakes were fully overhauled, brand-new OEM rear suspension was fitted and rolling road tuning was completed by CCK Historic, which confirmed the Lotus had only lost a marginal amount of power from its original factory figures.

The car has been ceramic coated, and every part fitted has been either new old stock or a correct specialist item. Looking over the car on our visit, it's apparent the Lotus sits among the very finest Esprit Turbos in the country.

Aside from a high-end Blaupunkt Bremen DAB radio, with period-correct looks, the car remains largely as it left the factory.

We cover off a full overview of the Lotus' history in our paperwork gallery.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a history check on the vehicle - this is a professional check operated by HPI that will highlight if the car has been previously stolen, recorded as being in an accident, or have any outstanding finance - note, this does not include a mileage history check.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, and as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment on the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bid/s, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History

Date	Type	Mileage
02.04.2024	MOT	57,974
23.02.2023	MOT	57,570
24.02.2022	MOT	57,054
02.08.2018	MOT	56,923

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Key Details

ModelEsprit Turbo S3
TransmissionManual
Reg. Date30.04.1984
CC2,174
Mileage~59,308
ColourBlack and Gold
Interior ColourBlack
Interior TrimLeather
Chassis #SCC082910EHD11732
Engine #CC910840321486
RestoredYes
Engine RebuildYes
MOTLast Expired 01.04.2025
MOT ExemptYes
Road Tax ExemptYes
HPi ClearYes
Former Keepers4
Tyre BrandPirelli
Tyre Age2018 / 2019
LHD or RHDRHD
VisitedYes
Sale TypePrivate
Owned~4 years, 2 months.
Key FeatureCondition and mileage
Vehicle RegistrationA912 FPJ
Fuel TypePetrol
Body TypeSports saloon
Auction ID3068

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All Images

All Videos

Vehicle Sold

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Ask Questions

Seller : Tim Sale Date 28.08.2025

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4 Comments

tapps10

7 months ago

Please can you clarify what modification you have undertaken to the driver’s seat to enable you to fit in the car. Can the seat currently be moved forward and back? I am 5’8” and would need the seat further forward. Thanks.

Tim

Seller

tapps10

7 months ago

The seat has simply been bolted to the floor, and therefore doesn’t move back and forwards. The passenger seat remains on its original runners. A new set of real OEM runners is available from S J Sports Cars for £69.50 + VAT, and they could be easily reinstated into the car. I can’t imagine this would take more than a couple of hours to sort. Thank you, Tim.

Lotuseaters

7 months ago

Hello
The paintwork on the car looks really good but why hasn’t it got the black waistband fitted that goes around the whole centre section of the car ?
Thanks

Tim

Seller

Lotuseaters

7 months ago

Good morning.
During the renovation that was completed before I acquired the car, the upper and lower shells were expertly and beautifully seam sealed. Therefore, there was no need to put the ugly strip back on. In my view it just accentuates the design, but of course you could reinstate the strip if you required. Coincidentally, I have a similar aged Porsche 928S which has had the same improvement.
Thanks, Tim.

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Vehicle Location

Etchingham, East Sussex

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