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Curated Auction

1987 Lotus Turbo Esprit HC

At a Glance

£5k Spent in 2022 | Light Recommissioning Required | Rare Colour Combination | Original Interior

  • Mileage~69,646 on clock
  • TransmissionManual
  • Engine2.2-litre
  • LocationEdinburgh

Curated Auction

We’ve visited this car, taken the images and written the description below – we’ve also verified the seller’s ID and actioned a HPi report – learn more

Curated Auction

We’ve visited this car, taken the images and written the description below – we’ve also verified the seller’s ID and actioned a HPi report – learn more

CURATED AUCTION

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CURRENT BID£8,000
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AUCTION LIVE

ENDS IN: 56 Days 12 Hr 51 Min 51 Sec

CURRENT BID

£8,000

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Video #2

Introduction

The iconic wedge of the Esprit still turns heads today.

The Lotus Esprit was never a car to blend into the background, but by the mid-1980s it had evolved into something particularly special. With its Giorgetto Giugiaro-penned wedge still looking every inch the supercar, the Turbo Esprit HC brought a healthy dose of extra muscle to the formula, combining Lotus’s lightweight philosophy with a potent turbocharged four-cylinder engine.

This 1987 example is an HC, or High Compression, model, benefiting from a revised engine designed to deliver more power and improved drivability. Behind the wheel, it offers that wonderfully analogue combination of sharp handling, direct controls and turbocharged performance, while its low-slung stance and dramatic styling make even a short journey feel like an occasion.

For those looking beyond the more obvious supercar choices of the era, the Turbo Esprit offers something distinctly different: British engineering, exotic looks and a driving experience that puts the emphasis firmly on the road ahead.

Coming to market after almost three and a half years with its current owner, Jamie has started recommissioning the car, leaving it in a good starting point for its next custodian.

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

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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.

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.

Video #2

Meet the owner

Having always wanted an Esprit, Jamie jumped at the opportunity to own this HC.

The Esprit was a poster car in Jamie’s youth, and he has enjoyed owning it for almost three and a half years - he has started recommissioning the car and has left it at a good starting point for the next owner to take over.

Jamie has another couple of projects lined up and struggles to get in and out of the Esprit, so he has decided to put it to auction with us.

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

Vehicle Owner

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CONTACT OWNER
EXTERIOR VIDEO
Video #2

Exterior

Mediterranean Blue Metallic is a very rare colour that suits the wedge of the Esprit perfectly.

Wheels and Tyres

The standard Lotus wheels looked to be in good condition for the age of the car, although they could do with a refurb to bring the presentation up a bit.

A matching set of Pirelli tyres has been fitted to the car. These show date codes of 2022 at the front and 2021 at the rear, and they all looked to be in good shape.

Please take time to review the photos and videos for a detailed view of the exterior, wheels, and tyres so you can make your own assessment of their condition. Tyres are a key safety item, and you should consider replacing any that are cracked, perished, unevenly worn, or over 10 years old.

image

Bodywork

The bodywork around the Esprit appeared to be in generally good condition for the car's age. We didn't notice any major damage to the body, and the shut lines looked nice and tight. The doors and engine bay all opened and closed without issue; however, the bonnet didn't quite catch, so this would need some investigation.

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

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Paint

The Mediterranean Blue Metallic paintwork is a lovely vibrant colour, but does show some signs of age, with some scratches, cracks and peeling paint, most noticeably on the front bumper and front wings.

The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there for yourselves. So please take the time to fully assess these hi-resolution images and videos of the car, for you to make up your own minds about the condition of the paint.

image

Glass and Trim

The glass around the Esprit appeared to be in great condition - we did not note any chips or cracks in the windscreen or side windows.

The car also features a glass roof.

Please view the photos and video below to review the condition of the glass and trim for yourself.

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INTERIOR VIDEO
Video #2

Interior

Magnolia leather bucket seats hold the driver in position for taking on the back roads home.

Seats and Carpets

The 'Magnolia' leather bucket seats looked to be in good condition; they showed some signs of age but appear to be the original seats.

The carpets around the Esprit looked to be in good condition too, with no major issues noted.

Please take a look at the photos and video below to decide on the condition of the seats and carpets for yourself.

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Dashboard

The dashboard also appeared to be in nice condition.

The dials were all clear and readable, displaying approximately ~69,646 miles on the odometer at the time of our visit.

We did not observe any cracks or splits in the dashboard.

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Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The original, unique-design Lotus steering wheel looked to be in lovely condition, with very few signs of use.

The wooden gear knob and gear stick also looked to be in good condition, with the gear pattern clearly visible.

Please take a look at the photos and video below to check the condition of the steering wheel and gear stick for yourself.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO
Video #2

Mechanics

Fitted with a turbocharged 2.2-litre engine, the Esprit is eager to go.

Engine and Gearbox

We actioned a cold start on the car and the engine took a few attempts to fire up, but once started, it ran well during the visit.

The manual five-speed gearbox engaged gears, albeit with a little bit of effort, and we did notice that reverse did take a little longer to engage than the other gears - however, the car was still cold at the time.

Please take a look at the cold start video below to see for yourself the performance of the engine and gearbox.

image

Suspension and Brakes

On our short journey on the road, the suspension seemed to perform well over the potholed roads.

The brakes performed well, bringing the Esprit to a stop with no juddering or squeaking.

Please take a look at the on the road video below to see how the suspension and brakes performed.

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The Drive

The car drove well during a short drive out - overall, it performed as expected, although we did hear a couple of intermittent mechanical noises which weren’t picked up on video and may warrant further investigation.

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Electrics and Other

Jamie told us there is some investigation work needed to be carried out on the car's electrical systems, possibly including some loom work.

We noticed some of the dashboard lights also stayed illuminated, including the handbrake light, as the handbrake wire needs to be looked at, and the water level light, which needs some further investigation. Also only one of the headlights was popping up, Jamie told us the vacuum system needed to be investigated.

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Video #2

History and Paperwork

The car comes with its original service book and Certificate of Provenance.

Coming to market after three and a half years with Jamie, the Esprit is the 6th of 12 built: a 1987 Turbo Esprit HC finished in 'Mediterranean Blue Metallic' with 'Magnolia' leather.

It comes with receipts for work carried out, its original service book, Certificate of Provenance and printouts of previous MOTs.

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.

Trade Classics Limited is an Introducer Appointed Representative (IAR) of AFS Compliance Ltd which is Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) under firm number 625035. Trade Classics Limited is a vehicle sales business with permission to introduce prospective finance clients to Revered Finance Limited who is also an AR of AFS Compliance Ltd and an independent asset finance brokerage not a lender. We are not independent financial advisors and are unable to provide you with independent financial advice. Trade Classics Limited and Revered Finance Limited will receive payment(s) or other benefit from the finance provider if you decide to enter into an agreement with them. We work with both discretionary and non-discretionary commission models. Commission payments are factored into the interest rate you pay.

Service History
Date Type Mileage
28.11.2022 MOT 69,573
16.04.2011 MOT 68,801
11.06.2008 MOT 68,015
30.05.2007 Service 67,354
29.05.2007 MOT 67,354
19.06.2006 MOT 66,517
30.11.2005 Service 64,532
14.07.1992 Service 25,420
30.03.1992 Service 33,772 (Inaccurate Reading)
20.06.1991 Service 23,662
19.03.1990 Service 15,299
02.02.1989 Service 10,867
05.07.1988 Service 6,027
07.01.1988 Service 3,011
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Key Details
  • Model Turbo Esprit HC
  • Transmission Manual
  • Reg. Date 22.05.1987
  • CC 2174
  • Mileage ~69,646 on clock
  • Colour Mediterranean Blue Metallic
  • Interior Colour Magnolia
  • Interior Trim Leather
  • Chassis # SCC082910HHD12417
  • Engine # CP910870123663
  • MOT No
  • MOT Exempt Next Year 2027
  • Road Tax Exempt Next Year 2027
  • HPi Clear Yes - All Clear
  • Former Keepers 4
  • Tyre Brand Pirelli
  • Visited Yes
  • Sale Type Private
  • Owned ~3 years, 5 months
  • Key Feature Rare Colour Combination
  • Vehicle Registration D724 FYK
  • Driver’s Side Right
  • Fuel Type Petrol
  • Body Type Coupe
  • Auction ID 3889
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VIEW ALL
Video #2

All Images

Exterior

Interior

Mechanics

History and Paperwork

All Videos



Vehicle Location

Edinburgh

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    Auction Bidding

    Live Bidding
    Current Bid £8,000
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    1987 Lotus Turbo Esprit HC
    AUCTION STATUS RESERVE NOT MET
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    Auction Ends Thu 27th Aug at 8.20pm
    Bidding History
    Previous Bids  1
    £8,000 bid by Fibreglass112.08.26 @ 22:47:55
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    2 Comments
    Fibreglass1
    Fibreglass1
    4 days ago

    Could I arrange to come and veiw the Lotus asap

    ColinB
    ColinB
    Admin
      Fibreglass1
    3 days ago

    Hi,

    We can help arrange a viewing for you, if you could send an email to [email protected] first, we need to do some checks.

    Thanks,
    Colin.

    MORE COMMENTS MORE COMMENTS

    Insurance Quote


    Average annual insurance premium for a Turbo Esprit HC like this is £TBC via our trusted partner ClassicLine.
    GET AN INSURANCE QUOTEAnd get 10% off when you mention us.

    *Quote is based on a garaged vehicle in CV32 5QY (Leamington Spa), travelling 3,000 miles per year, 1 driver who is 45 years of age and is free on accidents and convictions – valid Summer 2026.

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    Vehicle Location

    Edinburgh

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